Noah’s The first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was that I didn’t recognize the ceiling.
I stared at it for several seconds before yesterday’s events came rushing back.
The message.The photograph of Ethan.
Someone following us.
Adrian bringing us to his house.
I immediately sat up.
“Ethan.” My heart jumped as I looked around the unfamiliar room.
The bed beside me was empty.
I threw the blanket aside and hurried toward the door.
“Ethan?” Before I could panic, I heard a familiar little laugh from downstairs.
I froze.
That was Ethan.
I quickly walked down the stairs, following the sound of his voice.
When I reached the bottom, I stopped.
Ethan was sitting at the enormous dining table, happily eating pancakes.
And sitting beside him was Adrian.
My son had somehow gotten comfortable enough to sit beside the man I had spent two years trying to forget.
Adrian was holding a cup of coffee in one hand while listening to Ethan explain something with complete seriousness.
“And then the dinosaur ate the other dinosaur because he was hungry.” Adrian nodded.
“That sounds reasonable.” I stared at him.
“You’re encouraging him?” Adrian looked up.
“Good morning.” “Good morning.” Ethan noticed me and immediately waved.
“Daddy!
Uncle Adrian made pancakes!” I blinked.
“He did what?”Adrian calmly took another sip of coffee.
“I didn’t make them.” Ethan pointed toward him.
“He told the chef what I like.” I looked at Adrian.
“You remembered?” He shrugged.
“You said yesterday that he likes pancakes.” I didn’t remember saying that.
Then again, yesterday had been a disaster.
I walked toward the table and pulled out a chair.
“Ethan, you shouldn’t bother people so early.” “I’m not bothered.” Adrian said it so naturally that I looked at him.
Ethan smiled.
“Uncle Adrian is nice.” I nearly choked.
Adrian’s mouth twitched.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” “It is.” Ethan pushed a plate toward me.
“Daddy, eat.” I looked down.
There were pancakes, fruit, and a glass of juice waiting for me.
“I don’t need—” “You haven’t eaten.” Adrian interrupted.
I looked at him.
“How do you know?” “You were too distracted yesterday.” I went quiet.
He noticed everything.It was irritating.And strangely comforting.
I picked up the fork.
“Thank you.” Adrian nodded.
For a few minutes, the three of us ate in silence.
It was such a simple moment.
Too simple.
Almost like this was normal.
Like I belonged here.
Like Ethan belonged here.
I immediately pushed the thought away.This wasn’t our home.
It couldn’t be.
After breakfast, I helped Ethan get dressed.
He had somehow managed to spill juice on his shirt, so I changed him into the spare clothes I always kept in his bag.
When I came downstairs again, Adrian was standing near the window, speaking quietly on the phone.
“Find out who accessed the daycare records.” He paused.
“No.
I don’t care how long it takes.” His eyes moved toward me.
“I want a name.” He ended the call.
I walked closer.
“Did they find anything?” “Not yet.” I nodded.
“I should take Ethan home.” Adrian looked at me.
“Do you feel safe going back?” I hesitated.
Honestly?
No.
But I couldn’t stay here forever.
“I don’t know.” “Then don’t go back today.” My eyebrows lifted.
“What?” “Stay here until security finishes checking your apartment.” “I can’t keep staying at your house.” “You can.” “Adrian.” He sighed.
“I’m not asking you to move in.” “I know.” “Then stop looking at me like I’m asking you to.” I almost smiled.
“You’ve always been bossy.” The words slipped out.
Silence followed.
Adrian’s expression changed.
“Always?” My smile disappeared.
I had said too much.
“I mean…” He stepped closer.
“How long have you known me, Noah?” My heart began beating faster..”We worked at the same university.” “That’s not what I asked.” I looked away.”I need to take Ethan to daycare.” “You’re avoiding the question.” “Because I don’t want to talk about it.” He studied me for a moment.
Then he stepped back.
“Fine.” I expected disappointment.
Instead, his voice softened.”When you’re ready.” I looked at him.
There was no anger in his expression.
Just patience.
That somehow made it harder to keep my walls up.
Before I could respond, small footsteps came running down the hallway.
“Daddy!” Ethan threw himself into my arms.
I caught him.
“What’s wrong?” “I forgot my fox.” He pointed toward the stairs.
Adrian walked over before I could move.”I’ll get it.” He disappeared upstairs.
I stared after him.
Ethan whispered, “Uncle Adrian is nice.” I sighed.
“You’ve said that already.” “I like him.” My chest tightened.
I forced a smile.
“That’s okay.” Adrian returned with the stuffed fox.
Ethan immediately took it from him.
“Thank you.” “You’re welcome.” For a second, Adrian and Ethan looked at each other.
Something about the scene felt strangely familiar.
Then Adrian’s gaze shifted to Ethan’s hair.
His fingers briefly touched one of the little crimson curls.
“You have your father’s hair.” My entire body went still.
Ethan looked up at him.
“No.
I have Daddy’s hair.” Adrian froze.
I immediately took Ethan’s hand.
“Come on.
We need to go.” I turned toward the door before Adrian could ask anything else.
But as I walked away, I heard his quiet voice behind me.
“Noah.” I stopped.
I didn’t turn around.”Your son has your eyes.” My heart stopped.
Because that wasn’t true.
Ethan had my eyes.
But he also had something else.
Something I had spent two years hiding.
And Adrian was beginning to notice.I didn’t turn around.
For a moment, I simply stood there with Ethan’s small hand wrapped around mine.
My heart was beating so hard that I was certain Adrian could hear it.
“Your son has your eyes.” His words replayed in my head.
I forced a smile before finally looking back.
“People say that.” Adrian’s gaze remained on Ethan.
“Do they?” “Yes.” It was a lie.
A terrible one.
But I couldn’t tell him the truth.
Not yet.
Ethan tugged at my hand.
“Daddy, let’s go.” I nodded quickly.
“Yes.
Let’s go.” I reached for the door, but Adrian spoke again.
“Security will drive you.” I frowned.
“I can take the bus.” “No.” “Adrian.” “Someone has been following you.”His voice was calm, but firm.
“Let me at least make sure you and Ethan get there safely.” I wanted to argue.
Instead, I looked down at Ethan.
He was hugging his stuffed fox and looking up at me innocently.
I sighed.”Fine.” The drive to the daycare was quiet.
Ethan sat beside me, looking out the window while occasionally telling me about the things he wanted to do when he got home.
Adrian sat across from us.
I could feel his gaze every now and then, but I refused to look at him.
Eventually, Ethan fell asleep against my side.
I carefully adjusted his jacket.
Adrian watched the movement.
“He’s very attached to you.” “He’s all I have.” The words came naturally.
Adrian looked at me.
“Is that why you left?” I stiffened.
“What?” “Two years ago.” I stared out the window.
“You really don’t give up.” “No.” His answer was almost amused.
I sighed.
“I left because I needed a fresh start.” “Was Ethan the reason?”I looked at him.
“What makes you think that?” “You disappeared around the same time he was born.” My fingers tightened around the edge of Ethan’s jacket.
“You’ve been investigating me.” “I’ve been trying to understand.” “There’s nothing to understand.” “There is to me.” I didn’t answer.
The car eventually stopped outside the daycare.
I woke Ethan gently.
“Baby, we’re here.” He rubbed his eyes.
“Already?” “Yes.”We got out of the car.
Before walking inside, Adrian crouched slightly so he was closer to Ethan’s height.
“Be careful today.” Ethan nodded.”Okay.” “And listen to your teacher.” “Okay.” Ethan suddenly held out his hand.”Bye.” Adrian looked surprised before shaking it.
“Bye, Ethan.” My son ran inside.I watched him until he disappeared through the doors.
Then I turned around.Adrian was still standing beside me.”Thank you.” He nodded.”Call me if anything happens.” “I will.” I started walking away.
“Noah.” I stopped.
He looked at me seriously.
“You’re not alone anymore.” My heart tightened.I didn’t know how to respond to that.
So I simply nodded and walked away.
By the time I returned to the apartment, security had already finished checking the place.
Nothing had been disturbed.
There were no signs that anyone had entered.
Yet somehow, that didn’t make me feel safer.
I opened the door and stepped inside.
Everything looked exactly as I had left it.
Ethan’s toys were scattered across the living room.
His little shoes were beside the sofa.
His drawing from daycare was still stuck to the refrigerator.
Normal.
Safe.
Mine.
I walked toward the kitchen and stopped.
Something was wrong.
A small envelope sat on the counter.
I hadn’t left it there.My heart began pounding.
I didn’t touch it immediately.
Instead, I called Adrian.
He answered on the second ring.
“What happened?” “There’s an envelope in my apartment.” Silence.”Don’t touch it.” “I haven’t.” “Stay outside.” I stepped back from the counter.
“Adrian, what’s inside?” “I don’t know.” A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door.
Security entered first.Adrian followed.
He walked straight toward the envelope, carefully examining it before allowing one of the security officers to open it.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
I couldn’t see what was written.
Adrian read it.
His expression changed.
“What does it say?” He handed the paper to me.My hands trembled as I read the words.
You can hide the child from Adrian.
My heart stopped.
Then I read the second line.But you can’t hide the past forever.
I looked at Adrian.
He was staring at me.
Neither of us spoke.
The room suddenly felt too small.”Who knows?” he asked quietly.
“I don’t know.” “Someone knows about Ethan.” “I know.” “Noah.” His voice was different now.
Not angry.
Not cold.Just serious.
“Does the child’s father know about him?” I couldn’t breathe.
The question hung between us.
I looked away.”No.” Adrian stared at me for several seconds.
Then he asked the question I had been dreading.
“Why?” I swallowed.”Because he wasn’t supposed to know.” “Why wasn’t he supposed to know?” I couldn’t answer.My eyes burned, but I refused to let the tears fall.
“I was scared.” Adrian’s expression softened.”Of him?” I shook my head.
“Of everything.” He didn’t ask anything else.
Instead, he took the paper from my hand.
“We’re going to find whoever is doing this.” I looked at him.
“And if they reveal everything?” His eyes met mine.”Then we’ll deal with it.” “You don’t understand.” “Then explain it to me.” I shook my head.”I can’t.” Adrian stepped closer.
“You don’t have to tell me everything today.” His voice softened.”But you don’t have to carry it alone either.” I stared at him.For two years, I had convinced myself that keeping Adrian away from Ethan was the safest choice.
Now I wasn’t so sure.Because someone else had discovered our secret.
And if they knew about Ethan…
It was only a matter of time before they discovered who his father really was.
I looked at Adrian.
He was standing only a few steps away.
And for the first time, I wondered what would happen when the truth finally reached him.
Someone knows about Ethan, knows about Adrian, and somehow knows that Noah has been hiding the truth.
And Adrian…
he’s getting dangerously close to asking the right questions.
Do you think Noah should tell Adrian the truth soon, or should he keep protecting Ethan’s identity for a little longer?
Thank you so much for reading and supporting An Accidental Mark: My Cold Professor Is the Father of My Baby!
See you in Chapter 10!
— Ari1