The Unveiled Rose

At the preschool gate.

In front of so many parents, my own son, again and again, denied that I was his mother.

Over and over, he insisted that Luna was his mom.

Even though my heart was already shattered and bleeding, I tried to remind myself that he was just a kid, unaware of the consequences of his words. "Nigel! I'm giving you one more chance to choose!"

"Take a good look at me, calm down, and think it through. Between her and me, who should you really choose?"

Everyone's eyes turned to Nigel.

Hiding behind Luna, Nigel pressed his forehead against her back. "Of course, I choose my mom."

As soon as he finished speaking, Luna gave me a puzzled look, then tried to leave with Nigel in her arms. "What a lunatic."

Of course, I couldn't let her go. I hurried to catch up, to stop them.

But someone stood in my way.

I grew somewhat hysterical, "I need to go after my child. You can't stop me!"

Their conversation was full of disdain for me.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

"Have kidnappers really become this brazen?"

"Yeah, she looks so frantic. Anyone who didn't know better would think she's the child's mom."

"Exactly!"

"We all need to be more careful from now on!"

Everyone else watched in silence.

Their scornful gaze fell on me.

I couldn't care less at that moment and was desperate to follow them, but no matter which direction I ran, someone would come after me, blocking my path. Until the police arrived, and Luna had vanished.

Only then did the crowd disperse.

A concerned bystander rushed to the officer, "Officer, you wouldn't believe how bold this kidnapper was today."

"She came right up to the gate, trying to snatch a child from their own mother..."

"The real mom had to run with her child, and she was still trying to chase after them."

"If we hadn't stopped her, she might have actually succeeded!"

I never imagined that coming to the preschool to pick up my child...would result in him being taken away by Luna right in front of me.

I stood there, stunned.

The officer approached me, "Someone reported you as a kidnapper. Please come with us to the station."

Since I couldn't chase after them anymore, I had no choice but to cooperate. "Okay."

...

At the station, after verifying my identity, the police quickly found out that Leander was my husband, and Nigel was my son.

Obviously, they hadn't expected this outcome and quickly apologized. "Sorry, we misunderstood you..."

"It's not really your fault," I said, as tears involuntarily started to fall. "I never would have imagined..."

My child. The one I had poured my heart and soul into caring for....

He actually called another woman "Mom" at the preschool gate and left with her.

Seeing my tears, the officer quickly tried to console me, "Kids can be thoughtless."

They didn't know what else to say. After all, they had seen thoughtless kids. But a child who refused to recognize his own mother like Nigel was a first.

I felt utterly lost as I prepared to leave.

Seeing I was in no condition to be alone, an officer stepped forward, "Do you need us to give you a ride?"

"No, thank you."

...

I had no idea where Luna lived. To get Nigel back, I had only Leander to turn to.

Also, I needed to ask Leander...

Why did the teachers not recognize me but knew Luna?

Leander's office wasn't far from the police station. It was just about a ten-minute walk away.