A LOVE UNBOUND

Chapter 6: Siya's Discovery

SIYA POV:

It was getting late, and I could tell Advik was starting to get sleepy. As I tucked him in, he looked at me with those big eyes that always made my heart melt, even on days when he seemed so distant.

"Mommy?" he whispered softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes, sweetheart?" I brushed his hair gently, feeling a wave of love wash over me.

"Can you divorce Daddy?" His question caught me off guard. "If you do, Auntie Jennifer can be my new mommy."

The words hit me like a punch in the gut. I felt my heart clench, and a wave of sadness washed over me, making it hard to breathe. My little boy, my precious son, was asking me to leave his father so that Jennifer-a woman who had only recently returned and was clearly manipulating him-could take my place. I forced a smile, hoping he wouldn't see the pain in my eyes.

"Advik... why would you say that?" I asked softly, but he just shrugged sleepily and turned away, snuggling into his blanket.

"Goodnight, Mommy," he murmured, already drifting off to sleep.

"Goodnight, Advik," I whispered, my heart feeling heavier than ever.

Once he was finally asleep, I sat beside him, my mind spinning. I noticed his tablet sticking out from under his pillow. I gently pulled it out, hoping to understand what was making him think these things. Maybe there was something I'd missed, something that could explain this.

As I unlocked the tablet, my eyes landed on a group chat titled "Happy Family." My heart skipped a beat. The messages were from Advik, telling Auntie Jennifer things like, "I want you to be my mommy," "Mommy doesn't let me have fun," and, "When will you be my real mommy?"

I felt a mixture of shock and anger as I scrolled further. Jennifer had been replying, telling him things like, "Soon, sweetheart," and, "I'll always be here for you, unlike some people." Every word was like a dagger, showing just how deeply she'd manipulated him, making him think she was the loving mother he needed.

My hands were shaking by the time I closed the tablet. I had to confront Aryan. I couldn't stay silent any longer.

I found him in our room, getting ready for bed. He looked up, surprised as I marched over with the tablet.

"Aryan, we need to talk," I said firmly, handing him the device.

He looked at the screen, his eyes widening as he read through the messages. "Siya... I... I didn't know..."

"This is exactly what I was afraid of, Aryan," I said, my voice barely controlled. "She's manipulating him, and it's working. Our son thinks Jennifer should be his mother!"

Aryan looked down, guilt in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Siya. I never wanted it to go this far. I'll fix it. I'll delete the group chat, delete her number from his contacts... whatever it takes."

"Do it now," I whispered, my voice breaking. He nodded, quickly removing the group chat and Jennifer's contact from Advik's tablet.

Once it was done, he looked at me, his face tired. "Siya... maybe we just need to give Advik some time. He's only a child, and children get confused easily. I promise this will pass."

I took a deep breath, nodding. Part of me wanted to believe him, to hope that things would get better. But another part of me felt that this wound would not heal so easily. Still, we went to bed, both of us carrying the weight of Advik's words in our hearts.

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AUTHOR'S POV:

The next morning, Siya woke early, feeling uneasy. She wanted to make a special breakfast for Advik, something comforting to help bridge the gap that seemed to be widening between them. She made his favorite pancakes and set the table with a hopeful smile, ready to start the day on a positive note.

But as soon as Advik saw his tablet, he went quiet. His face scrunched up with confusion and anger, and he clutched the tablet tightly, scrolling through it. His brows furrowed when he didn't see the familiar group chat or Auntie Jennifer's number.

"Mommy, did you delete my group?" he asked, his voice tinged with a sharp edge that didn't belong in a child's voice.

"Advik, honey... that group wasn't good for you," Siya tried to explain gently. "I want to protect you, and you're too young to understand everything right now."

But Advik's face turned red. "I want Auntie Jennifer! You don't understand anything!" With that, he grabbed his plate and, in a fit of frustration, threw it on the floor, sending pancakes and syrup splattering across the room.

Siya froze, shocked by his reaction. She knelt to clean up the mess, her heart sinking even further as Advik stormed off. Aryan walked in just then, watching the scene unfold, a troubled look on his face.

"Aryan, I don't know what to do anymore," Siya said, her voice breaking as she gathered up the broken pieces.

He sighed, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Siya, it's okay. He just needs time. This has all been very confusing for him. Let's not push him. He's only a child, after all."

Siya nodded, though her heart felt anything but settled. She watched as Aryan went to speak to Advik, guiding him gently to the door.

"Come on, champ. Let's get you to school," Aryan said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood.

Advik stayed silent, refusing to even look at Siya as he clutched his tablet tightly, following Aryan out the door without so much as a glance back.

Siya stood in the doorway, watching them go, her heart heavy with an ache she couldn't shake. She prayed that Aryan was right, that this distance with her son was temporary, just a phase. But as she closed the door, the worry lingered, a constant reminder that something precious was slipping through her fingers.

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Next chapter will be uploaded in the afternoon till then bye