Chapter 98

Adrian's mind raced with memories of his childhood, of sharing chocolate sandwiches with his brother Evan. He hadn't thought about those days in years, but now they came flooding back.

He looked at Aaron, and for a moment, he saw himself in the little boy's eyes. The same curiosity, the same sense of wonder. It was as if he was staring into his own soul.

Adrian's grip on the sandwich tightened, his knuckles white with emotion. He felt a lump form in his throat, and he struggled to speak.

"I...I just knew," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

But Aaron just smiled, his eyes sparkling with delight. "Thank you, Uncle."

Adrian's heart skipped a beat. No one had called him "Uncle" in years. No one had looked at him with such innocence and trust.

He felt a crack in his armor, a glimmer of hope that he hadn't felt in years.

Then a woman came there and opened the door harshly. The woman's sudden entrance shattered the fragile moment between Adrian and Aaron. The door burst open, a