(Eva and Eyan’s house – Two hours later)
Eva stirred faintly beneath the covers, her consciousness slowly rising from the depths of sleep.
Her body felt heavy… warm.
There was a gentle weight resting against her shoulder, and a soft warmth pressed close to her chest, as if someone had been lying beside her for a long time.
Her brows knit slightly. Slowly, reluctantly, she opened her eyes.
Her vision was blurry at first, the world swimming in soft shapes and shadows. But as her eyes adjusted, her gaze fell downward.
A small figure lay curled against her.
Silver hair shimmered faintly in the light. For a moment, Eva simply stared. Her mind, still trapped between dream and reality, did not question it.
Her eyes blinked once.
Then twice.
Her expression softened unconsciously.
She closed her eyes again and turned fully toward him, her arms instinctively wrapping around his small body, pulling him closer to her chest. Her fingers moved gently, brushing through his soft hair with slow, affectionate strokes.
“Oh, Leo…” she murmured sleepily, her voice thick with lingering dreams. “Sleep a little more…”
Her hand continued to stroke his hair, her touch filled with a mother’s quiet love.
Then—
Her fingers froze.
Her eyes snapped open.
Her breathing stopped.
Realization struck her like lightning.
Her heart slammed violently against her ribs.
Her lips parted as she stared down at the boy in her arms, her voice barely more than a trembling whisper.
“…Leo?”
As if responding to her voice, the boy stirred.
Leo shifted slightly, his brows furrowing as he slowly opened his eyes. He lifted his small hand and rubbed them lazily before looking up at her.
Their eyes met.
His red eyes softened instantly. A gentle, warm smile spread across his face.
“Mother,” he said happily, his voice filled with pure relief and love. “You woke up.”
Eva’s pupils shrank.
Her soul left her body.
And then—
“AHHHHHHH—!”
Her scream tore through the house.
Downstairs, in the living room, Luca and Aranel jumped violently in their seats.
Aranel grabbed Luca’s arm in shock..“What happened?!” she cried.
Luca stared toward the ceiling for a second. Then, slowly, a knowing grin spread across his face.
He leaned back against the couch and let out an amused laugh.
“Well,” he said calmly, “it seems mother and son have finally met.”
__________________________________
Eva suddenly jumped upright on the bed, her movements frantic, desperate.
Before Leo could even react, she pulled him into her arms and hugged him tightly, rocking him back and forth as if trying to make up for every second she had lost.
Her fingers trembled against his back.
“Leo… my baby…” she cried, her voice breaking under the weight of overwhelming emotion. “I missed you so much… I missed you more than anything…”
Leo smiled against her shoulder and wrapped his small arms around her neck, returning the embrace without hesitation.
“I missed you too, mother.”
Eva pulled back just enough to hold his face in her hands.
Her eyes searched his features anxiously, almost fearfully, as if he might disappear if she blinked.
“I can’t believe it… I can’t believe my eyes,” she whispered shakily. “You’re truly Leo… aren’t you? This isn’t a dream… right? Tell me I’m not dreaming…”
Leo smiled gently, his red eyes warm and reassuring.
“No, mother,” he said softly. “You’re not dreaming.”
Then slowly… carefully…
He lifted his small hand and placed it on her belly.
His touch was gentle.
Reverent.
He looked up at her, his eyes shining with quiet certainty.
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“Mother,” he said with a soft smile, “I promised you, didn’t I?”
His fingers rested protectively over her stomach.
“I told you I would come back to you.”
Eva froze.
Her breath caught.
Her eyes slowly dropped to his tiny hand resting over her belly.
Her lips trembled eyes filled with tears as her hands slowly moved to her belly, clutching it protectively as if she could already feel him there.
Her lips trembled.
“You came back to me…” she whispered through broken sobs. “My baby… my baby came back to me…”
Her vision blurred as tears streamed endlessly down her cheeks.
She pulled Leo into her arms again, hugging him tightly, desperately.
“Leo… I’m so happy…” she cried openly. “I’m so happy…”
Leo hugged her back gently, his small arms wrapping around her with surprising calmness.
“Don’t cry too much, mother,” he said softly. “You’ll make yourself sick.”
At that moment, the bedroom door opened quietly.
Aranel and Luca stepped inside and walked toward the bed, their footsteps soft but hurried, drawn by Eva’s cries.
Eva turned toward them, her face wet with tears, her eyes shining with overwhelming emotion.
“Aranel… brother…” she called weakly.
Then she lifted Leo slightly into their view, holding him as if presenting the most precious treasure in the world.
“That’s Leo,” she said, her voice breaking with happiness. “That’s my child…”
Aranel smiled gently, her own eyes already glistening.
“We know, Eva,” she said softly. “We’ve already met him.”
Eva reached out immediately and grabbed Aranel’s arm, pulling her closer until she sat right in front of her.
With trembling fingers, Eva placed her hand over her belly again.
“Aranel…” she cried, her voice filled with disbelief and joy. “My child… I got my child back…” Her tears fell faster. “I’m going to be a mother again.”
Aranel’s composure broke completely. Tears spilled down her face as she nodded, her chest rising and falling with emotion.
“Congratulations, Eva…” she cried. “I’m so happy for you… you deserve this happiness.”
She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Eva tightly. Eva hugged her back just as tightly, both of them crying openly, holding onto each other.
__________________________________
(After some time)
The room had finally calmed.
Eva sat on the bed with Leo beside her, her fingers still holding his hand. Aranel sat close to her side, while Luca stood nearby, his expression more serious than before.
Slowly, Luca and Aranel explained everything.
How Eva had suddenly collapsed in the market.
How she had lost consciousness without warning.
And how Leo had appeared… searching for her.
They also told her something else.
Leo had met Eyan.
Eva’s fingers tightened slightly around Leo’s hand.
She turned to look at him, her eyes filled with questions and quiet concern.
“Leo,” she asked gently, “why were you looking for me? Did you know something was going to happen to me?”
Leo nodded calmly.
“I did, mother,” he said. “That’s why I came here as fast as I could.”
His red eyes grew serious.
“From now on, you need to be careful. You will lose consciousness more frequently. Your body will grow weaker, and you will lose weight.”
He paused.
“You must eat more. Much more than usual.”
Eva frowned in confusion. Aranel and Luca exchanged worried glances.
Eva looked at him again. “Leo… why would I lose consciousness?”
Leo answered without hesitation. “Because of Zeradros.”
The name made the room fall silent.
Leo continued. “Mother, there is something I didn’t tell you before.” He looked directly into her eyes. “I was born after only six months.”
Eva blinked in shock. “Six months?” she repeated. “But… you look completely healthy…”
Leo nodded. “I was born as a healthy child.”
Aranel frowned, unable to hide her confusion. “But that’s impossible… a child born in six months shouldn’t survive… let alone be healthy.”
Leo explained calmly. “When Uncle Luca made the wish to Zeradros in my timeline, I was already three months old inside my mother's womb.”
He lowered his eyes slightly. “After the wish, Zeradros became afraid.”
He clenched his small hand faintly. “He was afraid something might happen to him… so he used his power.”
“He began consuming enormous amounts of energy from my mother's body.”
Eva’s breath grew uneven.
Leo continued quietly. “In just six months… he forced my body to fully develop. And I was born early.”
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Painful.
Leo looked at Eva again.
“Mother… I told you before, didn’t I?” His voice softened. “After giving birth to me… my mother fell sick.”
Eva’s heart clenched.
“And after five years… she died.”
Tears formed in Eva’s eyes instantly.
Leo lowered his gaze.
“It was because of me,” he said quietly. “Because Zeradros used her life force… and her body became weak.”
Eva shook her head faintly, her hand gripping her belly protectively.
Leo’s expression grew serious.
“The reason you will lose consciousness,” he said quietly, “is because Zeradros will do the same thing again. He will consume a large amount of energy from your body.”
His small hand rested gently over hers.
“That is why you will begin to feel hungry every 4 hours. Your body will demand more energy to replace what he takes.”
He paused briefly.
“That is exactly what happened to my mother.”
Eva’s breath caught in her throat. “Every… 4 hours?” she whispered in shock.
Leo nodded. “Yes. And in just four or five months… I will be born.”
His eyes met hers steadily. “I am already three months old inside your womb.”
Eva froze.
Her hand slowly moved down to her belly, her fingers trembling as they rested there.
“…Three months…” she whispered faintly. A strange warmth filled her chest. “No wonder… I’ve been feeling something already.”
Her eyes softened, filled with disbelief, fear, and overwhelming love all at once.
Luca stepped forward, his expression heavy with concern.
“Leo,” he said carefully, “you told us that after giving birth to you… your mother became sick.” His voice grew quieter. “And that she died five years later.”
He glanced at Eva, worry clearly visible in his eyes.
“…Are you here to prevent that from happening?”
Leo turned to look at him.
There was no hesitation in his answer. “Yes.”
His voice was calm.
Certain.
“That is why I came here.”
He looked back at Eva, his expression softening.
“Uncle now, your magic will no longer work on her,” he said to Luca. “So you can't help her either.”
He lifted his hand slightly. “Only my magic will work on her now.”
His small fingers curled gently. “I will strengthen her body. I will make sure she stays healthy.”
He looked at Eva with quiet determination. “I will protect her… until the day she gives birth to me.”
A worried look slowly formed on Eva’s face. Her fingers tightened unconsciously around the fabric of her dress, her mind drifting into dangerous thoughts she wished she could silence.
Luca noticed immediately. He stepped closer, his voice gentle.
“Sister… why do you look worried?”
Eva hesitated. Her eyes lowered slightly before she spoke.
“Brother… you didn’t tell Eyan about the child, right?”
Luca shook his head. “No. He doesn’t know yet.”
Eva released a breath—but it wasn’t relief. It was heavier. More burdened.
“I don’t want to tell him about the child.”
Aranel’s brows knitted together in confusion.
“Why, Eva? Why not tell him?”
She leaned closer, her voice soft but firm. “Now that Zeradros is gone, you can finally tell him the truth. Tell him about everything… about you coming back in time… about the wishes…”
She added, “He deserves to know about his child too.”
Eva closed her eyes.
If only it were that simple.
“Aranel… it’s not as easy as you think.”
Aranel stared at her. “Then… you won’t tell him the truth?”
Eva shook her head quickly. “No. That’s not it. I will tell him everything.”
Her voice faltered. “But… I can’t let him know that Leo’s mother in his timeline died five years later… because she became sick after giving birth to him.”
Silence fell heavily.
Luca spoke quietly. “…Right. That is a problem.”
Aranel looked between them, confused. “What problem?”
Luca exhaled slowly.
“Lady Aranel… you saw him today, didn’t you? When sister lost consciousness…” His jaw tightened. “He nearly lost his mind.”
Fear flickered in his eyes.
“I don’t know what he will do… He just told me today… he never wanted a child. If he learns that the child could be the reason for her death… I don’t know what he will—”
“…He said what?”
Eva’s voice cut through the air.
Sharp.
Cold.
Luca froze.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Eva stared at him, her eyes wide with disbelief.
“Brother… did Eyan say he never wanted a child?”
.
.
To be continued—
