Chapter 1: The Name He Carried
“My name isn’t Alex.”
The woman’s arms loosened slightly, her heart dropping in confusion.
“What… what do you mean?” she whispered, pulling back just enough to see his face.
“They call me Noah,” the boy said quietly, clutching the piece of bread. “I don’t remember anyone named Alex.”
The woman—Elena—felt the world tilt beneath her feet. The locket, the mark, the eyes… everything screamed truth. And yet, his words built a wall between them.
“Who gave you that name?” she asked carefully.
Noah shrugged. “The man I lived with. Before I ran away.”
A chill ran through her. “Ran away… from where?”
Noah hesitated, then pointed down the street. “They might still be looking for me.”
Elena’s protective instincts flared instantly. Whether he remembered or not, she knew one thing for certain—
She was not losing him again.
“Come with me,” she said firmly, taking his hand. “You’re safe now.”
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But deep inside, a terrifying question echoed—
If he wasn’t Alex… then who had taken her son?
