THE LOST HEIRESS RETURNS AFTER DIVORCE

Heather stepped out of her car. She shut the door with a little bit more force than she intended. She felt the cool breeze pierce through her skin. Pulled her coat tighter around her shoulders. Today was windy.

She had to leave the coffee thing with Jake early after mumbling something about an "emergency." It wasn't entirely untrue...she did have somewhere she needed to be, but it wasn't an emergency in the way he'd imagined. A little white lie wouldn't hurt anyone, right?

Her lips curled into a small smile as she made her way towards the daycare. She stood outside the daycare. The sight of other parents-moms and single dads going in and out with their little ones, is something she had come to appreciate over the years. It was peaceful, but Heather barely notice any of it.

Her focus was on him.

"You ready to go, Alex?"

There he was, standing behind the daycare gate, his backpack hanging slightly off one shoulder and a bright green lunchbox in his hand. It didn't matter that his sneakers were tied or that his hair was not sticking up in wild curls. Still looking neat after school or doesn't play like other kids do, instead read books. To Heather, he was perfect. He always was.

Alex nodded. His curls bounced as he did.

"I've been waiting forever, mommy."

Heather opened the gate and bent down to his level. "Forever, huh? Well, I'm here now."

Alex handed her his lunchbox, freeing up his hands to wrap his arms around her neck in a tight hug.

"I missed you."

"I missed you too, baby," she murmured.

She held him for a moment before standing and taking his hand.

"Let's go."

Five years ago, the doctor told her she lost him. The fall during her pregnancy was severe, and they said he hadn't survived. But her body told her otherwise weeks after she left Caius. Her stomach grew, and she went to check it out. A second opinion at another hospital confirmed it. Her baby had survived against all odds. The initial report was a mistake. And that's how Alex happened.

They reached the car. Heather put Alex in the car. She entered too, holding him closer.

"So, where do you want to go first, birthday boy?" It was his birthday. Heather promised herself that no matter how chaotic her life gets, she'd always have time for him. He deserved it.

Alex tilted his head slightly. "I know!" He paused, "I want to go to Daddy's company."

"What?" Heather's voice was sharper than she intended.

"VestorCorp" he smiled. "I want to go there and see it."

Heather didn't understand what was going on. How did Alex know about Caius? She told him his father was away when he pressed, but didn't tell him his father owns a company. He even knew the name. She kept away from him for a reason. Caius never wanted him and still doesn't want him. She was very upset and irritated. Did Caius find him? She wasn't sure, he never cared about him from the start.

"How do you know about that?" Again, her voice was sharper than she intended.

Alex was quiet for a moment. He looked thoughtful, as if he was putting pieces together in his head. "I read about it on the internet," he said finally. "That's how I know about Daddy."

"What did you just say?"

"I read about daddy on the internet. It's easy to find stuff about him." He was too calm, it bothered Heather.

Her mouth opened, then closed again. Her brain was trying to process what she was hearing.

"How? How did you get on the internet? I never let you use it. Hell, I have never showed you how to use it."

"Oh," Alex said, shrugging innocently.

"Well, aunt Penny gave me her phone." He paused, "She looks at weird stuff about sausages, though. Mommy, why does she like sausages so much? She had so many searches about them. Like 'men with big sausages' and..."

"Alex," Heather interrupted, while holding up a hand to stop him. "You shouldn't know things like that. And Penny shouldn't be letting you use her phone."

Alex blinked. He was confused. "Why not? She said I could. And I didn't do anything bad, I just read about VestorCorp and Daddy."

Heather closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath to keep her temper in check.

"You're not supposed to be reading about things like that," she said firmly. "From now on, you're not using anyone's phone. No screen. Understood?"

"Yes, Mommy," Alex said quietly. He sensed her mood.

"I'm sorry."

She sighed.

"It's alright," her voice softer now. "Just... let's talk about something else. What do you want to do for your birthday?"

"Hmm"

"How about a spa?"

"Mommy, I'm not a woman!"

Heather laughed. "Okay, okay. Where do you want to go?"

"Maybe, the science exhibit?"

"Where's that?*

"At the innovation center."

She didn't understand how he knew things he shouldn't know. He's just turning five. She wondered if he searched up things about her.