The Baby Name I Chose for His Mistress's Son

When Hayden stepped outside, I had already composed myself. He walked toward me through the snow, each step measured, his eyes filled with concern. As he came closer, he pulled me into a firm embrace, his warm breath tickling my ear.

"Nora, it's been three years. You've lost weight."

A scent of apples filled the air—his fragrance had changed. He used to smell faintly of coffee. His touch now made me uneasy, and I pushed him away.

His eyes narrowed for a moment before he smiled. "Our Nora has grown up, understanding the boundaries between men and women."

"But remember, I'm still your fiancé. Don't pull away from me, okay?"

He was once a guiding light in my life. When I first arrived at the Tran household, I was painfully introverted and bullied at school. There was a day after classes when some kids trapped me in an alley and attacked me. Hayden suddenly appeared, driving a sleek Bentley, scattering those bullies. He got out and shielded me.

I'll never forget his cold words to them: "Nora Stewart is like a sister to me, Hayden Tran. If anyone dares to mess with her again, they’ll answer to me."

But now, he seemed so different. It was the same face, yet I no longer felt the same heart-fluttering excitement as before.

Hayden reached out to caress my cheek, and I noticed a ring on his fourth finger. It used to be bare.

"I'm tired. Can I go home and rest now?" I said, turning my gaze away and studying his face.