"Sidney?" Carlos crouched down and gently tugged at his soft little hand, "Will you eat something now?"
Sidney stared at the door, longing for Angela to join him for the meal.
"Why are you so fond of her?" inquired Carlos.
Eddie, dismissing the question with indifference, countered, "My mom is kind and gentle, the most flawless woman in the world. Liking her is just a matter of logic."
Carlos objected, "Gentle? Angela is far from gentle."
Eddie scrutinized his expression. "What's wrong with a man yielding to a woman? Why argue like a child? I'm more worried about mom hurting her hand while slapping someone!"
Sidney nodded earnestly, worry evident in his eyes.
Carlos sighed, feeling helpless. The boy did care for his mother and showed the spirit of a little man.
"Sidney!" At the end of the hallway, Mrs. Murphy, clad in pajamas as if she'd just woken from a sleep, arrived with the support of a servant, her first thought being whether Sidney had eaten.
"Grandma, why aren't you asleep?" asked Carlos.
"I'm worried Sidney hasn't eaten!" Mrs. Murphy expressed her concern. "I couldn't sleep well, fearing he might be hungry."
As she approached Sidney, "Are you hungry, Sidney? I'll have the kitchen prepare some supper for you."
Sidney shook his head, but his little stomach betrayed him with a few audible growls.
Mrs. Murphy playfully scolded him, "Still claiming you're not hungry? I heard your stomach!"
Suddenly, the door opened. Several female doctors exited the room.
"Mr. Murphy."
Carlos looked towards them. "How is she?"
"The patient is fortunate to have only sustained superficial wounds," reported the doctor respectfully. "Ms. Parker is feeling a bit dizzy, possibly a concussion, so rest is recommended."
Carlos inquired, "Is the wound dressed?"
The doctor confirmed, "It's been bandaged."
Eddie, filled with concern, rushed into the room, followed closely by Sidney.
"Sidney…" Mrs. Murphy seemed troubled. "Why is he so concerned about this woman?"
Carlos responded, "I'm not sure."
After some thought, Mrs. Murphy sighed with empathy. "Perhaps it's because he's grown up without a mother. Sidney must see something maternal in her."
Addressing the servants, she instructed hastily, "Prepare the meal.”
"Yes, Madam Murphy.”
"Carlos, will you eat something?"
"I'm not hungry," replied Carlos.
Mrs. Murphy headed back to the room, "I have to make sure Sidney eats before I can rest."
Within the Murphy household, Mrs. Murphy doted on Sidney the most. While Carlos could be strict at times, the old lady wished she could hold Sidney in the palm of her hand.
Carlos, standing in the doorway, observed Angela lying on the bed. In all honesty, she was not the most stunning woman he had ever seen. With a seven or eight out of ten in looks, she had soft, bewitching eyes and lustrous pupils that grew more beautiful the longer one gazed into them.
And then there was Eddie. This young boy had inherited her fine features, a handsome and distinctive appearance.
He was seven years old.
That meant while he was still unconscious, buried in the debris, she had secretly conceived with another man.
But the thought of Eddie being the product of her infidelity cast a shadow over Carlos's expression. No one had ever betrayed him. Never. So, his feelings towards this woman were of distinct aversion.
The servants quickly brought in a lavish meal.
Mrs. Murphy, out of habit, prepared to feed Sidney, but she caught sight of him holding a bowl, clumsily feeding Angela his favorite dishes with a spoon.
Mrs. Murphy's eyes nearly popped out of her head!
What was Sidney doing?
Feeding Angela himself?
Angela looked surprised as well, "Sidney, are you feeding me?"
Sidney gently nodded, his eyes sparkling.
How could Angela refuse? After taking a bite of the food he offered, she noticed a change in Sidney's expression, as if he was waiting for her response.
"Delicious," Angela complimented, a warm and lovely smile gracing her lips. Sidney watched her, his cheeks turning pink with embarrassment.
Eddie, witnessing this, felt uncomfortable and jealous. "Are you trying to steal my mom?
Sidney just blinked in confusion.
"My mom is mine, only mine," stressed Eddie.
Sidney's eyes quickly conveyed his disappointment.
"Listen, Eddie," Angela spoke softly, mindful that Eddie had been very possessive of her since he was little, "Sidney isn't trying to take me away."
Yet Sidney put down his bowl, clinging to her hand, nuzzling her shoulder.
Eddie’s internal alarms blared. He also clung to Angela's hand, insisting to Sidney, "She's my mom, not yours."
Sidney didn't argue but just buried his face in the crook of Angela's arm, showing only his innocent eyes.
Angela tenderly stroked his head, assuring, "Sidney, no need to feel downhearted."
Basking in the warmth of Angela's affection, Sidney affectionately nuzzled her palm.
Meanwhile, Eddie experienced a pang of hurt, perceiving Angela's actions as favoring Sidney. The tender interaction between Angela and Sidney left Eddie feeling sidelined, as if Angela's attention and warmth were directed more towards Sidney than him.
Nearby, Sophia had never seen this side of Sidney. In her mind, Sidney was always detached, distant from everyone, always attended to by nannies and servants. Now, not eating himself, he was eagerly feeding Angela and showing such closeness.
This was not the Sidney she knew.
"Sidney, you must be hungry too. Let grandma feed you."
Sophia sat next to Sidney, intent on feeding him.
"I've been eating on my own since I was four," claimed Eddie.
Hearing this, Sidney shook off Sophia's attempt and insisted on feeding himself. Seeing him eat independently, Sophia was surprised but reassured as she retreated to the doorway.
"A child can't be without their mother," Sophia observed. "Carlos, have you found Sidney's biological mother?"
"That's a question for you," Carlos retorted.
Sophia seemed puzzled, "Me?"
"Weren't you the one concerned about my not waking up, worried about the Blue Moon pack lacking an heir, prompting you to find a human woman?" Carlos continued, "Is Sidney born to some other human woman?"
Furrowing her brow, Sophia replied, "No! How could I allow such dubious women to bear a Murphy heir?" Yet she suspected that someone might have stolen Carlos's seed to secretly conceive Sidney.
Carlos resolved, "I will uncover Sidney’s origins soon, but no matter who his mother is, he's my son."
Sophia asked about the next steps if Sidney's birth mother was found.
Carlos was firm, "I'll hold her accountable for abandonment. I'll make sure she learns the consequences of rejecting my son."