**At Aunt Juliy's Apartment Dining Table**
"Auntie, that lady outside earlier was really pretty, wasn't she?" Rey said while stirring his food.
"Yes, young master Rey. Liana is indeed a beautiful girl. But why are you suddenly asking that?" replied Uncle Will, who had just returned after helping Liana unpack her things.
"Uncle… what do you think my mom is like?" Rey asked eagerly.
"Your mother must have been kind, beautiful, gentle, well-mannered, and loved you very much," Uncle Will answered warmly.
"And she would protect me too, right, Uncle?" Rey added.
"Of course. No mother would ever let her child get hurt," Uncle Will said, looking at Rey affectionately.
"Then I know now who my mom is!" Rey exclaimed excitedly, standing up on his chair.
"What…?" Uncle Will and his wife both looked at him in shock.
"Yes, Uncle, Auntie! My teacher said a mother is someone who always protects us. That means that lady earlier is my mom! You said the same thing too! After all these years, I finally met her. I have to see her again before she disappears! Right, Uncle Will?" Rey said innocently, his eyes sparkling with conviction.
"Oh dear… young master, that's not what we meant. Just because she helped you doesn't mean she's your mother. It doesn't work like that. She's just a women" [Uncle Will's words were cut off.]
"She is my mom! You're being mean, just like Dad. I'm leaving!" Rey shouted and stormed away from the dining table.
Upset by what Uncle Will said, Rey decided to run straight to Liana's apartment.
"Young master, wait! Be careful, you'll fall!" Uncle Will shouted anxiously, chasing after him.
Rey ran out of the apartment and immediately saw Liana, who was just about to leave.
"Mom!" Rey yelled loudly, running toward her.
He threw himself into Liana's arms, hugging her tightly. Liana was startled by the sudden embrace.
"Mom, don't leave Rey again, please…" Rey whimpered softly.
"Mom? Who's your mom, sweetie?" Liana asked in confusion.
"You are, Mom! I missed you so much. Don't go, okay?" Rey said, still clinging to her.
"But I'm not your mom, I'm Liana. We just met today," Liana explained gently.
Not long after, Uncle Will and Aunt Juliy arrived, panting.
"Young master, she's not your mother. I already told you that. You've mistaken her for someone else," Uncle Will said, trying to calm him.
"She's my mom… she's my mom" (Rey suddenly collapsed mid-sentence.)
"Young master!" Uncle Will cried out in panic.
Seeing Rey faint, Uncle Will immediately rushed him to the hospital where David worked, accompanied by Liana and Aunt Juliy.
**On the Way**
"He's burning up, Uncle… How could his parents not notice this?" Liana said in panic, touching Rey's forehead.
"Fever?! Oh God, I didn't realize it earlier. If I had known, I wouldn't have taken him so far from his father!" Uncle Will exclaimed while driving hurriedly.
When they arrived at the hospital, Uncle Will carried Rey straight into David's room.
"Rey! Uncle, what happened to him?" David asked, panicking when he saw Rey unconscious.
"Sir, I think he has a fever. He suddenly fainted," Uncle Will explained, still carrying Rey.
"Lay him down there, I'll examine him," David ordered quickly.
"Yes, sir." After Uncle Will laid Rey down, David told him to wait outside.
"Uncle, how's the boy?" Liana asked worriedly.
"His father is with him now. I'm sure the young master will be fine," Uncle Will replied.
"His father? The boy's father is a doctor?" Liana asked in surprise.
"Yes, miss. The man inside is his father. But the young master has never met his mother she passed away long ago. When he misses her too much, he tends to fall sick like this," Uncle Will explained softly.
"I see… I really didn't know that. If I had, I wouldn't have pushed him away earlier when he called me 'Mom,'" Liana said regretfully.
**Inside the Room**
"Rey, please be okay. Daddy's here. You can't go with Mommy yet. You have to stay and live with Daddy," David whispered, almost in tears.
"Mom… Mom…" Rey mumbled weakly, still unconscious.
"Rey, you're waking up. Rest some more, Daddy's right here," David said, gently stroking his son's hair.
"Daddy… I found Mom," Rey said weakly.
"Mom? What do you mean, Rey? Where did you find her?" David asked in confusion.
"Mom Liana… over there," Rey said, pointing toward the window where Liana was standing.
David was puzzled why was his son calling a woman they barely knew "Mom"?
"Call Mom in here," Rey said softly.
Seeing how weak Rey still was, David decided to comply. Maybe it would help him recover faster.
**Outside the Room**
"Which one of you is Liana? Rey keeps calling for her to come in," David asked.
Uncle Will and his wife exchanged glances, then turned toward Liana.
"I'm Liana…" Liana replied hesitantly.
"Come with me," David said shortly, leading her into the room.
"Mom, don't leave me," Rey said as he woke and hugged Liana tightly.
Liana froze, unsure what to do, but decided to go along with whatever made Rey feel better. David gave her a reassuring nod.
**David's Thoughts**
*Who is this woman? Why is Rey so attached to her, even though they just met?* David wondered silently.
Seeing Liana holding Rey calmed him somehow. He had never seen Rey so comfortable around a woman before.
"Maybe I'll step out for a bit. Please stay with him for a few more minutes," David said to Liana.
"Doctor, I know Rey is your son. But wouldn't it be better if a parent stayed with their child when they're sick?" Liana asked gently.
"You're right. But he seems much more at ease with you. Please… just stay a little longer, for his sake," David said earnestly.
"Alright, I'll stay for a while. But are you sure you want to leave him alone with me? What if I do something to him?" Liana said half-jokingly.
"I trust you, Liana," David said softly, looking straight into her eyes.