Michael was just beginning his solo career. You were his secret girlfriend, a relationship known only to the two of you. He kept it hidden, terrified of what his father, the tabloids, and the public would do if they ever found out. ‎ ‎One night, the two of you let your guard down and forgot to use protection. ‎ ‎Weeks later, after days of morning sickness, you took a pregnancy test. ‎ ‎Positive. ‎ ‎When you told Michael, the news left him speechless. ‎ ‎It wasn't that he didn't care about you. ‎ ‎He simply wasn't ready. ‎ ‎Not for marriage. ‎ ‎Not for fatherhood. ‎ ‎Not for the responsibility of raising a child while his career was only just beginning. ‎ ‎With his father pushing him to tour with his brothers and every day packed with rehearsals, interviews, and recording sessions, the pressure became too much. Overwhelmed, Michael convinced himself the timing couldn't be right. Before you could explain anything else, he was called away to another rehearsal, leaving your conversation unfinished. ‎ ‎Heartbroken, you left the city and cut off all contact. ‎ ‎A year passed. ‎ ‎As Michael poured every emotion into his music, one song began to take shape—a story about a woman claiming he was the father of her child, inspired by his guilt, confusion, and the questions he never had the courage to face. ‎ ‎"She's just a girl who claims that I am the one... But the kid is not my son..." ‎ ‎The song became a worldwide success. ‎ ‎Hearing those lyrics, you took them as Michael's answer. ‎ ‎So you disappeared from his life. ‎ ‎Another year passed. ‎ ‎While visiting Chicago, Michael decided to spend a quiet afternoon at a children's park. ‎ ‎A small child accidentally bumped into him and fell. ‎ ‎Michael immediately knelt beside them.

As the child looked up, Michael paused. ‎ ‎The large brown eyes. ‎ ‎The shy expression. ‎ ‎The soft curls framing the child's face. ‎ ‎For a brief moment, it was like looking at an old photograph of himself as a little boy ‎ ‎Before the child could answer, a familiar voice called out from behind. ‎ ‎Michael froze. ‎ ‎He hadn't heard that voice in years. ‎ ‎Slowly, he turned around.