Wanted By My Ex-husband

Baycrest City

SIX YEARS LATER

Moving out of Baycrest was not as difficult as returning with twins who looked so much like their father.

Navigating through the crowded airport, Eleanor’s heart skipped a beat as she recollected memories of a painful past she thought she had forgotten.

“Mummy, look. There's an ice cream stand over there,” her little girl called, but she couldn't hear her.

Her son tugged at her gown gently, pulling her thoughts away from the depths of her mind and back to the present.

“You look sad,” he said, studying her. “Is everything alright?”

"I'm fine Justin. Mummy is just tired from the flight."

“Can I have ice cream, then?” Her daughter asked with excitement.

“We’re all going to get ice cream,” their mother responded, and the kids trotted gleefully to the stand.

“Such lovely kids,” the vendor said, smiling at Sophia. “What beautiful brown eyes you have!”

“I'm Sophia,” she blushed. “This is my mum and my brother Justin.”

“Sophia! You shouldn't tell strangers our names.” Justin snapped.

“But he called us lovely. And he said my eyes are pretty,” Sophia smiled and rolled her eyes at her brother, who did nothing but frown.

He was a chip off the old block. Just like his father, but Eleanor prayed he would grow up to become a better man.

“Forgive their manners,” she beamed an apology. “We'll have two vanilla flavored cones and a chocolate cone too.”

The ice cream man handed them their ice creams and when Eleanor dug her hand into her purse to bring out some cash, he waved his hand dismissively.

“This one is on the house,” he smiled at the kids. “Welcome to Baycrest City.”

Eleanor shook her head to say no. “That’s very kind of you, sir, but I insist.” She smiled and pressed the bill into his hand. “Have a nice day,” she added with a gentle smile and left with her children.

Sophia hopped along cheerfully, smiling at everyone, and running circles around her mother as she struggled with their luggage.

“Excuse me, miss, your bags look heavy. Let me help,” a gentle voice came from behind them.

“No, I'm fine,” Eleanor lied, but tripped on her own shoes shortly after and fell into the hands of a stranger.

He beamed her a smile, his gaze intense and gentle. His lips were moist, like he had applied some gloss on them before leaving his home, and he wore a name tag on the right side of his chest.

“Doctor Ethan,” Eleanor whispered as he helped her get back on her feet.

"You should probably say yes to a helping hand the next time someone offers," he smirked, the sunshine catching the mischievous glint in his eyes.

She barely registered the words he said, too caught up in the way light played across his features. Her lips parted slowly to respond, but no words came as his warm smile deepened, holding her gaze.

“Eleanor! Sweetheart! Over here!” A man with dusty brown hair called out.

Eleanor turned at the sound of her name and found Duke waving at her. The kids had already rushed towards their uncle and left their mother alone with the man who had saved her from such a disgraceful fall.

“Eleanor.” He whispered her name so beautifully that she couldn't hide the excitement in her eyes. “Have a wonderful day,” he said to her with a smirk, and disappeared into the crowd.

“Wait…” Eleanor called, finding her voice. “Thank you!” She yelled, but he had vanished with the wind.

Eleanor dragged her bags over to Duke and planted her hands on her hips. “We've been waiting for over an hour.” She huffed. “What kept you so long?”

“I've missed you too,” Duke laughed and hugged her. “You look so beautiful,” he whispered. “I guess Metropolis was really all you needed to be the boss,” he teased.

Eleanor rolled her eyes at him. “Don't try to sweet talk your way out of this one,” she said to him.

“Are you guys fighting?” Justin asked.

Eleanor looked at the kids and saw how closely they stared at both of them. She laughed gently and kissed both kids on their forehead.

“Uncle Duke and I are just reconnecting,” she told them, a reassuring smile breaking on the corner of her lips.

Satisfied with their mother's response and ready to get inside the car, Eleanor came to a sudden halt and pressed her hand on her temple.

“s**t!” she exclaimed.

The kids stared at her, surprised that their mother had just let that slip.

“Duke, please watch the kids. I forgot to fill out our immigration papers.”

“We'll be here waiting.”

Eleanor disappeared into the crowd, and Duke turned his attention to the kids. “Who’s hungry?” He asked with mischief written all over his face.

He was always ready to spoil the kids in the absence of their mother, and both children happily obliged.

They walked down to a nearby restaurant and after picking out a table, Duke left the kids alone at the table and went to place their orders.

“Jay-Jay isn't here,” Sophia suddenly exclaimed, searching her seat for her stuffed bunny, but he wasn't with her.

“Justin, I lost Jay-Jay,” she sobbed.

“You didn't lose Jay-Jay. He's in the car,” Justin responded. “Mum packed him in your bag, remember?”

Sophia rushed down from her seat and ran out of the restaurant. Justin ran out after her but froze to his feet when she dashed into the road. A speeding car maneuvered around her and stopped in the middle of the road.

Trembling, Sophia stumbled back and fell down on her knees with tears welling in her eyes.

Justin rushed to her side and wrapped his hands around his little sister. He wanted to scold her, but when he saw the fear in her eyes, he kept quiet and simply hugged her.

A man dressed in a navy blue tuxedo stepped down from the car. He ran his hands through his jet-black hair as he gazed at the kids on the road. His heart raced at the close call of almost hitting a little girl.

He walked over to where they sat and knelt down beside the little girl with worry on his face. “Are you hurt?” He asked.

Sophia nodded, still shaken, but unharmed. He helped her to her feet, pulled out a napkin from his breast pocket and wiped her scraped knee.

“Are you her brother?” He asked the boy beside her. “Help me get her off the road,” he told him.

He looked up to get a better look at both kids. They were twins, but something about the spark in their eyes caught his attention, especially that of the little girl.

“You should drive carefully,” Justin advised. “You nearly hit my sister.” He frowned, pulling his sister away from the mysterious man and holding her in his embrace.

“Where are your parents?” He asked with a tender voice.

Sophia pointed to the airport. “Mom went to take care of something at the airport. We were inside that restaurant with our uncle,” she added, now pointing towards the restaurant where a worried Duke searched earnestly for the kids.

“Didn't your parents tell you not to wander off on your own?”

Sophia lowered her head and fidgeted with her hands. “I didn't mean to.” She said remorsefully. “Justin only came looking because I ran off on my own.”

“Justin?” The man turned to him. “You're a good brother. Take care of your little sister.”

Justin scoffed. “I will.”

“Boss Caesar. We're running late for the meeting with the new barristers,” a man said with a harsh, brute voice, stepping up behind them.

“Uncle Caesar!” Sophia called him excitedly. “I'm Sophia.” She smiled.

Caesar smiled and felt his heart warm when she hugged him. He turned to his driver with a mean look on his face.

“Walk the kids back to the restaurant. Their uncle is looking for them inside. And yes, give me the car keys. I should be able to drive carefully,” he said and winked at Justin, who finally broke character and smiled.

His driver pulled him to a corner and whispered to him. “Something feels off about those two kids.”

“What do you mean?” Caesar asked.

“You guys have such a striking resemblance, boss. Especially the little boy,” the driver responded.

Caesar’s chest tightened as he stared at the little boy's eyes, his own reflection staring back at him.

He leaned in and whispered in his driver's ears. “Find out who their uncle is, and their mother, too. I want every information you can get before you come back to the mansion.”

Caesar remained rooted to his feet and watched the kids stroll back to the restaurant, with his driver following closely behind them.

‘Where had he seen those eyes?’ His mind raced until a vivid memory of her face emerged. His chest tightened as he whispered her name with intense longing. "Eleanor…"