Chapter 4: A Boy Called Ethan
866 Words
Grace couldn't move.
The little boy stood at the end of the hallway, clutching a small toy dinosaur in one hand. He couldn't have been more than seven years old. His dark hair was slightly messy, and his large brown eyes held the kind of innocence that couldn't be faked.
But it wasn't his appearance that left Grace frozen.
It was his question.
"Why do you have my daddy's wallet?"
Grace looked down at the wallet in her trembling hands, then back at the child.
"Your... daddy?"
The boy nodded confidently.
"Yes."
Grace felt the room tilt beneath her feet.
"What's your daddy's name?" she asked softly.
The little boy smiled.
"Daniel."
The name hit Grace like a physical blow.
Her knees weakened, and she steadied herself against the wall.
"No..." she whispered. "There must be another Daniel."
Before the boy could answer, hurried footsteps echoed from another room.
A woman rushed into the hallway.
She stopped abruptly when she saw Grace.
For a long, tense moment, neither woman spoke.
Grace recognized her instantly.
The elegant woman in the red dress.
Sophia.
Sophia's confident expression faded into shock.
"You..." she murmured.
Grace's voice trembled.
"So it's true."
Sophia glanced at the wallet in Grace's hand, then at Ethan.
"Ethan," she said gently, "go to your room."
"But"
"Please."
The boy hesitated before obeying, casting one last curious glance at Grace.
As soon as his bedroom door closed, silence filled the apartment.
Grace stepped forward, her eyes filled with pain.
"Tell me the truth."
Sophia folded her arms.
"What truth?"
"Who are you to my husband?"
Sophia didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she walked to the window and stared outside.
"I've been wondering when this day would come."
Grace's heart pounded.
"You knew about me?"
Sophia turned slowly.
"I've always known about you."
Those words cut deeper than any knife.
Grace swallowed hard.
"Then tell me... who is Ethan?"
Sophia closed her eyes for a moment.
"He means everything to me."
Grace's voice broke.
"And Daniel?"
Sophia looked directly into her eyes.
"He means everything to Ethan."
Grace felt tears welling up.
"Is Ethan... Daniel's son?"
Sophia remained silent.
That silence was louder than any answer.
Grace's world collapsed.
five years of love.
five years of trust.
five years of believing she had the perfect marriage.
Had it all been a lie?
She turned toward the door.
"I can't do this."
"Grace, wait."
Grace stopped but didn't look back.
"If you have any respect for me," she whispered, "don't lie."
Sophia's voice softened.
"There are things you don't understand."
Grace laughed bitterly.
"Really? Because it seems very simple."
She held up Daniel's wallet.
"My husband's wallet is in your apartment."
She pointed toward Ethan's bedroom.
"A little boy just called him Daddy."
Then she looked into Sophia's eyes.
"And yesterday I watched you hold his hand."
Sophia opened her mouth to speak.
No words came out.
Grace shook her head.
"I hope he was worth it."
She walked out before Sophia could stop her.
The drive home was a blur.
Grace couldn't remember stopping at traffic lights.
She couldn't remember turning corners.
All she could hear was Ethan's innocent voice.
"My daddy's wallet."
Each repetition shattered another piece of her heart.
That evening, Daniel returned home carrying a bouquet of white roses.
"They reminded me of you," he said with a smile.
Grace stared at the flowers.
White.
The color of honesty.
The color of promises.
She almost laughed.
"What's wrong?" Daniel asked.
She looked at the man she had loved with all her heart.
His smile.
His gentle voice.
The same eyes she had trusted without question.
She wanted to ask him everything.
Instead, she asked only one question.
"Where were you today?"
Daniel loosened his tie.
"At work."
Grace felt something inside her break.
He hadn't even hesitated.
He lied so easily.
"Busy?"
"Meetings all day."
Grace nodded slowly.
"I see."
Daniel walked over and wrapped his arms around her.
She stood stiffly.
He noticed.
"Grace... talk to me."
She pulled away.
"I'm tired."
Before he could stop her, she walked upstairs and locked herself in the bedroom.
She slid to the floor, covering her mouth to keep from sobbing aloud.
Outside the door, Daniel rested his hand against the wood.
"I know something's wrong," he said quietly.
"Please let me help."
Grace closed her eyes.
The man outside sounded sincere.
But how could she believe him now?
Late that night, after Daniel had fallen asleep on the couch downstairs, Grace quietly took his phone.
This time she wasn't looking for messages.
She searched his recent locations.
Her heart skipped a beat.
One address appeared again and again over the past six months.
Riverside Heights. Apartment 407.
Grace nearly dropped the phone.
So he had been there.
Many times.
Just then, another notification flashed onto the screen.
It wasn't from Sophia.
It was from an unknown number.
You made a mistake letting Grace find the apartment. If she discovers the truth about Victor Kane, none of us will survive.
Grace's breath caught.
Victor Kane.
She had never heard that name before.
But something told her...
It was only the beginning of a far more dangerous story.
- Writer
