The Billionaire Who Regretted Letting Me Go

Chapter 4: The Lie That Changed Everything

Adrian didn't move.

For several seconds, he simply stood there, staring at me as if he had forgotten how to breathe.

Behind me, Ethan tightened his small hand around mine.

I could feel Adrian's eyes moving between us.

Me.

Then Ethan.

Then back to me.

The silence in the lobby became unbearable.

Finally, Adrian spoke.

"He's not mine?"

His voice was quiet.

Too quiet.

I forced myself to meet his eyes.

"No."

The word came out stronger this time.

But my heart was pounding so violently that I was sure he could hear it.

Adrian's gaze dropped to Ethan again.

My son was still standing beside me, unaware that his entire life could change because of one conversation.

Ethan looked so much like his father.

That had always terrified me.

His dark hair.

Those deep brown eyes.

Even the serious expression he sometimes wore when he was thinking.

Every year, he looked a little more like Adrian Blackwood.

And every year, I prayed that Adrian would never find us.

Yet here he was.

Standing only a few feet away.

"Mommy," Ethan whispered, tugging gently at my hand. "Who is he?"

My stomach twisted.

I looked down at my son.

"No one, sweetheart."

The moment those words left my mouth, I regretted them.

I saw Adrian's face change.

Just slightly.

But I saw it.

Pain.

For three years, Adrian had been the most important person in my life.

Now, after five years apart, I had just called him no one.

Ethan looked at Adrian again.

"He looks angry."

I almost smiled.

Almost.

Adrian wasn't angry.

Not exactly.

He looked confused.

Suspicious.

And dangerous.

"I have a meeting," I said quickly.

Adrian's eyes returned to mine.

"We need to talk."

"We already did."

"No, Amelia. You lied to me."

My heart skipped.

I tightened my grip on Ethan's hand.

"About what?"

"About your son."

I forced myself to remain calm.

"I told you he isn't yours."

"You expect me to believe that?"

I stared at him.

"Why wouldn't you?"

"Because he's five."

My throat tightened.

"Lots of children are five years old, Adrian."

His jaw clenched.

"Don't play games with me."

A cold laugh escaped me.

"Games?"

I stepped closer to him.

"Do you want to talk about games? Let's talk about the biggest game of all—the one where you pretended to love me while secretly preparing to marry another woman."

His expression hardened.

"That's not what happened."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Then explain it."

For the first time, Adrian looked away.

That was all I needed to see.

I shook my head.

"Exactly."

"Amelia—"

"No."

I raised my hand.

"I spent five years wondering if I had made the right decision by leaving without listening to you. Do you know how many times I asked myself whether I should have stayed?"

His eyes softened.

I hated that.

I hated that even after everything, one look from him could still make something weak inside me tremble.

"I wanted to explain," he said.

"You had three weeks."

"I was trying to protect you."

I froze.

The words sounded so ridiculous that for a moment, I thought I had heard him incorrectly.

"Protect me?"

His eyes locked onto mine.

"My family was involved."

I laughed bitterly.

"Your family was always involved, Adrian. That's why I never belonged in your world."

"You did belong."

"Then why did you let them destroy us?"

He took a step toward me.

I stepped back immediately.

His expression darkened.

"Don't."

The single word stopped him.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then Ethan pulled on my hand again.

"Mommy, can we go now?"

I looked down at him.

"Yes, sweetheart."

I turned toward the elevator.

"Amelia."

I ignored Adrian.

"Amelia!"

This time, his voice echoed through the lobby.

I stopped.

Slowly, I turned around.

"What?"

His expression was unreadable.

But his eyes were fixed on Ethan.

"What's his name?"

Every instinct inside me screamed at me not to answer.

But Ethan was standing right there.

And I refused to make him feel as though he was some shameful secret.

"Ethan."

Adrian repeated the name under his breath.

"Ethan."

Something flashed across his face.

Recognition?

No.

That was impossible.

Adrian had never known.

Unless...

My thoughts were interrupted when Ethan suddenly walked toward Adrian.

"Ethan!"

I reached for him, but my son was already standing directly in front of Adrian.

Adrian looked down.

Ethan looked up.

For a few seconds, the two of them simply stared at each other.

My heart stopped.

Then Ethan pointed toward Adrian's wrist.

"That's a nice watch."

I closed my eyes.

Of all the things he could have said.

Adrian looked at his expensive watch.

Then back at Ethan.

"Thank you."

"My mommy says expensive things aren't always important."

I stared at my son.

"Ethan."

"What?"

He looked innocent.

Adrian's lips almost curved into a smile.

Almost.

"Your mother is right," Adrian said.

Ethan looked pleased with himself.

Then he noticed Adrian's suit.

"Are you rich?"

My eyes widened.

"Ethan!"

"What? It's just a question!"

Adrian actually smiled this time.

A small smile.

The same smile that had once made me fall hopelessly in love with him.

My chest tightened.

"Yes," Adrian answered.

Ethan nodded seriously.

"I knew it."

"How?"

"Only rich people wear suits like that."

I covered my face with my free hand.

"I'm so sorry."

Adrian looked at me.

For a second, the tension between us disappeared.

And I saw the man I used to know.

Then his eyes returned to Ethan.

"Your son is interesting."

"Thank you."

"Who is his father?"

The warmth disappeared immediately.

I lowered my hand.

"That's none of your business."

"Is he involved in Ethan's life?"

My eyes narrowed.

"Why do you care?"

"Because—"

He stopped himself.

Because what?

Because he thought Ethan was his?

Adrian stepped closer.

I instinctively placed myself between him and my son.

His expression changed.

"Amelia."

"Don't come any closer."

His jaw tightened.

"You think I'm going to hurt him?"

"I don't know what you're capable of anymore."

The words hit him.

I saw it.

For the first time since he walked into my office, Adrian looked genuinely wounded.

Good.

A part of me wanted him to feel a fraction of what I had felt.

But another part of me hated myself for thinking that.

Ethan tugged at my jacket.

"Mommy, are you fighting?"

I immediately looked down at him.

"No, sweetheart."

"But you're angry."

I took a deep breath.

"I'm not angry at you."

"I know."

His innocent answer nearly broke my heart.

Then he looked around me at Adrian.

"Are you Mommy's friend?"

Before I could answer, Adrian spoke.

"I used to be."

I looked at him sharply.

Ethan seemed to think about this.

"Then why aren't you friends anymore?"

The question hung in the air.

Adrian looked directly at me.

I looked away.

Because how could I explain heartbreak to a five-year-old?

How could I explain that sometimes the people who promise to love you forever are the same people who destroy you?

"Ethan," I said gently, "go and wait with Lily by the elevator."

"But—"

"Please."

He looked between Adrian and me one more time.

Then walked toward my assistant, who had wisely remained nearby.

The moment Ethan was out of hearing range, Adrian's voice became cold.

"Who is his father?"

I turned toward him slowly.

"You really don't give up, do you?"

"Answer me."

"Why?"

His eyes darkened.

"Because something isn't right."

I crossed my arms.

"What's not right?"

"His age."

My heartbeat stumbled.

"His eyes."

I said nothing.

"His hair."

Still nothing.

"And the fact that you disappeared exactly five years ago."

My face remained expressionless, but inside, panic was rising.

Adrian moved closer.

"Tell me the truth."

I shook my head.

"You already have it."

"No."

His voice became firm.

"I don't."

I looked him directly in the eyes.

"You are not Ethan's father."

The lie tasted bitter.

Adrian stared at me for what felt like forever.

Then he laughed once.

But there was no humor in it.

"You've become a very good liar."

"And you've become very good at accusing people."

"Amelia."

"What?"

"If you're lying to me—"

"What are you going to do?"

His eyes narrowed.

I immediately regretted challenging him.

Not because I was afraid of Adrian.

At least, not the Adrian I used to know.

But the man standing before me now had spent five years becoming more powerful.

More dangerous.

More impossible to ignore.

He leaned closer.

"If that boy is mine, I will find out."

A chill ran through my body.

I refused to show it.

"He isn't."

"Then you have nothing to worry about."

I forced a smile.

"Exactly."

For a moment, we stood there in silence.

Then Adrian looked toward Ethan.

My son was talking to Lily, laughing about something on her phone.

A strange expression crossed Adrian's face.

Something almost gentle.

Something that terrified me more than his anger.

"You look happy," he said quietly.

I blinked.

"What?"

"You."

His eyes returned to mine.

"You look happy."

I swallowed.

"I am."

"Without me."

The words were soft.

But they carried five years of pain.

I looked at him.

For a brief moment, I wanted to tell him the truth.

I wanted to tell him how many nights I had cried.

How I had been terrified when Ethan was born.

How I had watched my son take his first steps alone.

How I had wanted Adrian beside me more times than I could count.

But I couldn't.

Because Adrian had made his choice.

And I had made mine.

"Yes," I said.

His face went still.

"I'm happy without you."

I turned away.

"Come on, Ethan."

My son ran toward me.

I took his hand.

This time, Adrian didn't stop us.

He simply stood there and watched as we entered the elevator.

Just before the doors closed, our eyes met one last time.

Then the doors slid shut between us.

I released the breath I had been holding.

Ethan looked up at me.

"Mommy?"

"Yes?"

"Was that man really your friend?"

I looked at the closed elevator doors.

A friend.

A lover.

A stranger.

A man who had once been my entire world.

"No," I whispered.

"He was someone I used to know."

But even as I said the words, I knew Adrian Blackwood wasn't going to disappear again.

And this time...

Neither was I.

---

Adrian remained in the lobby long after Amelia left.

His eyes stayed fixed on the elevator.

Something about the boy disturbed him.

No.

Not disturbed.

Haunted him.

Ethan's face kept appearing in his mind.

The timing.

Amelia's disappearance.

Her fear.

Her lies.

Adrian pulled out his phone.

A few seconds later, his assistant answered.

"Yes, Mr. Blackwood?"

"Find out everything you can about Amelia Carter."

There was a brief silence.

"Sir?"

"Everything."

He looked toward the elevator one last time.

"Where she has been for the past five years. Who she has worked with. Who she has dated."

His voice lowered.

"And find out who Ethan Carter's father is."

"Understood."

Adrian ended the call.

Then he picked up the small silver watch he had worn every day for the past five years.

The same watch Amelia had given him on the night he lost her.

He turned it over.

For every second with you.

His jaw tightened.

For five years, he had searched for Amelia.

Now he had found her.

And Adrian Blackwood was no longer willing to let her disappear.

But Amelia had forgotten one thing.

Five years ago, she had walked away carrying his secret.

This time...

Adrian was coming for the truth.