Chapter 3: Five Years Later
693 Words
Five years later, Adrian Blackwood finally found me.
Or at least, that was what I thought.
I was standing in the lobby of the Carter & Reed headquarters, reviewing a presentation on my tablet, when my assistant rushed toward me.
"Amelia."
I looked up.
"What is it, Lily?"
She lowered her voice.
"There's someone here to see you."
I sighed.
"If it's another client, tell them to schedule an appointment."
"It's not a client."
Something in her expression made me look up.
"Then who is it?"
Lily hesitated.
My heart suddenly became uneasy.
"A man named Adrian Blackwood."
The tablet slipped from my hands.
For five years, I had trained myself not to react when I heard that name.
Five years of building a new life.
Five years of pretending that the man I once loved no longer existed.
But hearing his name now...
It felt like being dragged back into the worst night of my life.
"No."
Lily blinked.
"I'm sorry?"
"Tell him I'm not here."
"Amelia, he already saw you."
My blood ran cold.
Slowly, I turned toward the glass entrance.
And there he was.
Adrian Blackwood.
Older.
Sharper.
More powerful.
And still devastatingly familiar.
He stood several feet away, dressed in a dark suit that probably cost more than my first apartment.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
Five years.
Five years since I had walked away from him.
Five years since he had chosen Sophia.
Five years since I disappeared carrying his child.
His eyes locked onto mine.
"Amelia."
My name sounded different in his voice now.
Lower.
Almost disbelieving.
I forced myself to breathe.
"Mr. Blackwood."
His expression tightened.
"Don't call me that."
I picked up my tablet.
"Then what should I call you?"
His eyes darkened.
The Adrian I remembered would have smiled.
Would have walked toward me and pulled me into his arms.
But this Adrian simply stared.
As if he couldn't believe I was standing in front of him.
"I've been looking for you."
I gave a small, humorless laugh.
"That's strange."
"Why?"
"Because five years ago, you seemed perfectly capable of letting me go."
His jaw clenched.
Lily quietly disappeared.
Smart woman.
Adrian took a step closer.
"I went to your apartment."
"I know."
His eyes narrowed.
"You knew?"
"Your building manager called me before I changed my number."
A flash of pain crossed his face.
"Then you knew I was looking for you."
"Yes."
"Why didn't you answer?"
I looked directly into his eyes.
"Because I didn't want to be found."
Silence.
The lobby suddenly felt too small.
Too quiet.
Too dangerous.
Then a tiny voice came from behind me.
"Mommy?"
Every muscle in my body froze.
No.
Not now.
Please, not now.
I turned around.
Ethan stood near the elevator, holding his small backpack.
His curly dark hair was messy, and his big brown eyes looked confused.
"Mommy, are we going home now?"
My heart pounded.
Adrian hadn't moved.
But I could feel his eyes.
Slowly, painfully, I turned back toward him.
He was staring at Ethan.
Then at me.
Then back at Ethan.
Something changed in his face.
A question.
A terrible, dangerous question.
"Who is that?" Adrian asked quietly.
I swallowed.
"My son."
His eyes remained fixed on Ethan.
"How old is he?"
My heart stopped.
Five years.
Exactly five years.
I smiled.
But my hands were shaking.
"Five."
Adrian looked at me.
Then at Ethan.
His face slowly lost its color.
"Amelia..."
I grabbed Ethan's hand.
"We have to go."
"Wait."
I ignored him.
"Amelia."
His voice was sharper this time.
I stopped.
But I didn't turn around.
"Is he mine?"
The entire world seemed to stop.
Ethan looked up at me.
"Mommy?"
I closed my eyes.
Five years.
Five years of running.
Five years of protecting my son.
And now Adrian Blackwood was standing only a few feet away.
Waiting for an answer that could destroy everything I had built.
I slowly turned around.
Our eyes met.
And for the first time in five years...
I lied to him.
"No."
Adrian stared at me.
But something in his expression told me he didn't believe a single word.
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