THE GIRL FROM ROOM TEN

Chapter 12 — A Father’s First Step

Lucas woke before sunrise.

He had barely slept.

The previous day's revelation kept returning to him.

**Ethan was his son.**

Seven years.

The number felt impossible.

He had spent seven years believing Ellie had simply disappeared from his life. He had blamed circumstances, distance, and his father's illness.

But now he understood that while he had been building a career, Ellie had been raising his child.

Alone.

Lucas sat at the edge of the bed and looked at the photograph of Ethan.

He smiled sadly.

"Good morning, son."

The word felt strange.

But it also felt right.

---

At breakfast, Ellie noticed Ethan was unusually quiet.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"You don't look like nothing."

Ethan pushed his spoon around his plate.

"I'm thinking."

"About the competition?"

"No."

Ellie waited.

"About Lucas."

Her heart skipped.

"What about him?"

"He looks at me strangely."

Ellie lowered her gaze.

"What do you mean?"

"Like he's trying to remember something."

Ellie didn't know how to respond.

Ethan continued.

"I think he likes me."

A small smile appeared on Ellie's face.

"I'm sure he does."

"Do you like him?"

Ellie sighed.

"That's complicated."

"Why?"

"Because adults make everything complicated."

Ethan laughed.

"That's true."

Ellie smiled.

But inside, she was frightened.

The truth was becoming harder to hide.

---

After breakfast, there was a knock at the hotel door.

Ellie opened it.

Lucas stood outside.

For a moment, neither spoke.

"Good morning."

"Good morning."

Lucas looked uncomfortable.

"I wanted to ask if Ethan could have lunch with me."

Ellie immediately became cautious.

"Just lunch?"

"Just lunch."

She studied his expression.

"I don't want anything rushed."

"I understand."

"And I don't want you telling him anything without me."

Lucas nodded.

"I won't."

She stepped aside.

"Give me a moment."

Lucas waited in the hallway.

A few minutes later, Ethan came out carrying his jacket.

"Mr. Valmont!"

Lucas smiled.

"Ready?"

"Yes."

Ellie crouched beside Ethan.

"Stay close to him."

Ethan nodded.

"I will."

Lucas extended his hand.

Ethan took it.

Ellie watched them walk away.

Something about the sight made her chest ache.

It was the first time Lucas had ever held his son's hand.

And somehow, it looked natural.

---

They went to a quiet restaurant near the hotel.

Lucas had chosen somewhere simple.

There is no private dining room.

No unnecessary attention.

Just a small table near the window.

Ethan looked at the menu.

"Everything is expensive."

Lucas laughed.

"Don't worry about that."

Ethan frowned.

"My mom says we shouldn't waste money."

Lucas smiled.

"Your mother is right."

Ethan looked surprised.

"You agree with her?"

"Most of the time."

"That's surprising."

Lucas laughed.

"What?"

"You're rich."

Lucas raised an eyebrow.

"Does being rich mean I can't agree with your mother?"

Ethan thought about it.

"No."

Then he smiled.

"Okay."

Lucas felt something warm inside him.

He had imagined meeting his son countless times.

But none of those imagined moments had prepared him for how easy it felt to talk to him.

"So," Lucas asked, "what do you like?"

"Science."

"I heard."

"How?"

"Your competition profile."

Ethan smiled proudly.

"I like experiments."

"What kind?"

"Anything that answers questions."

Lucas nodded.

"That's a good way to think."

Ethan studied him.

"Do you like science?"

"Not when I was your age."

"What did you like?"

"Building things."

"Like what?"

"Small machines."

Ethan's eyes widened.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Can you still build them?"

Lucas smiled.

"Probably."

"You should teach me."

The words caught Lucas completely off guard.

He looked at Ethan.

"I'd like that."

---

After lunch, they walked through a nearby park.

Ethan asked questions constantly.

About Lucas's work.

His family.

The foundation.

The city.

Lucas answered everything he could.

But whenever Ethan asked something personal, Lucas became careful.

"Do you live here?"

"No."

"Where?"

"Mostly in San Aurelio."

"Do you have a big house?"

Lucas laughed.

"Yes."

"How big?"

"Very big."

"Does it have a swimming pool?"

"Yes."

Ethan's eyes widened.

"Wow."

Lucas smiled.

"You like swimming?"

"Yes."

"We'll go someday."

Ethan stopped walking.

Lucas realized what he had said.

"We will?"

Lucas nodded.

"If your mother agrees."

Ethan smiled.

"She probably won't."

"Why?"

"She doesn't like expensive things."

Lucas laughed.

"Then we'll find something that isn't expensive."

Ethan nodded seriously.

"Good."

---

That evening, Ellie was waiting in the hotel lobby.

When she saw Ethan running toward her, she smiled.

"Did you have fun?"

"Yes!"

Lucas followed behind him.

"He asked a lot of questions."

Ellie laughed.

"That's normal."

Ethan looked between them.

"Mom, Lucas says he can build machines."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Lucas smiled.

"I used to."

Ethan tugged at Ellie's hand.

"Can we see him tomorrow?"

Ellie looked at Lucas.

He didn't say anything.

He simply waited.

Finally, Ellie nodded.

"Tomorrow."

Ethan smiled.

"Great."

He ran toward the elevator.

Ellie watched him disappear.

Then she turned toward Lucas.

"Thank you."

Lucas looked surprised.

"For what?"

"For making him happy."

Lucas's expression softened.

"I want to do that more often."

Ellie looked away.

"You have to understand something."

"I know."

"He's not a replacement for the years you missed."

Lucas's face became serious.

"I know."

"You can't suddenly become his father overnight."

"I know."

"You have to earn his trust."

"I will."

Ellie finally looked at him.

"And mine."

Lucas nodded.

"I know."

There was a long silence.

Then Lucas quietly said,

"I'm sorry."

Ellie's eyes became wet.

"For what?"

"For every day I wasn't there."

She didn't answer.

Because there were too many days to count.

---

Later that night, Lucas returned to his room.

He opened his phone.

There were dozens of photographs from the day.

Ethan laughing.

Ethan is holding the menu.

Ethan pointed toward the park.

Lucas stared at one photograph for a long time.

He looked happy.

Lucas had never imagined that something as simple as eating lunch with a child could make him feel this way.

A knock came at the door.

His father entered.

Richard studied him.

"You seem different."

Lucas smiled.

"I met my son."

Richard stopped.

"What?"

Lucas looked at him.

"I have a son."

Silence.

Richard slowly sat down.

"You're certain?"

"Yes."

"And the mother?"

"Eloisa."

Richard's expression changed.

"The girl from the apartment?"

Lucas nodded.

"She raised him alone."

Richard looked down.

For the first time, he seemed to understand the cost of the decisions his family had made.

"Does she hate you?"

"Maybe."

"And the boy?"

Lucas smiled faintly.

"He doesn't."

Richard looked at his son.

"What are you going to do?"

Lucas didn't hesitate.

"Be his father."

---

In her room, Ellie watched Ethan sleep.

He looked peaceful.

She brushed his hair away from his forehead.

For seven years, she had been both mother and father.

She had protected him.

Provided for him.

Loved him enough to fill the spaces where someone else should have been.

Now Lucas was back.

Part of her was afraid.

But another part of her was relieved.

Ethan deserved his father.

Perhaps Lucas deserved the opportunity to become one.

Ellie looked out the window.

She remembered the girl she had been seven years ago.

The girl who had waited outside Room Six.

The girl who had cried when Lucas disappeared.

The girl who had left the city carrying his child.

She wondered what that girl would think if she could see her now.

Maybe she would be proud.

Maybe she would finally understand that losing Lucas hadn't destroyed her.

It had changed her.

And now, standing at the beginning of an uncertain future, Ellie realized something.

She wasn't waiting for Lucas anymore.

If he wanted a place in her life, he would have to walk toward her.

One step at a time.

And for the first time in seven years, she was willing to let him try.