A Love no one could steal

A cold splash of water landed on the man's face. Kiana Hayes sat frozen, her eyes wide as she watched her blind date sputter in shock. She hadn't meant for things to escalate this way, but the moment he had leaned in with that smug smirk, her patience had snapped. "You're insane!" The man hissed, grabbing a napkin to wipe his soaked face. "Oh, I'm sorry. I must've slipped," Kiana said with a tight smile, not feeling even a shred of remorse. The truth was, she hadn't wanted to come on this date in the first place. It was her mother’s doing—constantly setting her up with so-called “successful” men, thinking she was too focused on work to find love. But if this was the type of man waiting for her out there, she would happily stay single forever. Before she could say anything else, a small hand tugged at her shirt. "Mommy?" Kiana turned, startled. A little girl, no older than five, stood beside her, looking up with big, hopeful eyes. The man across from her scoffed, pushing his chair back. "You're married? What a joke!" Kiana opened her mouth to correct him, but something about the way the little girl clung to her made her pause. Instead, she reached down and took the child's tiny hands in hers. "Yes," she said, looking directly at the man. "This is my daughter." The man cursed under his breath, grabbed his coat, and stormed out of the café. Kiana let out a breath of relief and knelt beside the little girl. "You just saved me back there, kiddo." Lily beamed. "You didn't like him?" "Not even a little." Lily giggled before suddenly tilting her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Can you be my mommy?" Kiana choked on air. "W-What?" "I like you," Lily said confidently. "And I don’t have a mommy. You can be mine!" Kiana’s heart clenched. The innocence in Lily’s voice was enough to make her want to wrap the little girl in her arms forever. But she couldn’t—she wasn’t her mother. She smiled softly. "Honey, I’m not your mom." Lily's face fell, her lower lip trembling. Kiana panicked. "But… you can call me whatever you want." Lily’s eyes lit up. "Really?" Before Kiana could take it back, the little girl squealed, "Thank you, Mommy!" and ran out of the café before she could stop her. "Wait—!" But Lily was already gone. Meanwhile, in Ethan’s Office… "Daddy! Daddy! I found Mommy!" Ethan Alvarez looked up from his paperwork, his best friend James Carter sitting across from him with a cup of coffee in hand. James raised an eyebrow. "You found what now?" Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose. "Lily, we’ve talked about this—your mother is not coming back." "No, not her!" Lily stomped her foot. "I found a new mommy!" James choked on his drink, coughing violently. "Hold on a second—what?!" Lily nodded enthusiastically. "She's pretty, smells nice, and she saved me from being alone!" James wiped his mouth and smirked. "Ethan, I think your daughter just arranged your love life for you." Ethan groaned. "Lily, you can't just pick random women and call them your mother." "But she's perfect!" Lily huffed. Before Ethan could argue, Lily grabbed his hand and started pulling him toward the door. "Come on! We have to find her!" James laughed, shaking his head. "Well, Doc, looks like your daughter has a plan. You better go before she marries you off without your permission." Ethan sighed but let Lily drag him away, still in his white coat. "Daddy, hurry!" Ethan followed his daughter through the busy shopping center, half-wondering what kind of woman had caught Lily’s attention. Then, he saw her. Kiana was sitting inside a restaurant, deep in conversation with a well-dressed man in his forties. Her hands moved as she explained something, her eyes bright with passion. "This concept is interesting," Mr. Morry mused, rubbing his chin. Kiana nodded. "We can adjust based on your needs, but the theme aligns with your brand's vision." Before Mr. Morry could reply, a loud squeal echoed across the restaurant. "Mommy!" A small body launched itself into Kiana’s arms before she could react. Lily. Ethan, who had been a few steps behind, groaned inwardly. "Lily! Stop running off like that!" But the damage was already done. Mr. Mory’s brows raised in surprise as he looked between Kiana and Lily. "I didn’t know you were a mother." Kiana opened her mouth to correct him, but Lily snuggled into her, looking up at Mr. Morry with a proud grin. "Mommy is really smart! She’s going to be the best designer ever!" Mr. Morry chuckled. "A hardworking mother. Impressive." He stood up, extending a hand. "Deal." Kiana blinked. Just like that? She quickly shook his hand, feeling relief flood her. This was the most important deal of her career—one she needed to secure her promotion. She looked down at Lily, smiling warmly. "Little one, it looks like you’re my lucky charm today. But why are you here alone?" "She’s not alone," a deep voice answered. Kiana turned to see Ethan standing a few feet away, watching her with an unreadable expression. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and undeniably handsome in his white coat. Lily, however, was beaming. "Daddy! See? I told you I found you a wife!" James, who had followed, burst out laughing. "Oh, this is gold." Ethan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He crouched to Lily’s level and covered her mouth before she could say more. "Lily, sweetheart, we don’t go around telling strangers they’re my wife." "But she’s perfect!" Lily protested, pouting. Kiana, struggling to process what was happening, let out an awkward laugh. "Uh… this is definitely a misunderstanding." Before Ethan could apologize, a mocking voice interrupted. "Well, well, well. Kiana Hayes. Still trying to play perfect, I see." Kiana stiffened. She turned and found herself face-to-face with her old classmate, Sofia, and her ex-boyfriend, Kevin. Sofia smirked, arms crossed. "Didn’t expect to see you here… with a kid." Kevin laughed. "So, what? You got knocked up and became a single mom?" Kiana’s jaw tightened, but she kept her expression calm. She gently covered Lily’s ears, keeping her from hearing their cruel words. Ethan had been quietly watching, but when he saw Kevin move threateningly close to Kiana, he stepped forward. With lightning speed, he grabbed Kevin’s wrist before he could do anything. "I wouldn’t do that if I were you," Ethan said coolly. Kevin turned pale. "Who the hell—" "Lily's father," Ethan stated, his tone sharp. "And the man who will make sure security throws you out if you keep running your mouth." Sofia and Kevin exchanged nervous glances. Within seconds, security approached, dragging them away despite their protests. Kiana let out a breath, kneeling in front of Lily. "Are you okay, sweetheart?" Lily nodded, hugging Kiana tightly. "Thank you for protecting me, Mommy." Ethan sighed. "Lily…" She turned to him with big, innocent eyes. "Daddy, I told you! I found you a wife!" Ethan groaned, rubbing his temples as James howled with laughter beside him. Kiana, watching the scene unfold, found herself smiling. Ethan quickly covered Lily’s mouth, looking mortified. "I am so sorry about this." Kiana chuckled, watching them walk away. "Mommy!" The name echoed in her mind. She placed a hand over her heart, feeling something she hadn't felt in a long time. A warmth. A connection. "Kiana!" She turned to see Mia, her best friend, jogging toward her. "There you are! I’ve been looking for you." Kiana smiled softly, glancing back at where Ethan and Lily had been. "I think I just found something, too."