CHAPTER TWO
1194 Words
ETHAN’S POV
“Who exactly do you think I am?”
The question left my mouth before I could stop it.
The woman stared at me like I’d just committed a crime. Then her expression shifted.
Confusion replaced anger.
“What?”
“I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else.”
The crowd around us immediately started murmuring.
She blinked twice, then looked closer at my face.
“Oh.”
I closed my eyes. This was already a disaster.
“Oh?” Maya repeated.
The woman suddenly covered her mouth. “Oh my God.”
Nobody said anything.
She looked at me. Then at Maya. Then back at me.
Finally, she said the words that made everything worse.
“You’re not Jason.”
The crowd groaned in disappointment. I wanted to groan too.
The woman looked like she wanted to disappear. “I am so sorry. I thought you were my boyfriend.”
Maya folded her arms. “Your boyfriend looks exactly like him?”
“From behind,” she said weakly.
Maya laughed. The woman looked even more embarrassed.
“It’s fine,” I said.
She apologized one more time before hurrying away.
Unfortunately, the damage was done. Several people were still recording. Others were whispering. A few were taking pictures.
I hated attention. Especially after everything that had happened in my life.
“Well,” Maya said, “that was interesting.”
“Interesting isn’t the word I’d use.”
She laughed. I found myself smiling.
That surprised me. Very little made me smile these days.
-----
For seven years, my life had been nothing but routine.
Work. Flights. Meetings. Sleep. Repeat.
The days passed without meaning. Without joy. Without purpose. I simply existed.
Because the people who’d once made life worth living were gone.
Sophia. Ava.
Even now, saying their names in my mind felt like pressing on an open wound. The memories never faded. Neither did the guilt.
I should have been on that flight. I should have protected them. Instead, I was still here.
Alone.
“Mister Coffee Shirt?”
I blinked. Maya was staring at me.
“You disappeared for a second.”
“I’m fine.”
She didn’t look convinced, but thankfully she didn’t ask questions. Most people did. Most people recognized me. Then they’d ask about the crash. Or my company. Or my money.
Maya hadn’t done any of that. In fact, she still had no idea who I was.
And strangely, I liked that.
“Anyway,” she said, checking her phone, “I should go.”
“Right.”
“Thanks for the coffee.”
“You’re welcome.”
For some reason, neither of us moved. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable. Just unexpected.
Then a black SUV suddenly pulled up beside us.
I sighed. Of course.
The driver’s door opened, and my younger brother stepped out.
“Liam,” I muttered.
His eyes immediately landed on Maya, and they widened. Then he grinned.
That grin meant trouble. Always.
“Well, well, well.” I already hated where this was going.
Liam walked toward us. “Who is this?”
“Maya.”
She nodded politely. “Hi.”
Liam shook her hand. “I’m Liam Sterling.”
The moment he said our last name, Maya’s eyes widened.
“Sterling?”
Uh-oh. I knew that look. Recognition. Finally.
“The Sterling family?” she asked.
“Unfortunately,” Liam said dramatically.
Maya slowly turned toward me. I already knew what she was thinking.
No. Please don’t.
“Wait.” There it was. “You mean you’re Ethan Sterling?”
I closed my eyes briefly.
And there it was. The moment everything changed. The easy conversation. The normal interaction. Gone.
Most people reacted differently once they learned who I was. Some became nervous. Others became greedy. Many suddenly became interested.
I waited for Maya to do the same.
Instead, she simply stared at me for several seconds.
Then she pointed at my shirt.
“The billionaire I threw coffee on?”
Liam burst into laughter. Actually doubled over.
I looked at Maya. “You remember that part?”
“That’s the most important part.”
Liam laughed harder.
For the first time in a long time, I felt something unusual. A genuine urge to laugh. Before I could stop myself, I smiled. A real smile.
Maya noticed. So did Liam.
My brother’s laughter immediately stopped. His eyes narrowed as he looked between us.
Then a strange expression appeared on his face. One I knew very well.
Dangerous curiosity.
“No,” I said.
Liam blinked. “What?”
“No.”
“No what?”
“No to whatever you’re thinking.”
Maya looked confused. “I’m missing something.”
“You really are,” I said.
Liam smirked. “Oh, come on.”
“You haven’t smiled like that in years.”
“Liam.”
“I’m just saying—”
“Don’t.”
Maya looked back and forth between us. “You two are weird.”
“We get that a lot,” Liam replied.
My phone suddenly vibrated. I checked the screen, and my expression instantly darkened.
Mother.
I sighed. Liam saw the name and groaned.
“Good luck.”
I answered. “Hello.”
“Ethan.”
Her voice was already sharp. Not a good sign.
“Mother.”
“Where are you?”
“Why?”
“Because reporters are calling me.”
I frowned. “What?”
“Someone uploaded a video.”
My stomach dropped. I looked at Maya, then at the crowd still lingering nearby.
No. No way.
“What video?”
“The one where a woman publicly accuses you of cheating.”
I rubbed my forehead. Of course. Of course it was online already.
“It was a misunderstanding.”
“I know that.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
There was a pause. A very long pause.
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
“Ethan.”
“What?”
“The headlines are saying you have a secret girlfriend.”
I froze.
Beside me, Liam froze too.
Maya frowned. “What happened?”
I slowly lowered the phone. Liam looked concerned now.
“How bad is it?”
I showed him the screen. His eyes widened. Then it widened even more.
“Oh.”
Maya snatched the phone from his hand. “What are you…..”
She stopped talking. The color drained from her face.
At the top of the article was a photo. A very clear photo.
Of me and Maya.
Standing together.
Smiling.
Underneath it was a headline that made my heart sink.
*Billionaire Widower Ethan Sterling Finally Finds Love After Seven Years.*
Silence. Complete silence.
Then Maya slowly lifted her head and looked directly at me.
“What do you mean seven years?” she asked quietly.
Before I could answer, another notification appeared. Then another. And another.
The story was spreading everywhere.
And neither of us had any idea that this was only the beginning.
Maya stared at me with shock in her eyes and whispered, “Ethan… what exactly have we gotten ourselves into?”
- Writer
