Chapter 3: The Return
875 Words
The flight back to New York felt like a dream and a nightmare at the same time. Five years. I kept staring out the window, my hand on Mia’s head as she slept against my shoulder. Alex and Leo were playing quietly with their tablets in the seats beside me. They looked so much like their father — same sharp eyes, same stubborn chin. It made my chest tight every time I looked at them.
“Mommy, why are we going to New York?” Leo asked for the tenth time.
“Because Mommy has important work there,” I said softly. “And maybe… it’s time to face some old ghosts.”
Marcus sat across from us in the private jet he arranged. He had been quiet most of the trip, typing on his laptop. “The gala is in three days,” he reminded me. “Ethan will be there. His company is bleeding money. Perfect time to strike.”
I nodded. TechEdge, my company, was ready. We had new AI software that was blowing up in the tech world. I had spent years building it in secret. Late nights after the kids slept. Tears mixed with code. Now it was strong enough to buy out Vance Enterprises if I wanted.
When we landed, a driver took us to a beautiful apartment in a quiet part of the city. Not too flashy, but safe. The kids ran around exploring their new rooms, laughing. Their happiness gave me strength.
The next two days were busy. I met with my team, went over numbers, and prepared for the gala. Marcus warned me, “Don’t show all your cards at once. Make him feel the shock first.”
The night of the gala, I stood in front of the mirror in a sleek black dress. My hair was styled perfectly. Makeup covered the tiredness, but my eyes looked harder now. No more shy village girl. I was Zara Kane, CEO.
“Mommy, you look like a princess,” Mia said, hugging my leg.
I knelt down and kissed all three of them. “Be good for the nanny tonight. Mommy has to go fight a dragon.”
They giggled. I wished it was just a game.
The gala was at a big fancy hotel. Lights, music, rich people laughing like the world was theirs. I walked in with my head high. Heads turned. Whispers started. “Who is she?” “TechEdge… that’s the new company taking over markets.”
I spotted him across the room.
Ethan.
He looked older. Tired. His suit was still expensive, but there were lines on his face that weren’t there before. Lydia stood beside him, wearing diamonds, but she looked bored. When his eyes met mine, he froze.
I smiled coldly and walked straight toward him.
“Zara?” His voice cracked. “What… how?”
“Hello, Ethan,” I said calmly. “It’s been a long time.”
Lydia’s eyes widened. “You? The little rat is back?”
I ignored her and kept my eyes on Ethan. “I heard your company is struggling. Interesting. My company is looking to expand. Maybe we can talk business.”
Before he could answer, the kids’ nanny brought them in for a quick moment — I had planned this. Alex, Leo, and Mia ran to me in their cute formal clothes.
“Mommy!” they called.
Ethan’s face went white. He stared at the children. At their eyes. The same shape as his. The same color.
“Zara… are they…?” His voice was barely a whisper.
“Yes,” I said, keeping my voice steady even though my heart was pounding. “They’re yours. Triplets. The ones you said couldn’t be yours. The ones you threw away with me that night.”
The room seemed to go quiet around us. People were staring. Lydia looked like she might faint.
Ethan took a step forward, his hand shaking as he reached toward the kids. “My children… I have children…”
Leo looked up at him curiously. “Who are you, mister?”
I pulled the kids closer to me. “He’s nobody important,” I said. “Not anymore.”
Ethan’s eyes filled with something I never expected — pain. Real regret. “Zara, please. I didn’t know. I was wrong. We need to talk. About everything.”
Marcus appeared beside me then. “Miss Kane, the investors are waiting.”
I turned to leave, but Ethan grabbed my arm gently. “Don’t walk away. Not with my kids.”
I pulled my arm free. “You walked away first, Ethan. You threw us into the rain like garbage. Now I’m the one holding the power. And I’m going to take everything you love.”
As I walked away with my children, my phone buzzed in my purse. Another message from an unknown number.
“You think you can win? Touch my son’s company and I’ll make sure those bastards never see their mother again.”
Ethan’s mother again.
My blood ran cold. The war wasn’t just with Ethan anymore. His powerful family was ready to fight dirty.
And I had three little hearts depending on me to win.
- Writer
