Chapter 3: Daddy
597 Words
"Daddy!"
The little girl's voice rang through the marble lobby.
Everything stopped.
The chatter.
The footsteps.
Even the pianist in the lounge seemed to miss a note.
Ava froze.
Her fingers tightened around the handle of her clutch until her knuckles turned white.
Slowly...
Very slowly...
She turned around.
The child wriggled out of the young woman's arms and ran across the lobby, her tiny shoes tapping against the polished floor.
"Daddy!"
Straight toward Ethan.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Ethan's eyes widened.
"Emma—"
Before he could finish, the little girl wrapped both arms around one of his legs.
He instinctively bent down.
"Hey..."
Ava's heart slammed against her ribs.
No.
No.
No.
The woman hurried over, clearly flustered.
"Emma!" she exclaimed, pulling the child back. "How many times have I told you not to run off like that?"
The little girl pouted.
"But that's Daddy."
The words sliced through Ava like broken glass.
She looked at Ethan.
He wasn't saying anything.
Not denying it.
Not explaining it.
Just staring at the little girl as though he'd seen a ghost.
The woman finally looked up.
Her face lost all color the moment she recognized Ethan.
"Ethan..."
"You shouldn't be here," he said quietly.
"I didn't know you'd be here either."
Ava stepped forward.
"Someone mind telling me what's happening?"
The woman looked between them.
Her lips parted.
"Ethan... you didn't tell her?"
"Tell me what?" Ava demanded.
Silence.
The hotel guests were openly watching now.
Some were recording.
Whispers spread like wildfire.
"Is that his daughter?"
"I knew he was too perfect."
"Poor Ava..."
Selena stood several feet away, unable to move.
Jade slipped beside her.
"You knew about this?" Jade whispered.
Selena shook her head immediately.
"I swear... I didn't."
Back in the center of the lobby, Ava's patience snapped.
"Ethan!"
He finally looked at her.
"I can explain."
"Then do it."
"It's not what you think."
A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
"Really? Because a little girl just called you 'Daddy' in front of half the city."
The woman closed her eyes for a second.
"This is my fault."
She took a slow breath.
"My name is Olivia."
Ava folded her arms.
"And?"
"I... I used to know Ethan."
"Used to know?"
Olivia nodded.
"We dated."
The words landed like a bomb.
Ava looked at Ethan.
"You never told me."
"It ended years ago," Ethan said.
"Clearly not."
Olivia quickly shook her head.
"No, that's not what I meant."
Ava's eyes burned.
"Then what did you mean?"
Olivia looked down at Emma, then back at Ethan.
"I think it's time she knows the truth."
Ethan's expression hardened instantly.
"No."
"You've hidden it long enough."
"I said no."
Olivia's voice rose.
"You don't get to decide anymore!"
The entire lobby fell silent.
Emma looked from one adult to another, confused.
She reached for Ethan's hand again.
"Daddy..."
Ethan slowly took her small hand.
Ava felt something inside her c***k.
She blinked back tears.
"So it's true."
Ethan opened his mouth—
Before he could speak, his phone rang.
He glanced at the caller ID.
His face turned pale.
Without answering, he shoved the phone back into his pocket.
A second later...
A hotel security guard rushed into the lobby.
"Mr. Black!"
Ethan looked up.
"What is it?"
The guard was breathing hard.
"Sir..."
He swallowed.
"Someone broke into Room 1708."
The lobby erupted into whispers.
The guard continued,
"...and the woman inside has disappeared."
Ethan's face drained of every last drop of color.
Ava noticed.
This time...
He wasn't just scared.
He was terrified.
- Writer
