Chapter 9 — The First Step Back
466 Words
The next morning, Ella woke up earlier than usual.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Then she remembered.
Lucas knew.
He knew about Noah.
She sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor.
Five years of protecting her son.
Five years of building a life without him.
And now the man she tried to forget was back.
⸻
“Mommy!”
Noah’s voice made her smile.
She walked out of the room and saw him sitting at the table.
But someone else was there too.
Lucas.
Holding a plate of pancakes.
Ella stopped.
“What are you doing?”
Lucas looked up.
“Making breakfast.”
“You?”
A small smile appeared on his face.
“Yes, me.”
Noah laughed.
“Daddy almost burned them.”
The room went silent.
Ella looked at Noah.
Lucas froze.
“Noah…”
The little boy looked confused.
“What? I called him daddy because he is my daddy, right?”
Ella didn’t know what to say.
Lucas looked away, trying to hide how emotional he felt.
Because hearing that word…
After five years…
It meant everything.
⸻
After breakfast, Lucas took Noah outside.
Ella watched them from the window.
She expected to feel angry.
Instead, she felt something else.
Peace.
A feeling she didn’t want to admit.
Her son deserved this.
He deserved to know his father.
⸻
Later that day, Lucas returned with Noah.
“Mommy! Look what I made!”
Noah held up a drawing.
Ella smiled.
“What is it?”
“It’s us.”
She looked at the picture.
Three people.
A mother.
A father.
A child.
A family.
Her smile slowly faded.
Because that was the dream she once had.
⸻
That evening, Lucas stayed behind after Noah went to sleep.
“I need to tell you something.”
Ella looked at him.
“What?”
“I ended things with Amelia.”
She went quiet.
“Lucas…”
“I know what you’re thinking.”
“Do you?”
He looked at her.
“You think I did it because of you.”
Ella didn’t answer.
“Maybe part of me always knew my heart wasn’t there.”
He took a breath.
“But I should have realised that before I hurt you.”
Ella looked down.
“I don’t know if I can trust you again.”
Lucas nodded.
“I know.”
A pause.
“But let me try.”
His eyes met hers.
“Not as your boyfriend.”
Ella looked surprised.
“As what then?”
Lucas glanced toward Noah’s room.
“As his father.”
For the first time…
Ella didn’t see the billionaire.
She saw the man who missed five years.
And maybe…
The beginning of a second chance.
Chapter 9 End.
- Writer
