The Love She Never Expected

Chapter Ten: The Ghost From the Past

Chapter Ten: The Ghost From the Past

The next morning began perfectly.

Which should have been a warning.

Jules woke up smiling.

For the first time in years, the weight on her chest felt lighter.

The apartment seemed brighter.

The coffee tasted better.

Even the twins noticed.

"Mommy is smiling again," Jayda whispered.

Jayden nodded seriously.

"It's because of Liam."

Jules threw a dish towel at him.

The twins exploded into laughter.

For a little while, everything felt normal.

Happy.

Peaceful.

Exactly the kind of morning Jules had dreamed about.

Then her phone rang.

Unknown number.

She almost ignored it.

Almost.

But something told her to answer.

"Hello?"

Silence.

Jules frowned.

"Hello?"

A man's voice finally spoke.

Quiet.

Uncertain.

"Jules?"

The sound of her name made her stomach drop.

Nobody called her that way anymore.

Nobody.

"Who is this?"

Another pause.

Then—

"It's Noah."

The mug slipped from her hand.

It shattered across the kitchen floor.

The twins jumped.

Jules couldn't breathe.

Couldn't think.

Couldn't move.

Because there was only one Noah.

Only one man connected to the biggest mistake of her life.

The father of her twins.

The man who had vanished before he ever knew she was pregnant.

The man she hadn't heard from in almost six years.

"No."

Her voice was barely a whisper.

"Noah?"

"Yeah."

Jules gripped the counter to stay upright.

The room spun.

This couldn't be happening.

Not now.

Not after everything.

Not after Liam.

"What do you want?"

The coldness in her voice surprised even her.

Noah sighed.

"I need to see you."

"No."

"Jules—"

"No."

Her answer was immediate.

Sharp.

Final.

The silence on the other end stretched.

Then Noah spoke again.

"I know about the twins."

Everything stopped.

Even her heartbeat.

The twins.

He knew.

Somehow he knew.

Her knees nearly gave out.

"How?"

Another pause.

Then:

"Someone contacted me."

A chill ran through her body.

Someone.

Not fate.

Not coincidence.

Someone had gone looking for him.

And suddenly she thought of Lorenzo.

The investigators.

The questions.

The warnings.

Her blood turned cold.

Noah continued.

"They told me everything."

Jules couldn't speak.

"They showed me pictures."

Her eyes drifted toward Jayda and Jayden.

Her children.

Her entire world.

"I have a son and a daughter."

The wonder in his voice made her stomach twist.

Because he sounded happy.

Excited.

As though he hadn't missed six years of birthdays.

Six years of tears.

Six years of struggle.

Jules ended the call.

Immediately.

Without another word.

Then she collapsed into a chair.

The twins stared at her.

Concerned.

Scared.

"Mommy?"

Jules quickly wiped her tears.

"It's okay."

It wasn't okay.

Nothing about this was okay.

---

Across the city...

Liam sat in his office when his phone rang.

The caller ID made him groan.

"Father."

Lorenzo's voice was calm.

"Come to my hotel."

"No."

"It's important."

"I have work."

"This concerns Jules."

Liam was already standing before the call ended.

---

Thirty minutes later, Liam stormed into Lorenzo's private suite.

"What did you do?"

Lorenzo calmly sipped coffee.

"I assume you're referring to Noah Carter."

Liam froze.

The name meant nothing to him.

But the expression on his father's face said everything.

"You found him."

"Yes."

Anger flashed across Liam's face.

"Why?"

Lorenzo set down his cup.

"Because the truth matters."

"The truth?"

"The children deserve to know their father."

Liam clenched his fists.

"What gives you the right?"

Lorenzo's expression remained unchanged.

"What gives you the right to keep him away from them?"

That stopped Liam.

Not because Lorenzo was right.

But because it wasn't such a simple question.

The twins did deserve answers.

Eventually.

One day.

But not like this.

Not through manipulation.

Not through investigation.

Not through strangers.

"You had no right."

For the first time, Lorenzo looked slightly regretful.

Only slightly.

"I know."

The admission surprised Liam.

Lorenzo sighed.

"I thought if Noah returned, it would solve the problem."

"What problem?"

Lorenzo looked directly at him.

"You."

Liam stared.

"What?"

"You are falling in love with children who aren't yours."

The words hit harder than Lorenzo intended.

Because Liam already loved them.

Jayda.

Jayden.

Their laughter.

Their chaos.

Their endless questions.

They had become part of his life without permission.

Without warning.

Without effort.

And he wouldn't change that.

Not for anything.

"They don't have to be mine."

The answer came quietly.

But firmly.

Lorenzo's eyes widened slightly.

Because for the first time...

He realized just how serious this had become.

---

That evening, Jules sat alone after putting the twins to bed.

Her phone rested on the table.

Silent.

Waiting.

Like a ticking bomb.

Then it rang again.

Noah.

She stared at the screen.

Her hands trembled.

Before she could decide whether to answer—

Someone knocked on the door.

Jules opened it.

And immediately burst into tears.

Liam.

Without a word, he pulled her into his arms.

And somehow...

That made her cry even harder.

Because deep down she already knew.

The peace she had finally found was about to be tested.

In ways neither of them were prepared for.

And somewhere across the city...

A man named Noah stared at an old photograph.

A photograph of Jules from years ago.

Back when they were young.

Back before mistakes.

Back before heartbreak.

Back before twins.

And for the first time in six years...

He got on a plane.

Heading straight toward her.