Three years Later
593 Words
The warm morning sun poured through the windows of Elena’s small seaside cottage.
Laughter filled the living room.
Elena stood near the kitchen table, watching the small boy running across the wooden floor with endless energy.
“Liam, slow down!” she called with a laugh.
But three-year-old Liam Carter had no intention of slowing down.
The little boy zoomed across the room holding a toy airplane, making loud engine noises as he ran in circles.
“I’m flying, Mommy!” he shouted happily.
Elena shook her head, smiling as she watched him.
Liam had grown into a bright, curious child with big gray eyes and dark hair that refused to stay neatly combed.
Every time she looked at him, her heart filled with love.
But sometimes…
Sometimes she also saw someone else.
Alexander.
The resemblance had become stronger as Liam grew older.
His eyes, his smile, even the determined way he did things reminded her of the man she had met only once.
A man who had no idea his son existed.
“Mommy!” Liam ran toward her and wrapped his tiny arms around her leg. “Can we go to the beach?”
Elena laughed softly.
“We just came back from the beach yesterday.”
“But I want to go again,” he insisted.
Before Elena could answer, a loud knock sounded on the door.
Liam’s eyes lit up.
“I’ll get it!” he shouted, racing toward the door.
“Wait!” Elena quickly followed him.
She opened the door carefully.
Outside stood Mrs. Harper, smiling warmly.
“Good morning!” the elderly woman said.
“Grandma Harper!” Liam shouted excitedly.
Mrs. Harper bent down and hugged him.
“Well look at you, young man,” she said affectionately. “You’re getting taller every day.”
Elena smiled as she stepped aside to let her neighbor in.
Mrs. Harper had become like family over the past three years.
“I brought muffins,” she announced, holding up a small box.
Liam immediately clapped his hands.
“Muffins!”
Elena laughed.
“You’re spoiling him.”
Mrs. Harper winked.
“That’s my job.”
As Liam happily grabbed a muffin and ran to the table, Mrs. Harper turned to Elena.
Her expression suddenly became serious.
“Have you heard the news?”
Elena frowned.
“What news?”
Mrs. Harper handed her a newspaper she had been carrying.
Elena glanced down at the front page.
And instantly froze.
A large headline covered the top of the page.
“BILLIONAIRE ALEXANDER WOLFE PLANS LUXURY RESORT PROJECT ALONG COASTLINE.”
Elena’s heart dropped.
Her hands tightened around the paper.
The article continued with details about Wolfe Enterprises planning to buy large portions of land in several coastal towns for a massive resort development.
Including…
Her town.
“No…” Elena whispered.
Mrs. Harper looked confused.
“Is something wrong?”
Elena forced herself to stay calm as she folded the newspaper.
Inside her chest, panic had already begun to rise.
After three years of peaceful life…
Alexander Wolfe was coming here.
Back into her world.
And if he stepped foot in this town, it wouldn’t take long for him to notice the little boy with his same gray eyes.
Elena looked across the room at Liam, who was happily eating his muffin and humming to himself.
Her heart tightened.
The secret she had protected for three years was suddenly in danger.
And she knew one terrifying truth.
If Alexander discovered the truth…
Everything in their lives would change forever.
- Writer
