Covert Ties (Hello Mr Arrogant)

Chapter Four

Meeting Again

Afternoon sun filtered through the trees as Ariana and Lily walked along the neighborhood of Westchester. It was an upscale, quiet neighborhood, the type of neighborhood any parent would want to bring up a child in, away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Thus far, Ariana had seen two properties and was now en route to the third, a quaint stone house situated at the end of a cul-de-sac.

Lily tugged free and ran ahead up the cobblestone path that led up to the house. Her giggles carried across the stillness of the afternoon: "Mommy, I like this one!" she called, her little voice full of excitement. "It looks just like a castle! Can we live in it?”

Ariana smiled and followed the soft pull of nostalgia. The house indeed had the qualities of a fairytale: ivy scaling its walls, a quaint little garden perfect for Lily to play in. As they neared the front door, the estate agent appeared, professional and friendly.

"Ms Lincolns, thanks for coming. I'm Karen," she greeted with a wide beam and extended a firm shake at Ariana. "Shall we go inside?"

"Yes, please," Ariana said, her eyes kept on Lily, who was already peering through the front window, her nose pressed against the glass.

Inside, it proved to be equally appealing, spacious rooms, high ceilings, large windows in every room for the sun to seep in, a kitchen that overlooked the garden at the back. It had that kind of homely feeling, the warmth Ariana had been looking for, a place where she and Lily could finally settle into and start building new memories.

Karen took them through the living room, showing them the features. "This is actually one of the most popular houses in this part of town. Certainly it has much character, with many modern updates inside. I really think that it would be perfect for someone with a young child.".

"It does seem like a good fit," Ariana said, running her hand along the edge of the marble fireplace. Turning to look at Lily, now examining the built-in bookshelves, she asked, "What do you think, Lily? Do you like it?"

Lily nodded in a spurt. "I love it! Can we live here, Mommy?" She asked again.

Ariana had opened her mouth to reply when the sound of a car door closing outside drew her attention. She turned toward the front window, expecting some other prospective buyer or perhaps a neighbor. Instead, she found herself staring at a tall dark-haired man emerging from a sleek black car parked at the curb. The man stood tall with long legs and a well-toned body, his face well-sculptured, so handsome, and just standing there revealed his powerful aura, gentle but fierce.

Her heart did a little jump. It couldn't be.

As he approached, Ariana's heart began to race. It was him, Ethan Blackwood. The last person she had expected to see, most definitely here. His presence felt like a kick in the gut—a grueling reminder of one past she wasn't quite ready to deal with just yet.

Ethan's eyes met hers through the window. In a fraction of a second, recognition crossed his features, and with surprise, his face morphed into wariness; his gait never paused in its mission to the front door. Ariana was paralyzed; her breath caught in her throat.

Karen let her gaze dart between Ariana and the man approaching. "Is everything alright?" she asked, the brow furrowing.

Ariana didn't get a word in before Ethan stepped inside uninvitedly, his eyes even, unwaveringly locked onto hers. "Ariana," he said, and his voice was low even. "I didn't expect to find you here."

Forced to breathe, not to lose her cool, Ariana replied, "Ethan, what brings you here?”

"It's rather I who should be asking you the same thing," he returned, his gaze darting briefly to Lily, who now peered around Ariana's leg with wide, inquisitive eyes. "I was meeting someone about a property in the area, and I noticed you through the window."

Karen cleared her throat, no doubt sensing the underlying tension. "Um, do you two know each other?" she asked, darting nervous eyes between them.

"Yes," Ethan said, eyes never off Ariana's face. "We have met before."

Ariana swallowed hard, willing herself to stay calm. "Karen, would you mind giving us a moment?" she asked, her voice solid from a storm of inner turmoil.

"Of course," Karen said readily, her eyes wide, taking the hint. "I'll be out here if you need me."

The moment he was gone, the air between them just congealed, too many words unspoken, too much history left unreconciled. She turned to Lily, still staring at Ethan with eyes wide with wonder, and this surge of protectiveness washed over her.

"What are you doing here, Ethan?" Ariana repeated, much stronger this time. "And how did you know where to find me?”

Ethan's jaw hardened. "I wasn't looking for you," he said shortly. "I was in the vicinity to meet an associate when I saw you through the window. But now that I have found you, we do need to talk."

Ariana said after a moment, a hint of defiance in her voice, "There is nothing to talk about. It was just an accident. That's all that counts.”

Ethan's eyes clouded and he turned back to Lily. "It would appear there is more to this than that," he whispered, the implication clear. "Is she…?"

"She is my daughter," Ariana sliced him off, razor-sharp. She could feel herself losing control, the secrets of the years threatening to spill onto the proverbial table in front of her. "And that's all you need to know.

Ethan's face gentled somewhat, but there was an implacable resolution in his eyes. "Ariana, if she's mine, I deserve to know. Don't take me for a fool!”

Ariana's heart sprinted as an uproar rose in her chest. It was one she didn't want to happen but had prepared for so well as a precautionary measure. All her life, she had thought of what to say if he ever showed up, but here he was right in front of her, and all those well-thought words evaporated into air, leaving her defenseless.

“Ethan, not now, not here," she said in a low, urgent tone. She edged a little closer to shield Lily from his line of vision, but it was too late; already the little girl had looked up at Ethan with wide, enquiring eyes.

"Mommy?" Lily's small voice sliced through the tight silence. "Who is he?”

Ariana forced a smile and leaned down into Lily's eyes. "He's…just someone Mommy used to know, sweetheart." Her voice was strained, and she could feel Ethan wasn't about to let the matter lie. She could feel his gaze boring into her, filled with frustration and something else-something that served to make her all the more vulnerable.

"Ariana," Ethan said firmly, unsympathetic. "You can't just walk away from this. We need to talk about what's really going on about her." He looked down at Lily then back at Ariana, his eyes ablaze with resolution. "Whether you like it or not, I have a right to know the truth. Because obviously, she is mine!"

Ariana's breath caught as her precariously set-in-order world threatened to crumble. For a second she almost wished it was finally time to stop running from the past. But then the instinct to protect Lily surged stronger than anything else inside her. She straightened, a look of fierce resolution crossing her face.

If you want answers," she said, her voice even despite the shaking of fear running through her, "then you'll have to find a way to earn them."

Ethan's eyes narrowed. "Oh, I will," he promised, his voice dark as night. "And when I do, you'll have no choice but to face the truth.

Ariana turned and stood, tugging on Lily's hand for her to exit the house. She could feel her heart pounding with the underlying notion that nothing was ever going to be the same again. She knew he was going to find out, but she didn't know they were going to meet this early. Remembering what happened five years ago, she couldn't stop the shiver that ran through her body.

“What if that woman finds out?”