Chapter Three

Mia's fingers trembled as she gripped her phone, staring at the dark screen as if the caller might still be there, lurking in the silence.

"You should have kept the secret buried, Mia."

The words echoed in her mind, weaving through her thoughts like a sinister thread.

Who could it be? Who even knew about Oliver and Ethan?

Her stomach churned as memories of the past swirled to the surface. She'd worked so hard to leave that night behind, to create a new life for her and Oliver. But now, her carefully constructed world was beginning to unravel.

"Mommy?"

Oliver's small voice snapped her out of her spiraling panic. She turned to see her son tugging at her sleeve, his innocent brown eyes wide with concern. "Are you okay?"

Mia forced a smile, though it felt brittle. Her hand slid the phone into her apron pocket, as if burying it would make the fear vanish. "I'm fine, baby. Just a little tired."

Lying wasn't something she was proud of, but she couldn't let Oliver see her fear. She had to be his rock, his safe place.

He tilted his head, studying her for a moment before nodding. "Okay, Mommy. Can I have a cookie?"

The request caught her off guard, and she let out a soft laugh despite the tension coiled in her chest. "Sure, baby. Let's get one before we leave."

She handed him a cookie from behind the counter, watching as he took a big bite, crumbs falling onto his shirt. For a moment, the simplicity of his joy eased her anxiety.

But it was short-lived.

Her gaze drifted to the café's glass door, the weight of her problems pressing down on her. Ethan was waiting for answers. And now, so was whoever had called her.

Later That Evening – Mia's Apartment

The sun had set by the time Mia pulled into the small lot outside her apartment building. She spotted him immediately leaning against a sleek black Maserati, arms crossed. Ethan Blackwell, immaculately dressed as always, looked every bit the billionaire she remembered. His tailored suit was pristine, his tie loosened just enough to suggest a long, demanding day.

But it wasn't his appearance that made her pulse quicken. It was the way his sharp, piercing blue eyes locked onto hers the moment she stepped out of the car.

Mia unbuckled Oliver's car seat, lifting him out and balancing him on her hip. Ethan's gaze flickered to the boy, their son, and she saw something shift in his expression.

Regret? Awe? She couldn't tell.

"Put him to bed," Ethan said, his voice low but firm. "Then we talk."

Mia hesitated, the instinct to shield her child kicking in. But the determination in Ethan's tone left no room for argument. She nodded silently, carrying Oliver up the stairs to her apartment.

"Is that the man from the café?" Oliver asked sleepily, his head resting on her shoulder.

"Yes, sweetheart," Mia murmured, brushing a curl from his forehead. "He's… a friend."

Oliver yawned, satisfied with her answer, and snuggled into her chest. By the time she laid him in bed, he was fast asleep, his tiny hand clutching his favorite stuffed bunny.

Mia lingered for a moment, stroking his cheek. How was she going to keep him safe from all of this?

With a deep breath, she steeled herself and returned to the living room.

Face-to-Face

Ethan was already inside.

Mia froze, narrowing her eyes. "You just let yourself in now?"

Ethan smirked, though there was no humor in it. "You left the door unlocked. Not very safe, is it?"

She clenched her fists at her sides. "What do you want, Ethan?"

He didn't answer immediately, instead pacing slowly across her living room, his hands in his pockets. The tension between them was almost suffocating.

Finally, he stopped and turned to face her. "I want the truth. All of it."

Mia's heart sank. She crossed her arms over her chest, leaning back against the doorframe for support. "What do you want me to say? It was one night. I didn't even know your last name, Ethan. And then you were gone"

"I had to leave for business," he said, his tone clipped.

"Without a word?" she shot back, anger rising. "You disappeared, Ethan. And when I found out I was pregnant, what was I supposed to do? Track down some billionaire who didn't even remember me?"

His jaw tightened, but he didn't argue.

"I did what was best for Oliver," Mia continued, her voice softer now. "I gave him a stable life. A good life."

Ethan's eyes narrowed. "And you didn't think he deserved to know his father? That I deserved to know I had a son?"

His words cut deep, but before she could respond, Ethan pulled something from his pocket and tossed it onto the coffee table.

Mia's stomach dropped.

A DNA test kit.

Her breath hitched. "Ethan…"

"I'm not leaving until I get proof," he said, his tone icy. "And when I do, we're talking custody."

The word slammed into her like a freight train.

"Custody?" she repeated, her voice barely a whisper.

Ethan's gaze didn't waver. "Did you really think I'd just walk away after finding out I have a son?"

Her world spun, the edges of her vision blurring. This was her worst fear coming to life.

"Ethan, please"

Her phone buzzed again, cutting her off.

She froze, her blood turning to ice.

Unknown Number.

Not again.

Her fingers trembled as she picked up the phone, her heart pounding in her chest. Slowly, she pressed it to her ear.

"You shouldn't have told him," the voice rasped.

The blood drained from her face.

"Who are you?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

The silence on the other end stretched long enough to make her skin crawl.

Then, a soft, sinister chuckle.

"Let's just say… someone who knows how dangerous Ethan Blackwell really is."

Her breath caught.

The line went dead.

For a moment, she couldn't move, couldn't breathe. She stared at the phone in her hand, her mind racing.

When she finally looked up, Ethan was watching her, his brow furrowed.

"Who was that?" he asked, his voice edged with concern.

Mia didn't answer. She couldn't.

Her hands were trembling, and her heart felt like it was about to burst.

Because whoever was calling her wasn't just warning her.

They were threatening her.

And the worst part?

She had no idea if they were right.