Chapter 3:Echoes of the past

Clara's POV

Years went by, and every day we fought for survival. To help my daughter Ella as well as myself, I took several jobs. She was the lighthouse in my otherwise dark world, the reason I kept going despite the tiredness and continual financial anxiety. I tried everything to protect her from the reality of her father, Ethan Sinclair.

Ethan had gone on, or so I assumed. From a distance, I watched him to be sure he was nowhere near our lives. When I found out about Ella, the last thing I wanted was for him to know. Still, fate has an interesting way of meddling.

It occurred on a brilliant spring afternoon. Having a rare day off, Ella and I were in the park. She was sprinting about, her laughter reaching my ears like a melody. I observed her, and love and pride swelled in my heart. She was growing extremely quickly, and every day she resembled her father more and more.

Mommy, look! Ella cried out, gesturing towards a butterfly that had dropped on a neighbouring bloom.

Smiling, I said, "That's beautiful, sweetheart."

Her wide-open, excited eyes implored, "Can I chase it?"

Watching her dash off after the butterfly, I whispered, "Just stay where I can see you."

For just a second, I lost sight of her; a phone call caught my focus. My heart stopped when I turned to search. Ella was speaking with a man, her little hand in his. As I identified Ethan Sinclair, my blood turned icy.

ella!  With a shaking voice, I yelled out.

Ethan raised his gaze and locked hers. There was a flutter of identification before uncertainty. "Clara?" he asked, his voice full of incredulity.

Hurrying over, I pulled Ella away from him. "What are you doing here?" I asked, my heart thumping.

"I could ask you the same thing," he said, looking at Ella. "Is she...?" asked

I lied fast. "No." "She is not your daughter."

Ethan closed his eyes. "She looks exactly like me."

"It's a coincidence," I said, trying to keep my voice calm. "Ella, say goodbye to the decent man."

But Mommy, Ella replied, waving a daisy, "But Mommy, he gave me a flower.

I took her hand and hurriedly walked away, saying, "That was very kind of him; but we have to go."

As we rushed home, my brain spun. Having seen Ella, Ethan knew he had to look into more. My well-built universe was about to fall apart.

A few days later, my worries were valid. Ethan arrived at our apartment, his expression masking sadness and resentment. His voice icy, he replied, "We need to talk."

Trying to slow my rushing heart, I inhaled deeply. What do you wish, Ethan?

With burning eyes, he added, "I want to know why you lied to me." Ella is my daughter, isn't she?

Not meeting his stare, I turned away. Yes, I said gently. "She is your daughter.

"Why didn't you share with me?" He insisted, his voice getting higher.

Tears rolling down my face, I answered, "I was scared." I didn't want to lose her. I didn't want to lose you.

"You had no right to keep her from me," he continued, his voice shaking with emotion. "I want Ella taken into custody.

My heart came to a stop. "No," I answered, my voice steady. She cannot be taken from me.

"I am quite entitled to be in her life," he said. You cannot refute me on that.

"I'm not denying you," I whispered, desperation in my voice. But Ethan, she is my whole universe. Please do not remove her.

Ethan's look softened just a little. "I wish not to hurt you, Clara. But I have to live with Ella.

Then let me move in with you. I replied audaciously, the words flowing out before I could stop them. "We can find a way forward. For Ella's sake,.

Ethan looked at me, his face insensible. Are you sure you want that?

My voice was firm. "I'm sure," I said. Ella depends on both of us.

So a few weeks later, I moved into Ethan's house with Ella. It was tense and uncomfortable; unresolved emotions and ancient scars simmered just below the surface. Driven by our love for our kid, we were two people negotiating a precarious new world.

Having Ethan share a roof presented difficulties. We avoided the tough talks that had to be had by tiptoeing around one another. But as the days went by, we started to recognise the struggles and drives behind each other. Ethan lacked the cold-blooded billionaire I had previously imagined. He struggled personally and carried wounds that needed healing.

One evening, after bedding Ella, we discovered ourselves in the kitchen, the silence laden with unspoken words.

"Why did you essentially keep her from me?" Quietly looking at the floor, Ethan asked.

I said, "I was scared," my voice just above a whisper. "After everything that transpired, I had no idea how to face you. And I refused to lose Ella.

Ethan raised his head and softened his eyes. "I've erred, Clara. I want to do the do the right thing, though. for Ella.  For us personally.

I nodded and started to cry. "I too wish that, Ethan."

As we were starting to find a careful equilibrium, fate sent another curveball our way. Driven by a craving for revenge and desperation, Ethan's ex-girlfriend Vanessa Hartley returned into our lives.

One evening, she came up to the estate, her presence casting a gloomy shadow over our delicate tranquility. "Hello, Ethan," she said, her voice loaded with poison. "Miss me?"

"What are you, Vanessa, doing here?" Demand from Ethan, his voice icy.

She said, "I heard you have a new family," staring at me. "How delightful."

Stepping defensively in front of me, Ethan muttered, "This isn't your business."

But it is, Vanessa responded, her eyes glistening with hate. "You see, I might ruin you with some of this knowledge. I am also ready to apply for it.

My blood was frigid. Vanessa was obviously out for retribution, and I had no question she would do anything to obtain what she wanted.

"What are your preferences, Vanessa?" With a tight voice, Ethan questioned.

Her smile was nasty; she said, "I want what's mine." "And I'm ready to wipe everything you love to get it."

Vanessa's warnings hanging in the air made me understand that our struggle is far from finished. There were many obstacles ahead, and our will would be tried everywhere. But Ella's welfare required us to be strong. We had to face whatever came our way.

And I couldn't get rid of the impression that the actual fight was just starting when the first light of dawn peeped through the night.