Chapter Four
(5 months later) “What is this? What’s going on, Maddie?” an angry customer snapped, holding up the cup of coffee I had just served. I blinked, realizing too late that I’d delivered the wrong order again. My cheeks burned with embarrassment. “I’m so sorry,” I stammered, reaching to take the cup back. “I’ll fix this right away.” The customer muttered something under his breath, but I didn’t hear it. My thoughts were elsewhere, consumed by the worry gnawing at my mind. I glanced at the clock on the wall for the hundredth time that evening. My son, Joey, should have been home from school by now. The school bus was usually late, but today it was too late, and the uncertainty was driving me to the edge. Though my heart ached with the constant search for my biological child, lost to me years ago thanks to my ex-husband's betrayal, I never allowed myself to see Joey as anything other than mine. From the moment I’d held him in my arms, he became my world. Whether or not we shared the same blood didn’t matter. He was my son, my light in the suffocating darkness of my life. But the fear that clawed at me now was different. It wasn’t about Joey not being mine. I couldn’t bear it if I had to lose him too. “Joey will be fine,” I murmured under my breath, trying to convince myself. “Excuse me, miss?” a different customer called out, snapping me back to reality. “Right,” I said, forcing a smile and rushing to attend to them. As I handed over the order, my eyes drifted toward the large glass window of the shop, catching the ray of the sun that filtered in. It was hard to believe that this place, a little haven of steaming coffee and warm pastries, had been born out of the ashes of my past life. Shortly after I arrived at Ritcheton, broken and stripped of everything I once held dear, I knew I had to rebuild. All I had left was Joey. For him, I pushed through the crushing weight of despair, taking every odd job I could find until I saved enough to rent this small space. Slowly, I turned it into a coffee shop. I tried to focus on the customer in front of me, but my mind wandered again. Just then, a sleek black car pulled up in front of the shop. I noticed it through the window and paused mid-motion. Its polished surface reflected the fading sunlight, and the engine hummed to a stop with a quiet purr. My breath caught as the back door swung open, and Joey stepped out, his little figure instantly recognisable. Without thinking, I tore off my apron and rushed outside. “Joey!” I called out as I ran to him. “Mom!” he replied, his face lighting up as he ran into my arms. I knelt down and held him close, pressing kisses to the top of his head. “Where have you been? I was so worried!” “The bus broke down, and this man gave me a ride home,” he said, his words tumbling out in a rush. I pulled back, cupping his face in my hands, my heart finally beginning to slow. “Don’t ever scare me like that again, okay?” “Okay,” Joey promised, smiling up at me. Then I looked up, and froze. A tall man emerged from the driver’s side of the car. His stride was confident, his suit impeccably tailored, and his presence commanded attention in a way that was almost unnerving. But it wasn’t his beauty alone that caught me off guard. It was something else. The resemblance. My breath hitched as my eyes flicked between him and Joey. The same intense eyes, the same shape of the mouth, even the way they smiled. It was as if a mirror had split between past and present. “Are you Joey’s mother?” His voice was deep, smooth, and held an air of authority that made my stomach tighten. “Yes,” I managed, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’m Maddie. Thank you for bringing him home.” He nodded, his gaze lingering on me for a moment longer than necessary. “It was no trouble. I couldn’t leave a child stranded.” I swallowed hard, unable to shake the strange feeling coursing through me. Who was this man? And why did he look so much like my son. I stood there, holding Joey tightly to me, my mind spinning as I studied the man. The resemblance between him and Joey was undeniable. Same sharp jawline, same piercing eyes, same smile. Could he be….related to Joey? My thoughts spiraled as I tried to piece together what this meant. Joey wasn’t biologically mine, but in all the chaos that followed, I never stopped hoping to find my real son. Was this man somehow connected? Could he hold the answers I’d been searching for? “Thank you again,” I said, my voice steadier now. “It was kind of you to help him.” He inclined his head slightly. “It was the right thing to do. I’m Daniel, by the way. Daniel Reeves.” The name sent a ripple of unease through me. It sounded familiar, though I couldn’t place it. I forced a polite smile, my grip tightening on Joey’s shoulder. “I’m Maddie. I appreciate your help, Mr. Reeves. Truly.” Daniel’s eyes flicked to Joey and then back to me, his expression unreadable. “He’s a bright kid. Talked my ear off the whole drive.” Joey grinned up at him. “I told him about the coffee shop, Mom! He said he likes coffee.” I managed a small laugh, though my mind was still racing. “Well, next time, you’re welcome to stop by as a customer instead of a rescuer.” Daniel’s lips curved into a faint smile, but his gaze remained on me, sharp and assessing. “Maybe I will.” He glanced at his watch, the movement fluid and practiced, like someone who was always in control. “I should be going. But it was nice meeting you, Maddie. Joey, take care of your mom, alright?” “I will!” Joey said, waving enthusiastically. As Daniel got back into his car and drove off, I couldn’t stop the questions flooding my mind. Was it just a coincidence, or was there something more to this? I turned to Joey, kneeling down to his level. “Joey, honey, what did you and Mr. Reeves talk about?” “Lots of stuff,” Joey said, shrugging. “He asked me about school and if I liked it. I told him you own the coffee shop and make the best muffins ever. Oh, and he said he works in a big office downtown.” I nodded, masking my unease. “Did he… did he ask you anything else?” Joey shook his head, then looked up at me with wide puppy eyes. “Why, Mom? Did I do something wrong?” “No, sweetheart.” I hugged him close. “You didn’t do anything wrong.” But I couldn’t ignore the gnawing feeling in my chest. Daniel Reeves might have been just a kind stranger. Or he might have been the key to uncovering the truth I’d been searching for. I had to find out.PrologueThe labor room was a blur of beeping machines and sterile smells. The pain rushed through her filling every part of her body. Maddie's world had narrowed to a single, overwhelming sensation: the urge to push."Come on, Maddie, one more push!" the nurse urged her in a gentle but firm voice of encouragement.Her body was on fire, her muscles screaming in protest as she bore down. She felt like she was being torn apart, her very fabric unraveling with each contraction.Her husband, Henry, held her hand, his eyes locked on hers. “You're doing great, Maddie. Just one more push.”She took a deep breath, the air burning her lungs. She felt the pressure building, the baby's head crowning."Now, Maddie! Push!" the doctor commanded.With a primal scream, she pushed with every ounce of strength she possessed. The room erupted into a cacophony of beeps and cheers as the baby slid into the world.Maddie felt a rush of relief, followed by a wave of exhaustion. She gazed up at Henry, her ey
Chapter Two“How can this be possible?” he muttered under his breath, but it was loud enough for the courtroom to hear. I froze, the sound of my heart thumping resounding in my ears. “What?” I whispered, leaning forward. Henry sat up straighter, his smug smile fading away. “What’s going on?” He glanced at the bailiff, then back at the document, his shock evident. He adjusted his glasses, rereading the page as if to confirm what he was seeing. “Your Honor?” my lawyer prompted cautiously, her voice tinged with unease. The judge cleared his throat, his tone laced with disbelief. “According to the results of the second DNA test…” He paused, looking directly at me. “Maddie, you are not…the biological mother of the child either.” The courtroom fell silent as his words hung in the air. My pulse quickened at his words, echoing in the courtroom as gasps erupted around me. My vision blurred, and my breath caught in my throat. “W-what did you just say?” I stammered, my voice break
Chapter 3I arrived at the dimly lit restaurant with my lawyer by my side. Despite her assurances, I couldn’t shake the unease twisting in my gut. Henry sat at a secluded corner table, his suit impeccable, his demeanor smug as ever. He rose as we approached, a fake charm plastered across his face. “Maddie,” he said smoothly, gesturing for me to sit. “Glad you could make it.” I sat down, my lawyer taking the seat beside me. Her presence was supposed to be a comfort, but tonight, it felt oddly distant. “Get to the point, Henry,” I said coldly, crossing my arms. “You said you had something to discuss.” His smirk widened as he leaned back, spreading his arms casually. “Straight to business, I see. Fine. Let’s talk about the company.” My brows furrowed. “What about it?” “I want it,” he said simply, as if stating a fact. I blinked, incredulous. “You want it?” I repeated, “Henry, you have nothing to do with my company. It was my hard work, my sweat, blood and tears that built i
Chapter Four(5 months later)“What is this? What’s going on, Maddie?” an angry customer snapped, holding up the cup of coffee I had just served. I blinked, realizing too late that I’d delivered the wrong order again. My cheeks burned with embarrassment. “I’m so sorry,” I stammered, reaching to take the cup back. “I’ll fix this right away.” The customer muttered something under his breath, but I didn’t hear it. My thoughts were elsewhere, consumed by the worry gnawing at my mind. I glanced at the clock on the wall for the hundredth time that evening. My son, Joey, should have been home from school by now. The school bus was usually late, but today it was too late, and the uncertainty was driving me to the edge. Though my heart ached with the constant search for my biological child, lost to me years ago thanks to my ex-husband's betrayal, I never allowed myself to see Joey as anything other than mine. From the moment I’d held him in my arms, he became my world. Whether or not w
Chapter 3I arrived at the dimly lit restaurant with my lawyer by my side. Despite her assurances, I couldn’t shake the unease twisting in my gut. Henry sat at a secluded corner table, his suit impeccable, his demeanor smug as ever. He rose as we approached, a fake charm plastered across his face. “Maddie,” he said smoothly, gesturing for me to sit. “Glad you could make it.” I sat down, my lawyer taking the seat beside me. Her presence was supposed to be a comfort, but tonight, it felt oddly distant. “Get to the point, Henry,” I said coldly, crossing my arms. “You said you had something to discuss.” His smirk widened as he leaned back, spreading his arms casually. “Straight to business, I see. Fine. Let’s talk about the company.” My brows furrowed. “What about it?” “I want it,” he said simply, as if stating a fact. I blinked, incredulous. “You want it?” I repeated, “Henry, you have nothing to do with my company. It was my hard work, my sweat, blood and tears that built i
Chapter Two“How can this be possible?” he muttered under his breath, but it was loud enough for the courtroom to hear. I froze, the sound of my heart thumping resounding in my ears. “What?” I whispered, leaning forward. Henry sat up straighter, his smug smile fading away. “What’s going on?” He glanced at the bailiff, then back at the document, his shock evident. He adjusted his glasses, rereading the page as if to confirm what he was seeing. “Your Honor?” my lawyer prompted cautiously, her voice tinged with unease. The judge cleared his throat, his tone laced with disbelief. “According to the results of the second DNA test…” He paused, looking directly at me. “Maddie, you are not…the biological mother of the child either.” The courtroom fell silent as his words hung in the air. My pulse quickened at his words, echoing in the courtroom as gasps erupted around me. My vision blurred, and my breath caught in my throat. “W-what did you just say?” I stammered, my voice break
PrologueThe labor room was a blur of beeping machines and sterile smells. The pain rushed through her filling every part of her body. Maddie's world had narrowed to a single, overwhelming sensation: the urge to push."Come on, Maddie, one more push!" the nurse urged her in a gentle but firm voice of encouragement.Her body was on fire, her muscles screaming in protest as she bore down. She felt like she was being torn apart, her very fabric unraveling with each contraction.Her husband, Henry, held her hand, his eyes locked on hers. “You're doing great, Maddie. Just one more push.”She took a deep breath, the air burning her lungs. She felt the pressure building, the baby's head crowning."Now, Maddie! Push!" the doctor commanded.With a primal scream, she pushed with every ounce of strength she possessed. The room erupted into a cacophony of beeps and cheers as the baby slid into the world.Maddie felt a rush of relief, followed by a wave of exhaustion. She gazed up at Henry, her ey