Chapter Twenty One

"Ethan?" I called out, trying to keep my voice calm despite the sudden rush of panic. "Who are you talking to, sweetheart?"

He glanced up at me, a little guilty smile creeping onto his face. "Oh, hi, Mum," he said cheerfully. "I'm talking to my new friend."

"Your new friend?" I repeated, confused. "Ethan, who gave you the phone?"

He pointed toward the coffee table where the phone had been resting. "The man from upstairs told me to call him if you weren't back. So I did."

I walked over quickly, gently taking the phone from his hand. "Ethan, you shouldn't be using the phone without asking me first," I said softly, not wanting to scare him but needing him to understand. "It's important to let Mommy know before you call anyone, okay?"

"Okay, Mum," he replied, looking down at his feet. "I just wanted to say hi."

I put the phone to my ear, wondering who exactly was on the other end. "Hello? This is Ethan's mother," I said cautiously, not sure what to expect.

But the call had a