04 | Shadows of the Past

I turn to leave, to walk away from him and this messed-up situation I’m being forced to deal with, but he grabs my arm and stops me. “Let go of me!”

“Not until you tell me…” His voice is low and rough.

“He’s not your son, Mr. Hart,” I say, staring directly into his eyes.

“And you really expect me to believe that?”

“Yes, I do,” I nod firmly. “He’s not yours. Ryan is mine, and mine alone.”

He lets out a low laugh, but before he can say anything else, Eloy steps up beside me, wrapping his arm protectively around my shoulders.

“Is there a problem here?” Eloy asks.

“What’s your relationship with her?” Richard raises an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on Eloy’s hand on my shoulder.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but she’s my sister, Mr. Hart. And knowing you have sisters yourself, I trust you’ll understand when I say I’ll do anything to ensure she isn’t harassed or hurt. Including punching the faces of idiots.” Eloy tightens his hold on me. “Let’s go. Britt is waiting in the car.”

I nod, giving Richard one last hard look before walking past him, my steps firm and determined, keeping pace with Eloy.

“It wasn’t Brittany’s intention… they’re cousins,” Eloy explains with a sigh. “And since we never revealed who the idiot was… she’s feeling guilty.”

“It’s not her fault. There was no way she could’ve known.” I nod. “This was bound to happen sooner or later. I just didn’t think Richard would piece it together so quickly.”

“If he bothers you, don’t hesitate to let me know,” Eloy says, holding my face between his hands. “Got it?”

“Yes, sir!” I smile, and he hugs me before opening the car door for me.

As I get in, I see Richard watching us from the banquet hall’s doorway, his hands shoved into his pockets. I settle into the car seat and lean against the door with a heavy sigh.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” Britt murmurs, her voice pleading.

“Don’t apologize,” I tell her, holding her fingers in mine. “You couldn’t have known.”

“He’s my cousin… I… I’ve never been good at keeping secrets from Rich. He…” She swallows hard. “He’s not… not who you and Eloy think he is.”

I sigh and press my forehead with my hand. “Please, Britt, don’t defend him.”

She blinks at me and exhales shakily, curling up in Eloy’s arms. I pull Ryan closer to me, cradling him tightly.

I never should have come. I never should have taken this risk. The farther away, the better — no more risks. Why did I have to be so stupid?

I was too overconfident. I should’ve stayed at the hotel and only shown up for my important meeting tomorrow. That’s what I should’ve done. Now, sitting in this car, I finally remember who Kyle is: Richard’s best friend, the one who used to lean over my desk and call me “little sister-in-law.”

Did he remember me? How could I have forgotten him? He was the only one who ever knew about our relationship — even though we rarely spoke since Richard and I always met in private, far from prying eyes.

*-

When I get home, I’m completely exhausted. I hand Ryan over to the nanny who stays with us overnight and head straight to my room. I collapse onto my bed, curling up tightly in the blankets, worn out from the day.

After a while, I muster the energy to take a shower, letting the warm water wash away my tension. Once clean, I slip into my pajamas and return to bed, this time determined to relax. I put on my favorite new drama, Family by Choice, which reminds me a lot of Eloy and me. We didn’t have a mother for long, but the director of the orphanage filled the role of a father quite well. When I turned eighteen, Eloy’s family took me in, and now, at twenty-five, I can’t help but feel deeply grateful for the opportunity to have been part of their lives.

My peaceful moment is interrupted by my phone buzzing incessantly. Sighing, I pause my show and reach for the device on my bedside table. The screen displays an unknown number.

Sliding my finger across the screen, I answer and bring the phone to my ear.

“Hello?”

Silence on the other end. I frown, pulling the phone away to check the volume before hanging up. How strange. Shaking my head, I place the phone back on the table and snuggle into the blankets again, pulling them up to my neck.

–

I’m at a café. It’s still early, and the fresh morning air fills my lungs. I glance at Ryan sitting beside me and grin as I hand him his favorite treat—a plain donut.

I sip my wonderfully sweet pumpkin-flavored drink. It brings back memories of having these same drinks with Rich, who used to rant about how they were supposedly carcinogenic. It still tastes just as good as it did back then.

I feel at peace. We feel at peace. The sunlight streams through the windows, warming the overly cold air-conditioned room. My drink comforts me, and I’m busy sketching a piece of jewelry for the upcoming collection.

I can’t quite recall when I started drawing this design, but I focus on finishing the last few details.

“Melissa Roosevelt?”

A tall, stern man approaches, his expression unreadable.

I look up at him, my brow furrowed. “Yes?”

“I’m an officer of the court.” He pulls a document from his blazer. “We have a custody order filed by Mr. Richard Hart. We’re here to take the child.”

“What?” My jaw drops, and my voice rises in shock. “That’s not possible!”

He reaches for Ryan, and though I try to move, I’m frozen in place. I watch in horror as he walks away, carrying Ryan with him. I can’t even scream.

“RYAN!” I finally yell, sitting up in bed. My breathing is ragged, my hands are trembling, and I feel like I’m suffocating.

My chest feels tight as I clutch at it, sitting upright on the bed. The fear I’ve been trying to suppress for years is now impossible to ignore.

Richard can’t take my son from me. Never!