Time flew by quickly, and noon was fast approaching. Ethan paced nervously at the pier, checking his watch every few minutes. It had been over an hour, and Ella still hadn’t shown up. His frustration simmered, though a deeper anxiety gnawed at him. “What if she had changed her mind? He thought”
Meanwhile, Ella was at home, anxiously waiting for Derek to arrive. She couldn’t leave the twins alone and couldn’t take them with her to meet Ethan because it was not safe. When Derek finally knocked on the door, Ella ushered him in quickly. “Sorry for the rush, Derek,” she said. “Ethan wants to meet me. It might take longer than expected, so please keep an eye on the boys.”
Derek nodded, sensing the tension in her voice. “Don’t worry, I’ve got them covered. Be careful.”
Ella offered him a tight smile before grabbing her keys and rushing out the door. Her mind was racing as she drove to the pier. Ethan said he wanted to talk, but she was still hesitant to fully trust him, even after discovering that he had been manipulated by Tania. Too many secrets still lingered between them.
When Ella finally arrived, she spotted Ethan standing near the water, his gaze distant, lost in thought. “Ethan!” she called out, quickening her pace toward him.
Ethan turned, a wave of relief washing over his face as Ella approached. “You’re late,” he said, though there was no malice in his tone, just a weariness that hadn’t been there before.
“I had to wait for someone to watch the boys,” she explained. “What’s this about? Why did you want to meet?”
Ethan sighed and looked away, the weight of his words pressing heavily on him. “My friend he found something. Tania… she hired Crystal and Fabian to kill you. And… the boys too. They’re looking for you.”
Ella’s stomach dropped. She had known Tania was ruthless, but hearing it from Ethan made it all the more real. The very thought of her children being targeted sent a wave of cold fear down her spine. “How are the boys?” Ethan asked softly, his eyes filled with concern.
“They’re fine,” Ella replied, her voice steady but distant. “how is Grace she asked, the boys miss her”
Ethan’s face tightened, his emotions simmering just beneath the surface. “She’s as fine as she can be with everything going on” “what do you mean” Ella questioned ” Tania has been passing her frustrations on Grace and it has turned physical and….. I don’t know what to do. I want to help, but everything feels like it’s spiraling out of control.”
Ella studied him carefully, her heart torn between pity and worry and distrust. Part of her wanted believes Ethan was sincere, but another part reminded her of all the pain she went through, even if he had been a victim of manipulation. “You need to calm down,” Ella said, her tone firmer than she intended. “Keep investigating with your friend. We need more evidence before making any moves.”
Ethan looked at her, his expression conflicted. He could sense that she was holding something back, that she wasn’t fully opening up to him. But could he blame her? After everything, trust wasn’t something they could just rebuild overnight.
The conversation drifted into awkward silence until Ella checked the time. “I should go,” she said, turning to leave. But before she could take a step, Ethan grabbed her hand, stopping her in her tracks.
“Wait,” Ethan said, his voice strained. “Can I see them? The boys?”
Ella froze, her heart pounding. She had feared this moment. “No, Ethan. Not yet.”
His face darkened. “Have you told them? Do they know I’m their father?”
“It’s not time yet,” Ella repeated, pulling her hand free. Her voice was firm, but her heart ached.
Ethan’s frustration boiled over. “Not time? They’re my children, Ella! I deserve to know them!”
“You’re not ready,” she snapped. “You think showing up now and claiming them will fix everything? It won’t. You need to earn that right.”
Ethan’s face contorted with anger. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a piece of paper, handing it to her. “I didn’t want to do this, but I have no choice.” ” it’s the only way I can get both you and the kids in my life he thought”
Ella’s heart sank as she read the paper Ethan was filing for full custody of Leo and Liam.
Her eyes blazed with fury. “How could you do this to me?” she shouted, the paper crumpling in her fist. Without thinking, she slapped him across the face, her hand stinging from the force.
Ethan recoiled, stunned by her reaction, but he held his ground. “I’m their father, Ella. I have rights.”
Ella’s voice shook with rage. “You lost your rights the moment you let Tania into our lives.”
Ethan opened his mouth to retort, but the look of pain in Ella’s eyes stopped him. He wasn’t sure what hurt more the slap or the realization that he had pushed her too far.