Ethan couldn’t believe he was hearing Ella’s voice again after everything that had happened. The divorce proceedings with Tania had pushed him into a dark place, but hearing Ella on the other end of the line felt like a lifeline a reminder of what he’d lost and, maybe, what he still had a chance to regain.
“Hi, Ethan,” Ella’s voice came through, cautious and cool.
“Ella,” he breathed out, a mixture of relief and lingering pain in his voice. “How… how are you doing?”
“I’m fine,” Ella replied, her tone even. “The boys are fine too.”
He could sense her guarded tone but pressed on. “I’m glad to hear that. I just… I needed to check in with you, see how you were. And… how are the boys?”
“They’re great. Leo’s reading a book while Liam’s practicing his soccer moves in the yard. They’re growing up fast,” she replied, her words laced with warmth when she spoke of the twins.
Ethan was quiet for a moment, swallowing his emotions. “I wish I could be there for them, Ella. I know I missed out on so much.”
“Maybe,” she replied gently, a touch of bitterness creeping into her voice, “but that was the choice you made, Ethan.”
Ethan took a deep breath, choosing his next words carefully. “Ella… I’m divorcing Tania.”
Ella’s voice turned sharp. “Divorcing her? And she’s pregnant?”
“Yes. But… it’s not my child.”
Ella paused, trying to process what he’d just said. “And how exactly are you so sure?”
“I had a DNA test done. It’s… it’s not mine,” Ethan said, the ache of betrayal evident in his voice. “I had to know the truth, Ella.”
There was silence for a moment, and then Ella’s voice dropped. “So who is the father, Ethan? You’ve been married to her for years, thinking she loved you and only you.”
Ethan sighed, as if the truth weighed heavily on him. “That’s what I’m trying to figure out. I thought… well, with all we’ve been through, I was hoping you might know something.”
Ella’s mind raced, connecting pieces she’d tried to ignore. She thought of Fabian and the tension between him and Tania recently. Could he…?
“Ethan, I… I need to go,” she said quickly.
“What?” Ethan’s voice was filled with frustration. “Ella, if you know something, please”
But Ella had already ended the call.
Ethan stared at his phone, replaying the call in his mind, dissecting Ella’s words and the abrupt way she had hung up. He had expected her to react with some surprise, maybe even frustration, but the urgency in her tone the way she’d almost seemed desperate to end the conversation left him unnerved. He’d known Ella long enough to recognize when something was off. It was as if she knew something, something she was hesitant to share.
“Does she know who the father is?” he wondered aloud, clenching his jaw. Could it be someone we both know? The idea made his stomach churn. After years of thinking he understood the dynamics in his life, everything felt like it was slipping further into mystery.
He paced his office, trying to make sense of Ella’s reaction. Her pause, the way her voice had wavered when he asked if she knew something it all pointed to her knowing more than she was letting on. He clenched his fists, frustration mixing with a strange fear that he was missing something critical. Had she found something about Tania that he hadn’t? His mind darted back to everything she’d been through recently, all the pain and betrayal that Tania’s schemes had put her through. Ella was always a step ahead, even when he hadn’t realized it.
Ethan’s mind raced as he paced, replaying the call over and over. If Ella knew something, why wouldn’t she tell him? His fists clenched at his sides as he tried to temper the frustration gnawing at him. I know I messed things up in the past, he thought bitterly, but if she’s got information that could help me protect Grace, she should let me know.
He sank back into his office chair, his eyes drifting to the framed photo of his daughter. Grace’s smile stared back at him, innocent and trusting. All he wanted was to shield her from the ugliness of Tania’s lies and manipulations. He’d already missed out on so much of her life, and the thought of losing her now felt like an anchor weighing him down.
But the way Ella had cut him off mid-sentence, her rushed exit it wasn’t typical of her. She must know something, he thought again, frustration simmering. But why hold back? The suspicion that Ella might be trying to protect someone flickered through his mind. Could she still feel some allegiance to Fabian, even after everything? Or was there something she knew about him that she wasn’t ready to share?
He ran a hand over his face, feeling the weight of it all. The years of separation, the lingering resentment, and now, the added betrayal from Tania it was all coming together in a storm of secrets he hadn’t prepared for. His chest tightened with a mix of anger and helplessness. Despite all he was doing, all he was trying to fix, it felt like he was being kept in the dark at every turn.
But if Ella has any reason to be hiding something, it’s not because she wants to hurt me, he reasoned with himself. She was fiercely protective of her children, and he respected that, even if it meant she sometimes viewed him as a threat.
A thought surfaced: Maybe she’s afraid to tell me because it involves someone close to her. It was a painful possibility, but he couldn’t ignore it. After all, Ella had spent years building a life apart from him, forming connections and creating a family of her own. If the truth were to affect those she cared about, maybe she felt she had to shield it, even if it meant keeping him in the dark.
He opened his email and started drafting a message to her, his fingers hovering over the keys as he wrestled with the right words. He knew he couldn’t force her to reveal anything, but he hoped to remind her of what was at stake.
Ella, he began, I know you have every reason to keep your guard up with me, especially after everything. But please, if there’s anything you know that could help Grace or shed light on Tania’s intentions, I’m asking you to share it with me. I promise to keep everything discreet. I need your help to protect Grace and bring Tania’s lies to the surface. Whatever you know, however small, could make a difference.
He paused, reading his words back and making sure the tone was just right. He didn’t want to come across as accusing or demanding just earnest. He knew Ella well enough to understand that approaching her with humility was the only way he’d get her to even consider speaking to him.
He hit “Send,” feeling a strange combination of hope and uncertainty. Part of him feared that Ella would ignore the message entirely, while another part held on to the possibility that she might finally open up.
As the minutes ticked by without a response, he forced himself to turn his thoughts back to the legal fight against Tania. Victor, had made it clear that they had an advantage, but Ethan knew better than to underestimate Tania. She was crafty, relentless, and willing to bend the truth to serve her own ends. For her, this fight was about more than custody it was about control. And as long as she felt she could manipulate the situation, she would stop at nothing to take what she wanted.