The crisp morning air nipped at Ethan’s face as he pulled up to the school, the bright sun beginning to rise higher in the sky, casting long shadows over the playground. He could see the familiar sight of parents dropping off their kids, the sound of laughter and chatter filling the air as students ran to their classes. The moment felt peaceful, almost surreal, given the storm of emotions he had been navigating in his personal life.
He glanced in the rearview mirror at Leo and Liam, both of them animated as they discussed the events of the day ahead. Leo, as usual, was already talking a mile a minute about a new game he had learned, while Liam was more focused, listening intently. Ethan smiled, his heart swelling with affection.
“I’ll see you both after school, okay?” he said as they unbuckled their seatbelts.
“Okay, Daddy!” Liam said, giving him a tight hug from the backseat before they both climbed out.
Ethan stepped out of the car, watching them run up to the school gates. They weren’t the only ones excited to start the day. Grace appeared, walking up behind the twins. She gave Ethan a soft smile before running up to him, throwing her arms around his neck in a spontaneous hug.
“Morning, Daddy,” she said with a warm smile. “I’m so glad we’re all together again.”
Ethan felt his chest tighten at the sight of his daughter’s affection. “Good morning, Grace,” he said, hugging her back. He pulled away and ran a hand through her hair. “You’re all set for school?”
She nodded, her eyes twinkling with a spark of her usual enthusiasm. “I am! I’m excited to see my friends!” Grace then looked at Leo and Liam, who were holding hands and heading toward the door. “I’ll see you later, guys,” she called out to them, waving.
“We’ll catch up with you after school!” Leo called back, his voice bright and full of promise.
Ethan waved goodbye to Grace as she turned toward the school doors with her brothers by her side. For a brief moment, he felt an overwhelming sense of normalcy. Watching his children together, laughing and excited for the day, brought a sense of calm to his chaotic mind. But even as he watched them walk into the school, his mind kept returning to the events of last night.
Later that morning, after dropping the kids off at school, Ethan drove to his office, the steady hum of the engine lulling him into a sort of deep thought. He couldn’t shake the unease that had settled in his chest after last night’s incident. Whoever had been watching Ella’s house he couldn’t ignore it. He had left so abruptly after his confrontation with Fabian, but there had been someone. He was certain of it. And now, it was gnawing at him.
He parked his car in the office lot and stepped out, making his way to his desk with purposeful strides. Ethan sat down, pulling his phone from his pocket and dialing Victor’s number, the only person he trusted enough to discuss this with.
It rang for a few moments before Victor’s voice came through, low and steady. “Ethan, what’s going on?”
“Victor, we need to talk,” Ethan said, his voice low. “Something happened last night. After I left Ella’s house, I’m certain someone was there. I…I felt it, like someone was watching. But when I went outside, I couldn’t find anyone. It was dark, and I was already rattled from everything going on.”
Victor sighed on the other end of the line. “Are you sure? I mean, it could’ve just been your mind playing tricks on you. After everything that’s been happening, I don’t blame you for being on edge.”
“No,” Ethan responded firmly, his voice tinged with frustration. “I know what I saw. I don’t know who it was, but someone was there. I’m telling you, it was too real to ignore.”
Victor paused for a moment, and when he spoke again, his voice had a more serious edge to it. “Could it have been Tania?”
Ethan sat back in his chair, rubbing a hand over his face as the weight of that possibility settled on him. “I don’t know. I haven’t heard from her since the divorce. I thought she was moving on, healing, but now….. this? Why would she be lurking around? What does she want?”
Victor’s voice dropped, a hint of disbelief in his tone. “It’s strange. Tania’s been off the radar for a while, but if this was her, it means she’s still trying to manipulate things from the shadows. But why would she be involved with something like this? She knows she can’t win Ethan. The twins are settled with Ella now, and it seems like you’ve already cut ties.”
“I thought I had,” Ethan muttered under his breath. “But if it is her, she might still think she has some power over me-over us. She knows how much I care about Leo and Liam. If she could somehow use them as leverage, she would.”
Victor sighed deeply. “If she’s behind this, then we need to figure out what her endgame is. There’s no way she’s just hanging around for no reason. It’s not just about the past anymore, is it?”
“No,” Ethan agreed, his voice darkening. “It’s something bigger. I don’t know what, but I can feel it.”
Ethan leaned forward in his chair, his thoughts becoming clearer. “Maybe she’s watching Ella, trying to learn her movements. See if she can get close to the kids again. That’s her only leverage now, after everything that’s happened.”
Victor was quiet for a beat before speaking again. “Do you think she’s still dangerous?”
Ethan hesitated, the memories of Tania’s deception and the betrayal that had shattered his trust resurfacing. “I don’t know what to think anymore. After everything that’s happened with Fabian, I’ve learned to trust my instincts more. If Tania is involved, I need to be prepared.”
“Alright, I’ll see what I can find,” Victor offered. “But you need to be cautious. Tania is manipulative, and if she’s truly trying something again, we can’t underestimate her.”
Ethan nodded, a grim determination settling over him. “Thanks, Victor. I appreciate it. Just keep your eyes and ears open. I’ll be on alert.”
As Ethan hung up the phone, his mind raced. Tania had been quiet for so long, and now, she was resurfacing. But why? Was it just because she couldn’t stand the idea of losing control over him and the twins? Or was there something more sinister at play?
Ethan stood up from his desk, his thoughts clouded with uncertainty. He hadn’t expected to be thrust back into this world-this world of lies, deceit, and manipulation-especially not after everything he had been through. But if it was Tania behind the shadows, then he would confront her head-on. He wouldn’t let her ruin the life he was beginning to rebuild with Ella, with his children. Not again.
But the questions lingered. Why now? Why was Tania back in the picture? And, most troubling of all, what did she want?
There were still too many unanswered questions, and until Ethan had those answers, he wouldn’t rest.
The day was just beginning, and already it felt like he was on the edge of something far more dangerous than he had ever imagined.