Noah’s My hands were shaking.I stared at the photograph on my phone, unable to look away.
It was Ethan.My Ethan.
Standing outside his daycare with his little backpack hanging from one shoulder, completely unaware that someone had been watching him.
And beneath the photograph were six words that made my blood run cold.
We know who his father is.I couldn’t breathe.
For two years, I had protected one secret above everything else.Ethan’s father.
No one was supposed to know.No one.”Give me the phone.” Adrian’s voice was calm, but something dangerous had entered it.I handed it over.
He stared at the photograph for several seconds before looking at me.”How long have you been receiving messages like this?” “This is the first one.”I said.
“Are you sure?” “Yes.” His eyes returned to the screen.”Who knows about Ethan’s father?” “No one.”The answer came too quickly.
Adrian noticed.His gaze sharpened.”Noah.” I looked away.
“I mean…
no one who would tell someone else.” “That’s different.”I didn’t answer.
Ethan was sitting quietly beside me, playing with the zipper on his backpack.
I forced myself to put my phone away.”We shouldn’t talk about this in front of him.” Adrian immediately understood.”You’re right.” He looked at the driver.”Take us somewhere secure.”The car changed direction.I looked through the window, recognizing none of the streets anymore.”Where are we going?” “My private residence.”I turned toward him.”No.” “It’s safer.” “I can’t take Ethan to your house.” “Why?” Because your house was the last place I wanted my son anywhere near.
Because I didn’t know what would happen if Ethan stepped into Adrian’s world.
Because the Ashford family was exactly the kind of powerful family I had spent two years trying to stay away from.
“I don’t want to cause problems for you.” Adrian’s expression remained serious.
“You’re not causing anything.”He paused.
“Someone threatened a child.
This is no longer simply an employee matter.” My eyes lowered.He was right.I hated that he was right.
The car continued through the city until we reached a quiet residential area surrounded by tall walls and security gates.
When the gates opened, I stared at the enormous house beyond them.
Ethan pressed his face against the window.
“Wow.” Despite everything, I almost smiled.”Don’t get too excited.” “Is this where the nice uncle lives?” Adrian looked at him through the rearview mirror.
“Yes.” Ethan’s eyes widened.”Do you have dinosaurs?” “No.” He looked disappointed.
“Then why is your house so big?” The driver coughed, trying not to laugh.
Even Adrian seemed caught off guard.
“It’s my mother’s house.” “Oh.” Ethan thought about that.
“Does your mother have dinosaurs?” I covered my mouth.
A tiny smile appeared on Adrian’s face.
“No.” “Then she needs some.” The driver finally laughed.
I couldn’t stop myself either.
For a brief moment, the fear disappeared.
It was only Adrian, Ethan, and me sitting in a car while my son seriously explained why an enormous mansion needed dinosaur decorations.
It felt strangely normal.
And that frightened me more than anything.
Because I couldn’t allow myself to get comfortable around Adrian.
Not when I was still hiding the truth.
The car stopped.
A security guard opened the door.
I stepped out with Ethan in my arms.
Adrian walked beside us.
“There’s a guest room upstairs.” “I can’t stay here.” “You can tonight.” “Adrian—” “Tomorrow we’ll figure out something else.” His voice wasn’t harsh.It was simply final.
I looked down at Ethan.
He was already staring at the enormous house with curiosity.
I sighed.
“One night.” “One night.”We walked inside.
The house was quiet and elegant, decorated with expensive furniture and paintings that probably cost more than everything I owned.
Ethan looked around.
“Daddy.” “What?” “Can I touch that?” “No.” He pointed toward a glass sculpture.
“Why?” “Because it’s probably expensive.” Adrian glanced at it.
“He’s right.” Ethan nodded seriously.
“Then don’t touch it.” I laughed.
“Thank you for listening.” Adrian looked at me.
Something about his expression made me look away.
A housekeeper approached us.
“President Ashford.” “Prepare the guest room.” “Of course.” Her eyes briefly moved toward Ethan.
Then toward me.
She seemed surprised, but didn’t ask questions.
I appreciated that.
As she led us upstairs, Adrian’s phone rang.
He answered immediately.
“Yes?” His expression changed as he listened.
“You’re certain?” A pause.
“Send everything to me.”He ended the call.
“What happened?” I asked.
He looked at me.
“The security team traced the photograph.” My heart jumped.
“Where?” “Someone sent it from a disposable number, but the signal originated near Ashford University.” I froze.
Ashford University.The place I had spent years trying to forget.
Adrian’s gaze remained fixed on me.”The same university where you disappeared.” I swallowed.”Maybe it’s a coincidence.” “Maybe.” He didn’t sound convinced.
Then he stepped closer.
“There is something else.” “What?” “The person who sent the photograph didn’t just know Ethan’s name.” He turned his phone toward me.
A second photograph appeared.
This one wasn’t of Ethan.
It was of me.
Standing outside Ashford Biotech.Taken on my first day of work.
My stomach dropped.
The person had been watching me since before the daycare incident.
And then Adrian said something that made my entire body go cold.
“They aren’t just looking for Ethan.” His eyes met mine.”They’re watching you.” I stared at the photograph.
For two years, I had believed leaving the city had erased me from everyone’s memory.
I had been wrong.
Someone had been waiting for me to come back.
And now that I had returned…
They weren’t going to let me leave so easily.I couldn’t take my eyes off the photograph.
It showed me standing outside Ashford Biotech, completely unaware that someone had been watching me.
My stomach twisted.”When was this taken?” “Yesterday morning.”Adrian lowered the phone.”That means whoever took it was already following you before the message was sent.” I wrapped my arms around myself.”Why me?” “That’s what we’re going to find out.”His calmness should have reassured me.
Instead, it made everything feel more serious.
Someone had followed me from the moment I returned to the city.
They knew where I worked.
They knew where Ethan went during the day.
And now they were claiming to know who his father was.
I glanced toward Ethan.
He was sitting on the edge of the bed, playing with his stuffed fox.
He looked completely unaware of the danger around him.
I walked over and knelt in front of him.”Are you tired?” He nodded.”Very.” “Then you should sleep.” “Can I sleep here?” “Yes.” He climbed beneath the blanket, still holding his stuffed fox.
I tucked him in and kissed his forehead.
“Good night baby.” “Good night, Daddy.”I stayed beside him until his eyes closed.When I finally stood, Adrian was waiting outside the room.
He quietly closed the door behind me.”He’s asleep?” “Yes.” “Good.”We walked downstairs.
I stopped near the living room.
“I need to ask you something.”Adrian turned.
“What?” “Why are you helping me?”He was silent for a moment.”Because someone is threatening you.” “That’s not the whole reason.”His eyes met mine.”You don’t trust me.” “I don’t know if I should.” “I understand.” His answer surprised me.
He didn’t become angry.
He simply looked toward the windows.
“Trust isn’t something I expect you to give me.” I lowered my gaze.”Thank you.” He nodded.
I sat on the sofa, exhausted.
“There’s something I haven’t told you.” Adrian looked at me.
I hesitated.
“I think the person behind this may be connected to my past.” “Your former landlord?” “Maybe.” I told him everything I knew about the man from the photograph.
The apartment I had rented.
The fact that he had known I was expecting a child.
The fact that I had left without telling him where I was going.
Adrian listened without interrupting.
When I finished, he asked, “Did you ever tell him the father’s identity?” “No.” “Did he ever meet the father?” “No.” “Then how could he know?”I didn’t have an answer.
Adrian picked up his phone.
“I’m going to have the security team investigate him.” I nodded.”There’s one more thing.” He looked at me.
“What?” I hesitated.
“The message said they know who Ethan’s father is.” “Yes.” “How could they know?”Adrian’s expression became thoughtful.
“There are only a few possibilities.” “What are they?” “Someone who saw the child’s records.
Someone who knew you before you left.
Someone who has access to your personal information.” He paused.
“Or someone who already knew the father.” My heart stopped.
Adrian continued before I could react.
“We need to determine which one.” I looked down at my hands.
There was one possibility I couldn’t allow myself to consider.
Someone from Adrian’s family.
If the Ashfords had discovered Ethan’s existence somehow, everything would become much more complicated.
My thoughts were interrupted by footsteps.
The housekeeper entered the room carrying a small envelope.
“President Ashford, this was delivered a few minutes ago.” Adrian frowned.
“By whom?” “I’m not sure.
It was left at the front gate.” He took the envelope.There was no name on it.
No address.
Nothing.
Adrian opened it carefully.
A single photograph slid onto the table.I looked down.
My blood ran cold.
It was an old photograph.
Two years old.
I recognized the place immediately.
Ashford University and there I was.
Standing outside the research building with a folder in my hands.
But I wasn’t alone.
Someone had taken the photograph from a distance.
My face was clearly visible.
Adrian picked it up.
“When was this taken?” “Two years ago.” He looked at me.
“Why would someone send us this?” I shook my head.
“I don’t know.” Then I noticed something in the corner of the photograph.
A handwritten date.
And beneath it, three words.
You remember him.Adrian’s expression changed.
He stared at the message for several seconds.
Then he looked at me.”Who?” I couldn’t answer.
Because somewhere deep inside, I knew this wasn’t only about Ethan.
Someone was trying to force Adrian to remember something from two years ago.
Something that I had spent two years trying to forget.
And judging by the photograph in his hand…
They were succeeding.
things are getting REALLY serious now!
Someone has been watching Noah, they know about Ethan, and now an old photograph from two years ago has appeared with the words “You remember him.” But remember…
Noah still has a secret he’s desperately trying to protect.
What do you think Adrian is going to remember?
And who is behind all these messages?
See you in Chapter 9!
— Ari1