Chapter 3 - The Man Who Came Back From the Dead
The next morning, Adrian arrived at my apartment.
I opened the door.
“What are you doing here?”
“Protecting you.”
“I didn't ask you to.”
“I know.”
He held up a folder.
“We found Ethan.”
I froze.
“What?”
“Alive.”
I stepped aside.
Adrian entered.
“He's been living under another name.”
“Where?”
“New Jersey.”
My mind raced.
“Why would he disappear?”
“We don't know.”
Adrian placed the folder on the table.
Inside was a photograph.
A man standing outside a small house.
I recognized him.
My knees nearly gave out.
It was Jason.
I stared at the photograph.
“No.”
Adrian looked at me.
“You know him.”
“That isn't Ethan.”
“It is.”
“No.”
I picked up the photograph.
“That is Jason.”
Adrian's expression changed.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
He sat down.
“Then we have a much bigger problem.”
I stared at him.
“Who is Jason?”
Adrian opened another file.
“His real name is Ethan Kane.”
I couldn't breathe.
The man I believed was my daughter's father had been a Kane.
He had lied about his identity.
He had disappeared.
And now he was back.
But why?
Before I could ask, there was a knock.
Adrian's security team moved instantly.
He opened the door.
A man stood outside.
Dark hair.
Gray-blue eyes.
Older.
Tired.
But unmistakable.
My daughter's father.
Jason.
Ethan Kane.
He looked at me.
Then at Mia.
His face collapsed.
“She's beautiful.”
I stepped in front of my daughter.
“You lied to me.”
“I know.”
“You abandoned us.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
His eyes filled with tears.
“Because my father threatened you.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“Richard?”
Ethan nodded.
“He knew about you.”
He looked at Mia.
“He knew she was mine.”
My heart shattered.
“Then why didn't you come back?”
“I tried.”
“How?”
“He had people watching you.”
I shook my head.
“That doesn't explain six years.”
Ethan looked at Adrian.
“Tell her.”
Adrian stared at him.
“Tell her yourself.”
Ethan swallowed.
“My father wanted control of the company.”
“And?”
“He needed me gone.”
“Why?”
“Because I refused to marry the woman he chose.”
I stared.
“That was enough to destroy your life?”
“No.”
He looked at Mia.
“She was.”
My daughter looked up.
“Are you my daddy?”
Ethan couldn't answer.
Mia looked at Adrian.
Then back at Ethan.
“You're not the handsome man.”
Adrian almost smiled.
Ethan looked confused.
Mia pointed.
“I picked him.”
The tension broke for one second.
Even Ethan laughed.
But then his expression became serious.
“I'm sorry.”
Mia didn't understand.
May you like
I did.
And I wasn't ready to forgive him.
