Kiara.

The second Chase walked out of the shop, I could finally breathe. Relief flooded me like I'd been holding my lungs hostage.

I clutched Billy closer to my chest. My hands were still shaking. I bent down and kissed the side of his forehead. "Billy, you-"

But I didn't even get the words out, because the door opened again.

Chase.

He came back.

My heart jumped. No, it didn't jump. It actually thrashed.

Why? Why was he back? Did he figure it out? Did he suspect something? Did he see it? Did he see him?

"Mommy!" Billy called again, innocent and loud, completely unaware of how everything inside me was unraveling.

He clung to my waist, and I held him tighter. So tight I was scared I'd break him, but I didn't care. I couldn't let him go. Not now.

I looked up to see that Chase was staring at me.

And that scowl on his face, Goddess.

I was about to say something, anything, but then Erica showed up.

Of course. She always had to show up at the worst moments.

And then she started yelling. Something about bringing Billy again. Something about rules.

But I didn't hear any of it.

Not a single word.

All I could focus on was Chase.

His eyes. His expression.

Was he piecing it together? Did he notice the eyes? The nose? The energy? Did he feel it?

Would he take Billy from me? Could he? Would he fight me for him?

Erica stopped yelling eventually as her words disappeared into whatever void they came from.

Then Chase said, "Seems like you've moved on fine with your life."

The way he said it was like a knife. Not loud. Not angry. Just cold.

Like it was true. Like I'd forgotten him.

Like I'd built a new life without him and didn't care anymore.

I blinked. My mouth opened, but no sound came out. I didn't know what he meant. I didn't know what he wanted from me.

He didn't say anything else.

He just turned and walked away again.

And my knees nearly buckled.

I pulled Billy closer, tighter, like the pain of my grip would anchor me back into the present. He was the reason I was still alive.

Six years.

He was the only thing that had kept me standing all this time.

If anyone tried to take him away from me...

No.

No, I wouldn't survive that.

"Mom, are you okay?"

His voice was small. Gentle.

I looked at him and nodded fast. "Yes, baby. Mommy's fine. Mommy just... missed you a lot today."

It was a lie. But I said it anyway.

I stared into his eyes, Chase's eyes.

So much of him was there.

But Billy was mine.

Mine and no one else's.

And I would never, ever be separated from him. Not even by death.

Erica stormed out again, mouth already twisted in a frown.

She didn't need a reason to be angry.

"Did he leave already?" she snapped.

I knew who she meant.

I nodded quietly.

She narrowed her eyes at me, then let her gaze drop to Billy.

"Of course. You must've done something. You always ruin everything," she hissed. "And seriously, why bring him here again?! You and your son are always causing trouble!"

I usually let it slide.

All her insults. All her hate.

But this time? No.

Not Billy. She does not get to say that about my son.

So I opened my mouth, ready to bite but Billy beat me to it.

"Don't yell at my mommy!"

He stepped in front of me. Tiny and angry and fierce in that innocent way only kids could be.

"She didn't know I was coming! I came by myself! It's not her fault. Please don't be mad at her."

His voice cracked near the end. But he held his ground.

I froze and so did Erica.

She stared at him, rolled her eyes like the witch she was, and walked away.

Again.

Coward.

I knelt and wrapped Billy in my arms, holding him to my chest like a shield.

I took a deep breath.

Chase was gone.

And I prayed I wouldn't have to see him again.

Please, just let this be a one-time thing.

Let him stay gone.

...

That night, I was putting Billy to bed when Chavez came home.

My cousin.

The only person who'd never turned his back on me.

He stood in the doorway and didn't say anything until Billy was fast asleep. Then he nodded his head for me to come out.

I followed him into the small kitchen. The overhead light flickered like it always did.

"Summer told me you didn't seem okay when you got back with Billy today."

He didn't waste time.

"You alright?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I'm fine."

As long as my son was safe, I'd always be fine. That was the rule I lived by now.

"Are you sure?" he asked again. "You know you can talk to me, Kiara. If something's wrong-"

I knew what he was trying to say.

I shook my head. "It's not Erica. I mean, yeah, she's still awful. But it's not her."

"She's always been a nightmare. You don't have to keep working there, you know that, right?"

I cut him off before he went further.

"I need the money. I have a kid to raise, Chavez."

He sighed and didn't argue as usual. He never did when I said that.

But he was still watching me so he saw the crack in my voice.

"So what happened?"

I didn't answer. Not at first.

But he waited.

Then finally I said it. "I ran into Chase today."

The silence that followed that name was heavy.

Chavez's whole face changed.

"What?!"

I nodded. My fingers were twitching now.

He stepped forward. "What do you mean you ran into him? Did he try anything? Did he hurt you? Did he-"

"No. He didn't. He hates me too much to even touch me. He didn't do anything. But... he saw Billy."

Chavez stilled while I went on.

"I don't think he suspects anything. I really don't. But if he ever finds out... if he ever knows the truth... I don't know what he'll do. I don't know if he'll try to take him away. And I can't... I can't let that happen. I can't lose him, Chavez. I'll die if I do."

I said it. Out loud.

And it hurt. More than I thought it would.

Chavez didn't answer right away.

Then finally, he responded. "He didn't know you were pregnant. He never even suspected. I don't think he ever will. You're fine, Kiara. He won't take Billy. He won't even come close to guessing."

I wanted to believe him.

I did.

But I couldn't stop worrying.

Billy was everything.

My beginning. My end. My whole damn life.

If I lost him, nothing would be left.

Chavez tried again. "You're not going to lose him. You won't."

I nodded slowly. "Anyway, I don't think I'll see Chase again."

And I meant it. Or maybe I was just praying out loud.

I didn't care if Erica lost her biggest client.

I just wanted peace. I just wanted my son.

I already lost everything once.

I don't think I would survive it a second time.

CHASE

I walked into my bedroom, numb, my mind all over the place. I hadn't expected to see Kiara today. I hadn't even expected to ever see her again.

I thought I was done. I thought I had buried the past. I thought what she did to me didn't matter anymore.

But the second I saw her face, everything I'd locked away for six goddamn years exploded in my chest like it never left.

She betrayed me. She humiliated me.

And now what? She had a kid?

A kid. Which meant she might be married. Living her life. Doing just fine while I was stuck in this limbo.

It was like none of it ever meant anything to her. Like I never meant anything.

I sank into a chair, gripping the edge, trying not to let the thoughts drown me, but they were louder than ever. The image of her holding that little boy. His eyes. His smile. That kid didn't just exist. That kid belonged to her.

The woman who once begged me to love her. Who once looked at me like I was the only one.

Now she had someone else. She'd moved on.

And I felt like a fool for still caring.

The worst part? I missed her. I missed her like a sick addict and hated myself for it.

I tried to shift my focus. Tried to think about Kylie. About the woman who had stood beside me after Kiara ruined everything. The woman who was waiting patiently for me to finally choose her.

But even that didn't bring peace.

Being with Kylie always felt... tiring. Forced. There was nothing wrong with her. She was sweet, she was loyal, she wanted me. But I just couldn't feel what I was supposed to feel.

Still, I didn't want to hurt her. After everything she'd done.

A knock pulled me from my thoughts. I didn't move right away.

"Your Highness," someone called through the door.

I stood and opened it slowly. A palace guard.

"What?" I said, my voice sharper than I intended.

"Miss Kylie is here to see you. She's waiting in the tea room."

I wanted to turn her away. I wanted to be alone.

But Kiara's face was still flashing through my mind. That hollow smile she gave me like I was just another stranger.

I sighed and ran a hand down my face. "Tell her I'll be there soon."

⸻

When I walked into the tea room, Kylie was already seated, waiting with that practiced hopeful look in her eyes.

"Chase!" she said, like she hadn't seen me in years.

I gave a nod and walked over, not sitting just yet.

"It's late. What are you doing here?"

"I... I just wanted to see you. It's been weeks since we last spoke. I was getting worried," she said with a soft voice, almost fragile.

I knew she worried too much. I knew she always felt unsure about us, like I was going to disappear.

And maybe it was because I kept letting her.

I should try harder with her. That's what I told myself. Kiara had clearly moved on. She had a whole damn child and probably a husband too. I needed to stop being so stuck in the past.

These were just old feelings. That's all.

"I'm sorry about the distance. I've just been busy. I'll make more time for you soon," I told her.

Her face lit up like a little kid getting a gift. "You really mean that? You'll spend more time with me?"

"Yeah. I will."

There was a silence before I added, "But it's already late. You should head home."

Her smile faltered, like a candle flickering out.

"I... I was thinking... maybe I could stay the night. We've been engaged for a while now and..."

I cut her off without even thinking. I didn't want to hear it.

"No. Go home, Kylie."

She tried to smile again, but her eyes gave her away. She was hurting.

"Okay. I get it. But Chase... if you're not over my sister, you can tell me. What happened back then... it was horrible for all of us."

I looked away. The guilt was starting to push down hard. She didn't deserve this. She had stood by me when everyone else was too ashamed to look me in the eye.

"Why are you bringing her up?"

"I just... I just don't want to be forcing something if you're still hung up on her. I know how charming she is. I know forgetting her isn't easy."

She dropped her gaze again, and this time it hit deeper.

"I'm not thinking about her," I said too quickly. "That part of my life is over."

The lie sat heavy on my tongue.

"You sure?" she whispered.

"Yeah. So stop worrying. Go home. I'll find you when I'm less busy."

She nodded, smiling even though her face still looked like it wanted to cry. Then she walked out.

I slumped into the nearest chair.

But no matter what I told Kylie, no matter what I told myself, Kiara was still in my head.

I couldn't erase the way her son clung to her. The way she looked at him.

That kid. That damn kid.

Who was his father?

Why did the question bother me so much?

I should hate her. But all I could think about was the possibility that he was mine.

And if he was...

I wasn't going to let her get away with hiding that from me.

Not this time.