Ryan's POV

I left Rocky's Designs that day with my head racing.

It had to be her.

The name on the desk; Serena Winthrop. It was not a coincidence.

Could the little girl be Serena's daughter? I could not quit thinking about her.

We shared a past. How things ended drastically. And now, five years later, she is running a profitable business and maybe raising a child.

I shook my head as I considered the child who could be—

No, I needed answers and would get them.

The following day, I arrived at the company early, determined to see her.

I had a meeting with her staff to discuss a potential collaboration, but I wasn't going to finalise anything until I saw Serena.

I wanted to know if she was the CEO and, more crucially, if the little girl was her daughter.

The meeting started in a huge conference room. Her employees seemed eager to impress me, pitching ideas and tactics for how our companies could collaborate.

But my attention was elsewhere.

“Mr. Winters," one of them said, nervously smiling. "As you can see, we've put together a detailed proposal for the collaboration. Do you have any questions so far?"

I sat back in my chair and crossed my arms. “Yes, I do."

My tone was gentle yet firm. "I need the CEO present at this meeting. If she's not here, I'm afraid I won't be able to proceed with this partnership."

The room went silent. The workers exchanged nervous glances, apparently taken aback by my demand.

“Sir," one of them gently stated, "Ms. Winthrop is a very busy woman. She doesn't generally attend these meetings.”

"Well, she'll need to make an exception," I said. "I never sign deals without first meeting with the person in charge. If the CEO is not present, I will take my business elsewhere."

Panic washed over their faces. They understood how crucial this relationship was to their organisation.

After a brief, hushed talk between them, one of them stood up. "Excuse us for a moment, Mr. Winters," he said, exiting the room with another coworker.

Serena's POV

I was in my office studying some reports when I heard a knock on the door.

“Come in," I said without looking up.

Emma entered, looking apprehensive. "Ms. Serena, we have a situation."

I looked at her with a frown. "What kind of situation?"

“It’s the client from yesterday, Mr. Winters. He refuses to proceed with the collaboration unless you attend the meeting."

My heart skips a beat.

Mr Winters? Isn't that Ryan? I knew I’d heard a voice identical to his yesterday, and he was most likely seeking to confirm his concerns.

“Can't someone else handle it?" I asked, attempting to calm my anxiety.

Emma shakes her head. "He insisted on meeting you. If you don't go, we may lose the transaction."

I sighed, seeing I had little alternative. "Alright. Let us get this over with.”

I straightened my blazer and followed Emma to the conference room.

As the door opened, all eyes shifted to me.

And there he was. Ryan.

He stood up as I entered, his gaze fixed on mine. For a little period, I was unable to breathe.

He looked the same but different. Ryan had grown older and more mature, but he remains undeniably Ryan.

“Ms. Winthrop," one of my employees announced, shattering the stillness.

"This is Mr. Winters."

“I know who he is," I responded sternly, cutting him off.

Ryan's lips curved into a small smirk. "Hello, Serena."

I forced a pleasant smile. "Mr. Winters."

The anxiety in the room was evident, but I got through it. I couldn't let my feelings show, especially in front of my workers.

"Shall we proceed?" I enquired, taking a seat at the head of the table.

Ryan's gaze remained fixed on me throughout the meeting.

I maintained a professional demeanour, focussing on the specifics of the partnership while avoiding any personal engagement with him.

Ryan's POV

Serena strolled into the room, and I recognised her right away.

She hadn't changed much over the course of five years. She still exuded the same confidence and presence that lured me to become her friend in school.

However, there was something else now. A wall. She kept her responses brief and professional, not meeting my gaze for more than a few seconds.

I listened to the remainder of the talk, paying little attention to the contents.

I couldn't stop thinking about her and the little kid I saw yesterday.

When the meeting concluded, I stood up and met Serena's eyes.

“Ms. Winthrop," I said with a formal tone. "I'd like to have a word with you in private."

She paused, staring at her team. They gazed at her with anticipation, evidently expecting she would accept.

“Of course," she replied regretfully. "This way." She escorted me to her office, keeping the door open so I could enter.

The room looked as bright and immaculate as I remembered from yesterday.

“Please, have a seat," she added, her voice clipped.

I sat down and watched her closely as she took her seat behind the desk.

"What do you want, Ryan?" she enquired, folding her hands on the desk.

I leaned forwards. "You, Serena. I want answers."

“Answers about what?" she enquired, pretending ignorance.

“Don't play games with me, Serena," I added with a harder tone. "The little girl I saw yesterday—Is she your daughter?"

Her countenance froze, and for a brief minute, I believed she was about to tell me. But as she opened her mouth to speak, her phone rang, interrupting her response.

She looked at the caller ID, as she responded. "Hello?"

I couldn't hear the voice on the other end, but her pale face and panicked eyes were clear.

“What happened?" she enquired, her voice quivering. "Is she okay?"

There was a moment before she rose up abruptly, grabbing her bag.

“I'll be there right away," she replied before hanging up.

“What's going on?" I enquired while standing as well.

Serena barely noticed me as she ran towards the door. "My daughter." She was injured at school and rushed to the hospital."

"Hold on, I'd drive you there." I replied, praying she wouldn't answer no.

I could tell she was apprehensive, but she eventually nodded.

Ryan's POV

The drive to the hospital was tense. Serena sat stiffly in the passenger seat, clutching her phone like a lifeline.

She kept looking at it, her lips pulled together. I wanted to reassure her, but I wasn't sure how.

“What hospital?" I enquired, breaking the stillness.

“Private Children's Hospital," she answered, her voice clipped.

I nodded and sped up. We got to the hospital in record time.

Serena got out of the car before I could turn off the engine, her heels clicking rapidly against the sidewalk as she rushed inside.

I followed closely, unable to stop the sinking feeling in my chest.

At the front desk, she enquired about her daughter with a mix of worry and authority.

“Amy Winthrop. "Where is she?"

“Room 208," the receptionist replied.

Serena did not wait for any additional information. She turned and ran down the corridor, her urgency drawing me along.

When we arrived at the front of the room, she came to a sudden halt and turned to me.

Her eyes were full of contradictory feelings. "You don't have to come in," she said.

I paused, not wanting to interrupt such a private time.

“I'll wait here," I suggested. She offered a brief nod and disappeared into the room, the door closing behind her.

I leaned against the wall and crossed my arms. My thoughts raced.

I was almost positive that Amy was Serena's daughter. But was she mine, too?

Serena's POV

My heart broke when I walked into the room and saw Amy lying on the hospital bed.

Her petite frame appeared delicate, her wavy hair tangled, and her blue eyes sad.

“Mommy!" she wailed, extending her arms. I ran to her side and carefully scooped her up.

“Oh, my baby. I'm here. Mommy is here." Her arms clung to my neck, and I could feel her tiny body trembling against mine.

“She's fine," the nurse reassured me while changing Amy's IV. "A little shaken, but nothing serious. "The doctor will be in shortly to confirm."

"Thank you," I said softly, touching Amy's hair.

Amy sniffled and drew back slightly, her bright blue eyes staring up at me. "Mommy, isn't that the man from the lift outside the door?"

I froze, my heart missing a beat. "What man?"

“The one from yesterday. He held the lift for me," she added, her interest piqued.

“I think I saw him through the door's little glass window earlier."

I forced a serene grin. "It's probably just someone who resembles him, honey. Don't worry about it right now."

Amy bent her head and studied me. "Mommy, he was polite. Very nice."

“I'm sure he was, baby," I replied, kissing her forehead. "But let's not think about that now, okay?"

She nodded, her energy diminishing as the nurse returned to take her vital signs.

As I sat with Amy, my thoughts kept turning to Ryan. I knew he was outside waiting.

It was exactly like him—stubborn and relentless.

Ryan's POV

I paced outside the hospital room in serious concentration.

If Amy turns out to be my daughter, everything will change.

I couldn't stop thinking about how Serena had stared at me earlier, her defences raised like a castle.

I was sure she was hiding something.

Finally, the door opened, and Serena emerged. Her face was pallid, and her shoulders drooped from fatigue.

“How is she?" I enquired.

"She's okay," she murmured softly. "Only a few bruises. The doctor says she'll be able to go home soon." Relief flooded over me.

“That's good."

We remained there in awkward silence for a while before I revealed what had been bothering me.

“Serena, is Amy my daughter?" Her eyes widened, and she looked back at the door, as if she was afraid someone would hear.

“Ryan, this isn't the time—"

“It is," I interrupted her.

“I need to know. Five years ago, I made the biggest mistake in my life. I allowed someone else to come between us, and I served you with divorce papers because I was too blind to recognise what I already had. I thought I was pursuing love, but I had no idea I was leaving it behind."

Serena's expression darkened. "You're oversimplifying things, Ryan. You didn't just leave me… you broke me."

Her remarks hit me like a blow to the chest, but I refused to back down.

“Yes, I did. I will never forgive myself for that. But if Amy is mine, I want to be present in her life. I have to be."

Serena looked down, her hands trembling.

For a second, I believed she was going to tell me the truth. But before she could speak, the nurse appeared at the doorway.

“She's asking for you," the nurse informed Serena.

Serena nodded and returned her attention to me.

“We'll talk another time, Ryan," she remarked before entering the room.

I exhaled softly, frustration and hope battling within me.

~~~

I lingered outside the hospital because I couldn't force myself to leave.

Amy was still asleep in Serena's arms when she eventually stepped out.

Her small head lay on Serena's shoulder, and her hair framed her calm expression.

Serena seems shocked to find me still there.

“You didn't have to wait," she explained quietly.

“I was going to drop you off at home," I said. My eyes were locked on Amy, and my heart felt like it was about to burst.

"You don't need to worry about it. Someone brought my automobile here.” Serena said as she walked towards her car.

I followed, offering to help. "Let me carry her."

She looked unsure, but eventually nodded and delicately moved Amy into my arms.

Holding her seemed weird. She was so little and lovely. My heart ached from emotions I didn't understand.

We arrived at Serena's car, and I gently placed Amy in her car seat.

I stepped back and turned to face Serena. "We need to continue our previous discussion," I reiterated.

She glanced at me with cautious eyes. "Oh, please. "Not now, Ryan."

I wasn't ready to back down, but seeing how fatigued she appeared, I hesitantly spoke. "Soon, Serena. You owe me an explanation."

She did not answer, but I noticed the conflicted glances in her eyes as she got into her car and drove away.

I hurried to my car, got in, and began following her.

Ryan sat in his car a few houses down from where Serena had parked, his hands firmly grasping the steering wheel.

The small home, with its well manicured plants and comforting lights lighting inside, told him one thing; Serena had made her life here without him.

He wasn't sure what to expect, but seeing the house triggered a peculiar combination of emotions; shame and longing.

He watched Serena gently carry a sleeping Amy into the house. The sight of his daughter caused his chest to hurt.

He had missed so much, years of her life that he couldn't reclaim.

But right now, he wasn't there for Amy. He needed to see Serena.

Ryan waited until the lights in the house darkened, then calculated how long it would take Serena to tuck Amy into bed.

His mind raced, and memories of their time together came flooding back.

When they were only pals, her laughter would lighten even his worst days. After they married, she gazed at him as if he were her entire universe.

But then, he had thrown everything away.

Not tonight.

Tonight, he refused to let her push him away.

When enough time had elapsed, he stepped out of his car, his resolve unwavering. He came up to her door and rang the bell.

Serena was startled by the sound of the doorbell, and her heart raced.

Who could be here at this hour? She hesitated for a bit before walking to the door.

She noticed him while looking through the peephole.

Ryan.

Her pulse sped, and a rush of emotions washed over her—anger, perplexity, and something else she didn't want to accept.

She opened the door slightly while holding the chain lock in place.

“What are you doing here? Are you stalking me?” she asked sternly.

Ryan's gaze was fierce, his eyes fixed on her.

“I could not leave things as they were, Serena. We need to talk."

“There's nothing to talk about," she said, beginning to close the door.

Ryan pressed his hand against the door, using his strength to keep it open.

“Let me in, Serena," he murmured quietly, but with a demanding tone.

She hesitated, sighed, and briefly closed the door to undo the chain.

Ryan did not wait when she reopened it. He walked inside and slammed the door behind him.

“Ryan, I—" Serena began, but before she could finish, he was on her.

His hands cupped her face, and his lips smashed down on hers with such force that she lost her breath.

She froze for a brief minute, taken aback by the ferocity of his kiss. But then her body failed her.

She melted into him, her hands grabbing his shirt as his lips pressed against hers, demanding and relentless.

It had been so long since she felt this, and her carefully constructed defences fell in an instant.

“Ryan," she muttered against his lips, but it came across more as a plea than a protest.

He did not stop. His hands slipped down to her waist, bringing her closer until there was no room between them.

“I've missed you," he said softly, his voice raspy and full of love.

Serena's determination weakened. She'd spent years convincing herself she was over him and had moved on.

But now, with his touch sparking every nerve in her body, all of the falsehoods she had told herself began to unravel.

"Stop," she said quietly, but her body betrayed her as she kissed him back just as hard.

Ryan picked her effortlessly and carried her to the couch. He lowered her carefully, his lips never leaving hers.

"Ryan, we shouldn't…" she started, but his kisses ran down her neck, leaving a trail of heat.

“Tell me to stop, Serena," he said, his voice heavy and desperate.

However, she didn't.

The night passed in a flurry of intensity and intense emotion.

Serena had forgotten what it was like to be touched by him and feel so loved.

She despised herself for giving in so quickly, but nothing else mattered in that moment.

When she eventually fell asleep, her head resting on Ryan's chest, she felt a peculiar sensation of calm that she hadn't felt in years.

~~~~

Ryan left Serena's house early the next morning, the fresh air doing little to quench the fire that remained in his veins.

As he approached his car and took his phone from his pocket, the screen lighted up with several missed calls from Kate, his girlfriend.

His jaw tightened as he looked at the notifications, wondering why she called without returning the call and drove away.

****

Serena awoke to an empty bed.

For a while, she believed it was all a dream. But when she saw the tousled blankets partly on the floor beside her, truth struck her like a tidal wave.

She sat up, holding the blanket to her chest, her cheeks flushed with humiliation.

“What have I done?" she said to herself. The recollections from the night before came flooding back.

She let Ryan back in, allowing him to touch and embrace her. She had allowed him to see a side of her that she had kept concealed for so long.

Serena hid her face in her palms. She felt weak and silly.

Ryan had left her once before, and she vowed never to let him hurt her again. But now she was unsure.

A quiet knock on her bedroom door interrupted her thoughts.

“Mommy?" Amy's tiny voice rang out.

Serena instantly controlled herself and put on a robe before opening the door.

“Good morning, darling. How are you feeling now?" she said, attempting a grin.

“Good morning, I'm feeling better mommy." Amy replied with a drowsy grin.

"Can we have pancakes?"

Serena nodded and rubbed Amy's hair softly, happy for the distraction. "Of sure, Baby. Go wash up, and I'll begin making them."

"You're the best Mommy ever…" Amy exclaimed.

Serena leaned on the doorframe while Amy rushed away.

Her mind was still racing, but she put those ideas aside. She needed to focus on Amy.

But deep inside, she knew it wasn't over. Ryan returned, and things were far from resolved.