Chapter 105

The golden sunlight streaming through my window coaxes my eyes open. Instead of rising immediately, I linger in bed, my hands resting on my rounded belly as I feel the tiny kicks of my baby.

A glance at the calendar on my nightstand confirms it—today marks six months. The journey of pregnancy is terrifying, filled with unknowns. Every milestone feels like a miracle, and I whisper a quiet prayer of gratitude, knowing not all babies make it this far.

After my moment of thanks, I drag myself downstairs. A shower can wait—hunger demands attention first. Yesterday’s chaos made me forget to eat entirely.

And thinking of yesterday brings me straight to him. Ethan.

I still can’t believe I let him kiss me. Worse? I liked it.

It gnaws at me how much I wanted more—his lips pressing harder, his hands exploring further. I could blame it on hormones, but that would be a lie.

Ethan shattered me. The fact that I craved him yesterday makes me despise myself just a little. I swore I’d moved on, yet there I was, tangled up with him in my own living room.

Part of me wants to believe he’s changed. But even if he has, isn’t it too late? The damage is done. The mess he left behind can’t be fixed.

I pull out ingredients for breakfast, desperate for distraction. But no matter how I try, my mind circles back to that kiss. Why did it wreck me so badly? I don’t understand.

A frustrated groan escapes me. I wish I could scrub the memory of his lips from mine.

“What’s got you so worked up?” Lucas’s voice startles me so badly I drop the eggs in my hands.

“Jesus, Lucas!” I press a hand to my racing heart. “You scared me half to death.”

He grins. “Sorry. Thought you heard us—Hunter and Liam weren’t exactly quiet coming in.”

I turn to see the boys already devouring yesterday’s cookies.

“It’s fine,” I mutter. “Just lost in thought.”

His grin fades. “Still thinking about what happened with Isabella yesterday?”

I nod. A lie, but he doesn’t need to know my thoughts were occupied by someone else entirely.

“What’s for breakfast, Mom?” Liam asks.

“Full English,” I answer.

“Yes!” Hunter pumps his fist. “Best breakfast ever—everything good in one plate.”

I smile, warmed by his excitement. I hope one day Isabella realizes her mistakes and fixes things with Hunter before it’s too late.

“Almost done?” Liam presses. “I’m starving.”

“Few more minutes. Go wait in the living room.”

They bolt off in unison.

Lucas takes the cleaning rag from me, wiping up my mess. “Sorry for barging in. They insisted on your cooking.”

I laugh. Lucas isn’t a bad cook—he just doesn’t make it my way. Their words, not mine.

“It’s fine. I’d have brought some over anyway.” I return to the sizzling pan.

“How are you holding up?” I ask.

“Good.” He exhales. “Relieved everyone knows about Hunter now. He’s an incredible kid—he shouldn’t be hidden like some dirty secret. After my grandfather died, it was just me… until Hunter. I never minded, but it wasn’t fair to him, knowing his mother had a whole family out there. He deserves to know his uncle and grandmother.”

Nathan and Victoria aren’t people I’d recommend, but they’ve been decent to Liam. Maybe Hunter will be safe with them.

Damn it. I need to let go of my bitterness. They’re not part of my life anymore.

“You’re right. Isabella had no right to keep him from them.”

He opens his mouth to reply, but the doorbell cuts him off. Liam’s footsteps race toward the foyer. Please, don’t let it be Ethan. The last thing I need is another brawl between him and Lucas this early.

I slip out to check.

“Who was it?” I ask Liam.

He shrugs. “No one. Just this.”

He hands me a note with my name scrawled across the front. A chill slithers down my spine.

“Go back inside. I’ll be right there.”

He obeys, leaving me alone. The air feels thick, charged with danger. I unfold the note.

YOU WILL PAY FOR EVERYTHING.

My pulse skyrockets. I scan the street—nothing. No one.

Tucking the note into my pocket, I force calm into my steps as I return to the kitchen.

“What was it?” Lucas frowns. “You look spooked.”

“Nothing. Just a prank, probably.” I shrug, though my heart hammers against my ribs.

“Kids these days,” he mutters.

Breakfast passes with laughter—Hunter and Liam trading school stories, Lucas sharing work antics. But beneath my smiles, the note burns in my mind.

Something tells me this isn’t a joke. My instincts scream that someone’s coming for me.

Again, my life might be in danger.