Chapter 14

The moment the jet touched down in Boston, Sophie felt her chest tighten.

This was real now.

There were no more delays, no more excuses, no more secrets to hide behind.

Alexander was about to meet their son.

Her hands trembled as she gathered her things, her mind racing with a hundred different outcomes.

Would Ethan be afraid of him? Would he even understand? Would Alexander—

A warm hand suddenly covered hers.

She looked up, startled.

Alexander.

His fingers curled over hers, grounding her. “Breathe.”

Sophie exhaled shakily. “I’m trying.”

He studied her for a moment, his green eyes softer than they had been since this all started. “You don’t have to do this alone anymore.”

Her throat tightened. But I’ve only ever done this alone.

She nodded instead, slipping her hand from his as she stood. “Mei is waiting for us.”

Alexander’s jaw tightened slightly, but he didn’t argue.

As they stepped off the jet, Sophie spotted Mei’s car waiting on the tarmac, her best friend standing beside it, arms crossed, her expression unreadable.

Mei had always been fiercely protective, especially when it came to Ethan.

And now, she was face-to-face with the man who had unknowingly shaped Sophie’s entire world for the past three years.

The man who had just found out he had a son.

Sophie felt the tension coil like a spring.

Mei’s sharp gaze flicked to Alexander, then back to Sophie. “You okay?”

Sophie swallowed. “I don’t know yet.”

Mei nodded slowly, then turned to Alexander, her expression unreadable. “So you’re him.”

Alexander’s jaw tensed. “I guess I am.”

Mei studied him for another long moment. “You hurt her once.”

Sophie tensed. “Mei—”

“No.” Alexander’s voice was calm, but firm. “She hurt me too.”

Mei narrowed her eyes. “She protected your son.”

Alexander inhaled sharply, his gaze flicking to Sophie before he turned back to Mei. “And I intend to protect him now.”

Something in his voice must have convinced her because Mei sighed, rubbing her temples. “This is a mess.”

Sophie exhaled. “I know.”

Mei shook her head, then opened the car door. “Get in.”

—

The drive to Sophie’s house was silent.

Alexander barely moved, his hands resting on his thighs, his gaze locked out the window.

Sophie wanted to say something, anything, but her throat felt tight.

She kept replaying every possible scenario in her mind, her pulse thrumming in anticipation.

What if Ethan cried?

What if he didn’t understand?

What if this was a mistake?

But then—

Mei pulled into the driveway.

Sophie barely had time to take a breath before she saw a small figure through the front window, bouncing excitedly.

Her heart clenched.

Ethan.

Her baby.

Her little boy who had no idea his entire world was about to change.

Mei sighed. “He woke up early. He’s been waiting for you.”

Sophie inhaled sharply, gripping the car door handle.

Then she felt it.

The tension radiating off Alexander in waves.

She turned, her breath catching.

He was frozen.

Not in anger.

Not in frustration.

But in something far deeper.

His gaze was locked on the window, his entire body rigid, his breathing uneven.

“Alexander?” Sophie whispered.

He didn’t blink. “He looks like me.”

Her chest ached.

Because he did.

Ethan had Alexander’s dark hair, his sharp features, and—most of all—his eyes.

A perfect, vibrant green.

Sophie swallowed hard. “Yeah.”

Alexander exhaled shakily, like he was trying to hold himself together.

Mei cleared her throat. “He doesn’t know, Sophie. He thinks it’s just another normal day.”

Sophie nodded. “I should go in first.”

Alexander’s jaw clenched. “And me?”

She hesitated.

Then, softly, “Give me a few minutes.”

His fingers curled into fists, but he nodded.

Sophie stepped out of the car, her heart racing.

—

The second she opened the front door, Ethan launched himself at her.

“Mama!”

Sophie laughed, catching him easily, his tiny arms wrapping around her neck.

“Hey, sweetheart,” she murmured, pressing a kiss to his soft curls.

Ethan pulled back, his green eyes shining. “I made a picture for you!”

Sophie smiled. “You did?”

He nodded excitedly. “It’s on the fridge!”

She glanced toward the kitchen, spotting a crayon drawing taped to the stainless steel.

A house. A sun. And two figures.

One small.

One tall.

Her stomach twisted.

Because for the first time—Ethan had drawn a man.

Her heart pounded.

Was he starting to feel the absence of something—of someone—he had never known?

Before she could say anything, Ethan’s face scrunched up in curiosity.

“Mama, who’s that?”

Sophie’s breath hitched.

She turned, following his gaze.

And her stomach dropped.

Alexander was standing in the doorway.

Watching them.

His expression was unreadable, his hands tense at his sides.

But his eyes—

His eyes burned with a thousand emotions Sophie couldn’t name.

Ethan blinked up at him, tilting his head slightly.

Then—

With all the innocent curiosity of a child, he asked,

“Are you my daddy?”

Sophie’s entire world stopped.

The air vanished from the room.

Her pulse roared in her ears.

Alexander’s chest rose sharply, like he had been punched.

He swallowed hard.

Then—

Slowly—

He crouched down, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes.”

Ethan blinked. “Oh.”

Silence.

Sophie held her breath.

Then, after a moment, Ethan tilted his head again.

“Do you like dinosaurs?”

Alexander’s breath caught.

Sophie nearly sank to the floor.

Because this—this was Ethan’s way of letting someone in.

And Alexander—

He understood immediately.

A slow, shaky smile tugged at his lips. “Yeah,” he murmured. “I like dinosaurs.”

Ethan’s face lit up. “Me too!”

And just like that—

Everything changed.

Sophie’s chest tightened painfully.

Because for the first time, she saw it.

The connection.

The undeniable bond between father and son.

The way they belonged to each other.

The way they always had.

Ethan grinned. “Do you wanna see my T-Rex?”

Alexander let out a choked breath. “I’d love to.”

Ethan beamed, grabbing his hand without hesitation and dragging him toward the living room.

Sophie stood there, frozen, tears burning her eyes.

Because she had been terrified of this moment.

Of how much it would hurt.

Of how it might break everything apart.

But instead—

It was seamless.

Effortless.

Like they had been waiting for each other all along.

Sophie pressed a hand to her mouth, trying to hold herself together.

Then—

A warm touch.

She turned, startled.

Mei.

Her best friend’s eyes were soft, full of something Sophie couldn’t name.

“I think,” Mei whispered, watching them, “he was always supposed to find him.”

Sophie’s chest ached.

Because deep down, she knew—

Mei was right.