Chapter 13
Chloe stepped forward before I could stop her, her voice bright and friendly. "She's—"
"She's my brother's daughter," I blurted out, cutting her off.
Amy looked up at me, confusion flickering across her face. I gave her an apologetic smile, hoping she'd understand.
Adam's gaze dropped to Amy. "Where are your parents?"
Amy didn't miss a beat. "My mom and dad are getting divorced. Grandma's really sick. Only Aunt Maya takes care of me."
Holy shit.
I had to fight the urge to gape at my own daughter. I caught her eye and quirked an eyebrow—nice save, baby.
Adam reached down and ruffled Amy's curls. "How old are you?"
"Four."
He straightened, eyes shifting back to me. "She's cute. Reminds me of you back then."
Back then. Five years ago, I'd been softer around the edges. A little baby fat still clinging to my cheeks, skin pale from Cleveland winters. Now my face was leaner, sharper. My skin had darkened to a warm wheat tone from my morning runs.
I felt Chloe staring at us, her eyes ping-ponging between me and Adam like she'd just stumbled onto the juiciest gossip of the century.
Adam broke the silence. "You're buying a car?"
I nodded.
"Which one are you looking at?"
"Haven't decided yet. Just got here."
Chloe jumped in, clearly trying to stake her claim on this territory. "She's got me, so don't worry. I know my way around dealerships."
Adam's expression didn't change. He gave a curt nod and turned away.
I exhaled. Thank God.
But the second he was out of earshot, Chloe whipped around, eyes wild with excitement. "Oh my God, who the hell was that?!"
I hesitated. How was I supposed to explain this? Chloe knew Adam's name, but she'd never seen his face. I'd never shown her a photo. She had no idea the man standing in front of her was the same one who'd disappeared without a trace.
"Maya. Hello?" Chloe waved her hand in front of my face. "Why aren't you saying anything?"
I swallowed hard. "That was... Adam Sterling."
Chloe froze. Her mouth fell open. Then her face turned red.
"What?!" She spun on her heel, ready to march after him.
I grabbed her arm. "Chloe, wait—"
"Why the hell are you stopping me?!" She yanked against my grip. "I need to ask that asshole why he disappeared for five years! Does he know you spent years looking for him? Does he know you gave birth to his daughter?!"
"Chloe—"
"I thought he was hot! But he's just a piece of shit in a fancy suit!"
"Chloe, stop." I tightened my hold. "It's over. Whatever happened between me and Adam—it's done. I don't want to drag him back into my life. And I sure as hell don't want him finding out about Amy."
Chloe's expression softened, shifting from rage to heartbreak. "Maya... why won't you tell him the truth?"
A sharp ache bloomed in my chest. "It doesn't matter anymore. Even if I told him, he wouldn't believe me. And even if he did..." I glanced down at Amy, who was watching us with wide, worried eyes. "He's from a billionaire family, Chloe. We both know how deep that world runs. It's not a place people like us can just walk into."
Chloe's jaw clenched. She didn't argue. She knew I was right.
After a long silence, she sighed. "Alright. It's your call."
I crouched down in front of Amy, guilt twisting in my stomach. "Baby, I'm sorry. I lied. That man... he's your dad."
Amy blinked up at me. "I know, Mama. It's okay."
She knew.
Of course she did. She'd seen his photo. She was too smart for her own good.
"I promised you I'd find your dad," I whispered, my voice cracking. "I promised we'd be a family. All three of us. But now..."
I couldn't finish. The words stuck in my throat.
If I told Adam the truth, he'd either think I was using Amy to trap him—or worse, he'd take her from me. There were only two possible outcomes, and both of them destroyed me.
Option one: Adam would feel obligated to stay with me. But he'd resent me. He'd see me as the manipulative woman who used their daughter as leverage. We'd be miserable. And Amy would grow up in a house filled with resentment and coldness.
Option two: Adam would take Amy. He had the money, the lawyers, the power. I'd lose her.
I couldn't survive that.
I'd never had a father. My mother... I'd hoped for her love once. Love from a man? I wasn't even sure anymore.
But Amy? She was mine.
I'd thought about running. Packing up and moving back to Cleveland. But jobs weren't easy to find, especially ones that paid what I needed. I wanted stability for Amy. I wanted her to have a home, a routine, a life that wasn't defined by chaos and fear.
Boston was big enough. I could avoid Adam. We'd never cross paths again.
He hadn't looked for me in five years. I was just a footnote in his life. A stupid mistake he'd made in Cleveland.
He'd get married someday. He'd have other kids. He wouldn't even remember I existed.
As long as I keep Amy hidden, everything will be fine.
But looking at my daughter now—her small hand reaching up to touch my wet cheek, her arms wrapping around my neck—I knew I was lying to myself.
"It's okay, Mama," Amy whispered. "I just need you. That's enough."
I broke.
Tears spilled down my face, hot and fast. Amy was just like me. She wanted a father. She wanted to know where she came from. But she'd learned, just like I had, to bury that want deep down. To pretend she didn't need it.
She was four years old, and she was already protecting me.
Chloe cleared her throat, stepping in before I completely fell apart. "Alright, enough of this. Are we buying a car or not? I saw a decent Honda back there. Let's go check it out."
I wiped my eyes and stood, forcing a smile. "Yeah. Let's go."
Amy slipped her hand into mine, and we followed Chloe deeper into the lot.
But I couldn't shake the feeling that Adam was still watching us.