bChapter 228 /b

    71%

    +10

    “What happened?” Ethan asked immediately he saw his sister in the kitchen, pouring herself a ss of

    water.

    The ss trembled faintly in Mia’s hand, and he noticed it. She looked drained, like isomeone /iwho had been holding herself together all day but was only now beginning ito /icrack.

    Her shoulders slumped, her hair falling loose around her face. Her eyes ilooked /itired, too tired for

    someone her age.

    Mia looked exhausted.

    Mia sighed, her breath shaky.

    “You’re back,” Mia said with another sigh, her voice carrying both relief and frustration. She hadn’t

    even heard hime in.

    “I saw your text,” Ethan replied quickly, worry etched into his face as he moved closer. His heart was pounding, though he tried to keep calm for her sake. Then, more firmly, he asked again. “What happened?”

    Mia’s lips trembled. For a moment, she didn’t answer, just stared into her ss. She swallowed hard, finally speaking, her voice low and heavy with hurt.

    “Lily told Aiden if he wanted to meet his daddy… that his daddy is living very close.”

    The words seemed to hang in the air, like smoke filling

    ile /iroom, choking both of them.

    “What?” Ethan stared at his sister, his jaw tightening, his eyes wide in disbelief. He froze, like his brain needed time to catch up with what she just said.

    Then anger rushed into him. “What the hell? Why would she tell him that?” His voice cracked in frustration, louder than he meant.

    Mia shook her head slowly, pressing her lips together, her eyes glistening with tears she was too tired to hold back. She had no answers, no exnationsb, /bjust fear.

    “I can’t stay here, Ethan, I’m leaving as soon as possible.” Her voice broke as she set down the ss and gripped the counter, like she needed something to hold her steady.

    “Mia-” Ethan started, but stopped himself. He saw the way she looked, on edge.

    Mia sighed, her chest rising and falling fast. Her eyes shined with unshed tears.

    b1/4 /b

    12:40 Wed, 3 Sept

    11%

    -10

    “I thought you wanted him to meet his father,” Ethan said carefully, his tone softer this time. He knew he was walking a thin line. Thest thing he wanted was to push her further.

    She looked so close to the edge already, like she was about to break. Like at any second, she could run inside, scoop up her son, throw clothes into a bag, and head straight to the airport without even

    thinking.

    “Yeah,” Mia whispered, her voice cracking as a single tear rolled down her cheek. She brushed it away angrily, frustrated at herself for crying again. “Yeah, on my own terms. On my own terms, Ethan. When I’m ready.” Her breath hitched, and then another tear slid down her face. She shook her head as if she could shake away the terror wing inside her. “I’m scared, Ethan. Lily will do worse, and I can’t wait

    around for her to do it.”

    Ethan’s chest tightened at her words. He hated seeing his sister like this, scared, cornered, and broken by things she shouldn’t have to face alone. His fists clenched at his sides as he struggled to keep calm,

    to not let his anger explode at the thought of Lily’s carelessness.

    “If anybody is leaving, it is her,” Ethan said firmly, his voice sharper now, filled with protectiveness. He

    took a step closer to her, meeting her eyes so she could see the conviction in his. “Not you, Mia. Not you and Aiden.”

    He shook his head, running a frustrated hand through his hair. “I rented this ce because I wanted you and Aiden to move here and befortable. To feel safe. To have peace. She can’t juste here and make you both ufortable, not in your own space.

    93

    His voice cracked slightly, anger and love mixed in his words. “I love Lily, but this is uneptable. Not

    with Aiden. What the fuck.”

    He didn’t wait for a response.

    He matched straight down the hallway.

    When he reached the room Lily was staying in, he stopped in front of the door. He raised his hand and knocked, his jaw set hard.

    “Come in,” Lily’s voice called faintly from inside.

    Ethan pushed the door open and stepped in. Lily was standing near the window. She turned and looked at him, and instead of surprise or guilt, she just sighed like she had been expecting this.

    “Before you even ask me,” she said quickly, her tone sharp and careless, “yes, I did it.”

    Ethan’s body stiffened, his brows pulling together. His voice came out low, rough with frustration. “Why would you do that, Lily? He is a baby. Why would you put such ideas in his head?”

    12:40 Wed, b3 /bSept

    Q

    ??71%

    Lily folded her arms across her chest, her chin lifting slightly. “Because he needs to knowi,/ii” /ishe snapped. “He needs his father. His father is a freaking billionaire and he is here. What kind of life is that boy supposed to live when his father is alive, powerful, and within reach?”

    “That’s not your call to make,” Ethan shot back. His voice rose without him meaning it to, but he couldn’t stop. The anger in his chest was boiling.

    +10

    Lily shook her head, her eyes shing. “We both know I’m saying the truth. You’re thinking the same way I’m thinking, Ethan. You’re just too scared to offend Mia.”

    “Lily…..”

    “Alex doesn’t even know about the child’s existence. It’s not like he rejected the child or something”

    “You think throwing it in Aiden’s face fixes that? You think confusing him, giving him hope, makes anything better?”

    Lily just stared at him down, her lips curving slightly like she wasn’t shaken by his words. She rolled her eyes slowly. “Stop with the morals, Ethan.”

    That cut deep. His hands clenched at his sides, and his frown deepened. “What’s that supposed to

    mean?”

    “It means,” Lily said with a cold littleugh, “your precious Mia wouldn’t want to know why you pushed them toe down to Singapore.”

    Ethan’s stomach twisted sharply. “What are you talking about?”

    “I’m talking about the fact that the reason you brought Mia here is because of Alex,” Lily said, her voice smooth but her eyes sharp, digging into him.

    “You knew he was here. You nned it out and brought her here. Don’t act innocent. We all want the same thing, Ethan. Let’s not pretend.”

    “No.” Ethan’s voice came out firm, shaking with anger. He stepped closer, his jaw tight. “We will never want the same thing, Lily. Never. I want Mia to be happy, Lily. Happy. But you-” he pointed at her, his hand trembling slightly with the weight of his emotions- “you came here because you found out about Alex. You came because you want him for yourself, not for your sister.”

    “That’s not true!” Lily snapped back quickly, too quickly.

    Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “Really?”

    “You know that’s not true,” Lily said, her voice dropping softer, almost desperate now. Her eyes

    12:40 Wed, 3 Sept A

    glistened faintly, but she blinked fast like she didn’t want him ito /inotice.

    “Do I?” Ethan asked, his voice low, almost dangerous.

    ??? , 71%

    10

    “Ethan-” Lily’s voice cracked slightly. She swallowed, her lips parting ilike /iishe /iwanted to exin something, but the words got stuck.

    “Why were you at his freakingpany yesterday?i” /iEthan asked suddenly, his voice rising as the question tore out of him.

    Lily’s eyes widened slightly, then narrowed again, her jaw tightening. She turned her face away, refusing to look at him.

    “Shut up—”

    A/N

    1 bet no one saw Ethan’s motiveing.

    Did anyone?