Mag-log inHmmm... What do you guys think? Do you think Nat still has feelings for Blake?
AmeliaBy the time I arrived at Carter Industries, I already knew it was going to be a long day.As I stepped out of the elevator, a few members of staff noticed me almost immediately. Their faces brightened, and before I could make it more than a few steps, the first greeting came.“Good morning, Mrs. Vaughn. Welcome back.”“Good morning, ma’am. It’s good to have you back.”I smiled at the familiar greetings as I walked through the office. A few more members of staff stopped to welcome me, and one of them gave me a warm smile.“We’ve missed having you around.”“I’ve missed you all too,” I said with a laugh. “Though I have a feeling you’re only saying that because you’re about to bury me under paperwork.”A few of them laughed.“We wouldn’t do that to you, ma’am,” one of them said.Then he added, “Not intentionally.”I shook my head, laughing as I continued toward my office.My assistant was already waiting outside, a tablet tucked beneath one arm and a folder in her hands.“Good morn
NathanielBy the time I reached the office, I was emotionally drained. The image of Ethan lying in that hospital bed had followed me all the way to the office, and even though I was now certain that he was fine, I could not stop thinking about him.My son. The words had settled too deeply in my mind.I stepped out of the elevator and found Mercer waiting outside my office. He looked at me for a moment before speaking.“How are you doing?”“Fine.”He raised an eyebrow. I gave him a tired look. “I’m fine.”He did not look convinced, but he stepped aside and followed me inside. As soon as the door closed behind us, he said, “Amelia called this morning.”I stopped. “She did?”“She was worried about you. She said you came home late last night and left early this morning. She wanted to know if something was going on at the office.”I sighed and loosened my tie, unable to push away the guilt that made my heart ache. “She shouldn’t be worried.” “Then maybe you should give her a reason not t
NathanielI woke before Amelia. For a few minutes I remained still, staring at the ceiling. I hadn’t slept much. My mind had spent most of the night circling the same questions and the same impossible possibility of Ethan.It was hard not telling Amelia that I had gone to Blake’s house the day before. Even though I had tried not to let my worries show, she had somehow noticed something was wrong. Now I wasn’t sure I could face her this morning and keep pretending everything was fine. It felt wrong, so I slipped out of bed carefully so as not to wake her. I tried to be as quiet as possible while showering and getting dressed. Once I was ready, I reached for a pen and left a note on the bedside table.Didn’t want to wake you. I’ll see you later. Have a good morning. Love you.I was halfway down the stairs when my phone vibrated. I glanced at the screen and saw Blake’s name. I almost ignored it until another message appeared.Ethan is in the hospital.My heart stopped. A second message
AmeliaBy the time I looked at the clock again, it was almost eleven.Nathaniel had called earlier that evening to tell me he would be late. A last-minute meeting, he had said. I hadn’t thought much of it at first. His work had a way of swallowing entire evenings when he wasn’t careful. But this was later than usual.I sat on the edge of the bed, my phone resting beside me as I stared at the clock.10:47 p.m.I picked up my phone and checked the screen again. Nothing.I considered calling him, then decided against it. He had already told me he would be coming home late. I didn’t want to become the wife who called every fifteen minutes demanding updates.Still, something about tonight felt different, even though I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was.I heard the front door downstairs a few minutes later.Relief loosened something in my chest.I remained where I was, listening as Nathaniel moved through the house. His footsteps were familiar enough that I could recognize them without
NathanielI didn’t remember the drive from Blake’s apartment to the bar.I remembered leaving. I remembered the elevator doors closing. I remembered sitting behind the wheel with both hands locked around it while the question I had spent the past few days refusing to ask followed me all the way down the street.Ethan.Seven years old.My hands tightened. Seven. The number had become an echo in my head.By the time I pulled into the parking lot of a quiet bar several streets from the city centre, I knew I wasn’t ready to go home. Not yet. I needed somewhere to think—somewhere I could sit without Amelia looking into my eyes and asking what was wrong, because I didn’t know how to answer that question.I parked and remained in the car for several minutes, staring through the windshield.Blake had lied to me. That much was no longer in doubt. The forged references proved it. Her disappearance proved something else. And then there was Ethan.I closed my eyes.Eight years ago I had left her
Nathaniel“I came here to hear the truth.”Blake didn’t react immediately. She simply stood beside the door, watching me with that same calm expression she had worn in my office.“What truth?”I looked around the apartment again. The question almost seemed absurd. There was a child’s drawing on the refrigerator. A small backpack near the hallway. A toy dinosaur abandoned on the rug. Evidence of a life I hadn’t known existed.“Your son.”Something flickered in her eyes. Then it disappeared.“You already know I have a child?”“I know you have a child. Who is his father?”Silence. For the first time since I had walked into the apartment, Blake looked away. It lasted only a second, but I noticed.She folded her arms loosely across her chest. “Why does it matter to you?”My jaw tightened. “You know why.”“No.” Her voice remained soft. “I don’t.”I took a step toward her. “I’ve spent the last few days finding things that don’t make sense. Your employment history, for one.”She smiled faintl
Rain continued pouring from the sky while Amelia sat collapsed on the pavement outside the house she used to call home.Her hair clung to her face.Her clothes were soaked through completely.But she barely felt the cold anymore.The older woman standing beneath the umbrella looked deeply uncomfort
Amelia stared at the divorce papers like they were written in another language.The words blurred through her tears until she could barely make them out anymore.DIVORCE AGREEMENT.Her hands started shaking instantly.“No…”Daniel leaned back in his chair with terrifying calm.“It’s over, Amelia.”
By the time Amelia stumbled out of Carter Enterprises, she could barely see through her tears.Rain poured heavily from the sky, cold droplets soaking through her clothes within seconds, but she barely noticed. Her entire body felt numb, hollowed out from the inside.Daniel’s words kept echoing in
The house still smelled like Noah.Amelia noticed it the moment she stepped out of her bedroom, and the realization hit her so hard she had to steady herself against the wall.Strawberry shampoo.Chocolate cereal.The sweet powdery scent of the baby soap Noah still insisted on using even though he







