CHAPTER 6

Ava's POV

Saturday mornings were for Damien.

After everything that had changed since we returned to New York, the park had become one of the few places where I could forget about work and everything else for a while.

Damien held my hand as we walked onto the grass.

The moment we reached the playground, he let go and ran toward the swings.

“Stay where I can see you,” I called.

“Okay, Mom!”

I sat on a bench and watched him.

He went from the swings to the slide, then to the sandbox.

I smiled.

For a while, everything felt normal. Then Damien stopped.

He was staring at something across the sandbox.

I followed his gaze.

A little girl was sitting there, carefully building a sandcastle.

She had dark hair tied back with a ribbon.

Damien looked at her for a moment before walking over.

“Hi.”

The girl looked up, “Hi.”

“I like your castle.”

“Thanks. You can help if you want.”

Damien sat beside her.

Within minutes, they were laughing and arguing about the castle.

I smiled as I watched them. Then I looked at the girl again.

My smile slowly disappeared.

I knew that face. Diana.

I had seen her at the interview, but seeing her here, so close to Damien, was different.

She looked so much like him.

The same eyes, the same little smile.

They were twins, yet neither of them knew it.

I pressed my lips together and stayed where I was.

I couldn't let my emotions take over.

“Mom!”

Damien waved at me, “Look! We made a castle together.”

I smiled, “It's beautiful, baby.”

Diana giggled.

“It isn't finished. We need a big wall so nobody can knock it down.”

“Then I'll make it strong,” Damien said.

I watched them continue building.

For one moment, I allowed myself to enjoy the sight.

My children were playing together. Neither of them knew how connected they were.

Then a familiar voice rang across the park.

“Diana!”

My body went still as I turned.

Liam was walking toward the playground.

He was dressed in a dark suit, looking completely out of place among the casually dressed parents.

Diana immediately jumped up, “Daddy!”

She ran toward him.

Liam bent down and caught her.

“I told you not to go too far.”

“But I wasn't alone,” Diana said. “I was playing with my new friend.”

Liam looked toward the sandbox. His eyes landed on Damien.

Then he looked at me. For a second, neither of us spoke.

“Ava Morales.” His voice was calm.

I stood and responded politely, “Mr. Liam.”

He looked surprised to see me.

Then his eyes moved back to Damien.

“Your son?”

“Yes.”

“What's his name?”

“Damien.”

Liam nodded, “Hello, Damien.”

Damien looked at him.

“Hi.”

Diana ran back to Damien.

“Daddy, Damien helped me build the castle.” She grabbed Damien's hand, “Can we stay longer?”

Liam looked at me but I didn't say anything.

Damien looked up at me too.

“Please, Mom.”

I sighed, “Fine. A little longer.”

Diana cheered.

Liam gave a small smile, “Ten minutes.”

The children ran back to the sandbox.

I sat down again but Liam remained standing nearby.

“You're the research analyst I hired.”

“Yes.”

“I didn't expect to see you here.”

“Neither did I.”

He glanced toward the children, “They seem to like each other.”

“They do.”

Diana and Damien were already arguing over where to put another tower.

I smiled, “Damien doesn't usually make friends that quickly.”

“Neither does Diana.”

We watched them for a moment. Then Liam looked at me.

“How long have you been in New York?”

I looked at him.

“Not long. I was in Montana for some years.”

He was quiet at first, then he asked, “What brought you back?”

“A fresh start.”

He studied me, “Did you grow up there?”

“No. I grew up here.”

That seemed to catch his attention.

“New York?”

“Yes.”

He looked at me for a few seconds.

“Interesting.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What?”

He shook his head, “Nothing.”

I smiled slightly, “You seem to have a lot of questions.”

“I'm curious.”

“I noticed.”

He almost smiled.

A few minutes later, Diana grabbed Damien's hand again.

“Can Damien come to our house?”

Damien looked at me, “Please, Mom.”

I opened my mouth.

Liam looked at me too. Before I could answer, he spoke.

“Maybe another time.”

The children complained.

“Ten minutes aren't over yet,” Liam reminded them.

They returned to the sandbox.

I looked at Liam, “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For giving them a little more time.”

He nodded. “They're having fun.”

We fell silent again.

Then he looked at me, “You're different from what I expected.”

I frowned slightly, “What did you expect?”

“I don't know.” He looked away for a moment, “There's something familiar about you.”

I stayed calm, “Maybe we have one of those faces.”

He seemed to think about it.

“Have we met somewhere before the interview?”

“No.”

He nodded slowly, “I thought so.”

“I've only met you at the interview and here.”

“Right.”

He didn't argue. But he didn't look convinced either.

I glanced at the children.

“They're ready to leave soon.”

Liam looked at them too. Then he looked back at me.

“Are you always this calm?”

I smiled, “Not always.”

He gave a quiet laugh. “I wouldn't have guessed.”

“People usually don't.”

For the first time, the tension between us eased.

Then Diana ran back toward us.

“Daddy, look!”

She pulled Liam toward the sandbox.

I watched them. A strange feeling settled in my chest.

My daughter was holding his hand. My son was standing beside her.

And for a few minutes, they looked like a family.

I quickly pushed the thought away.

That wasn't my life. Not anymore.

A few minutes later, I stood, “Damien, we're going home.”

“Aww.”

“You've had enough for today.”

He nodded and picked up his things.

Diana hugged him, “Bye, Damien.”

“Bye.”

She waved at him and Damien waved back.

Liam stood beside his daughter, watching us.

I gave him a polite nod.

“Have a good day.”

“You too, Ms. Morales.”

I took Damien's hand and walked away.

I didn't look back, but I could feel Liam's eyes on me.

And somehow, I knew he was still trying to figure out why I felt familiar.

I just hoped he wouldn't remember.

Because if Liam Reynolds ever remembered where he had seen me before, five years of keeping my secret could disappear in a matter of minutes.