تسجيل الدخولLena’s povI was sitting on the floor folding Eli’s tiny clothes while he crawled around the living room throwing toys behind him like his personal mission in life was making extra work for me. Pregnancy had made me tired lately the kind where your body feels heavy all day and emotions sit closer to the surface.I folded another little shirt before looking over at Eli he was sitting near the coffee table chewing on one of his stuffed animals.I frowned immediately."Eli, why do you insist on eating things that are not food?" I asked making my way toward him slowly he looked up at me with Ethan’s eyes and smiled and my chest tightened the way it always does and I don't think that feeling will ever go away.I took the toy from him earning an offended little noise. "Oh now you are angry with me?" I laughed softly.His tiny brows pulled together. "Mama."Everything stopped as I stared at him and my breath caught instantly. Eli looked at me again still smiling. "Mama."The word hit me so h
Ethan’s povI spent most of the night thinking about the file I found in Maya’s office yesterday but what I spent most of the night thinking about the surname.Carter.If my name is Ethan Moretti then why would another surname be hidden underneath paperwork and why did Maya never mention it? The more I thought about it the less sense anything made. I ended up sleeping maybe two hours before giving up completely.By morning my head hurt and irritation sat heavy in my chest. Maya was already in the kitchen when I went downstairs. She was dressed neatly as usual with her laptop open and coffee beside her. She looked up when she heard me, "You should sleep more."I grabbed coffee before sitting down, "I could say the same to you."A small smile touched her face before disappearing. "I have meetings in Milan all day and dinner afterward so I won't be back until late."My stomach tightened immediately but I kept my expression normal by late that meant time. I looked down at my coffee. "Busy
Lena’s povI woke up because Eli was crying and not the normal cry where he wants milk or wants me to hold him this cry sounded weak almost as if he was uncomfortable.My eyes opened immediately and I sat up looking toward his crib beside the bed, "Eli?" I whispered before getting up quickly.The room was dark except for the small nightlight near the dresser I picked him up and instantly frowned he felt hot and fear hit me so fast my stomach dropped. "Oh God," I whispered touching his forehead again.His cheeks were red and he whined softly reaching for me."No baby, no," I mumbled carrying him toward the bathroom.I switched on the light and grabbed the thermometer with shaky hands. Ever since Ethan died I keep medicine and thermometers everywhere because being alone with a baby makes you paranoid.I waited and the few seconds felt forever before the number appeared and my chest tightened immediately I looked again hoping maybe I read wrong but I didn't and tears filled my eyes so qu
Ethan’s povI woke up irritated again and honestly I was getting tired of waking up feeling like this because every morning lately starts the same. My chest hurts for no reason, my head feels heavy and there is always this strange feeling sitting inside me like I forgot something important.I laid there staring at the ceiling for a few minutes before finally getting out of bed because sleeping doesn't help anymore because even when I sleep I wake up feeling exhausted.I walked into the bathroom turning on the light then stopped in front of the mirror I stare at the man infront of me I don't know why but lately I keep looking at myself longer than normal and the man staring back at me should feel familiar but he doesn't.I know my name is Ethan Moretti I know I survived an explosion I know I owned companies before everything happened and I know enough to survive but when I look at myself I don't see somebody I know. I see a man who looks like pieces of him are missing.I rubbed my jaw
Lena’s povI was sitting on the floor with Eli while he played with his blocks when I suddenly saw him pull himself up using the couch and my eyes widen immediately, "Dad!" I yelled making him rush into the living room."What happened?" He asked looking around.I pointed at Eli, "Look!"Dad looked over and his face soften seeing Eli standing while holding onto the couch. "No way," he laughed.Eli looked between us smiling proudly like he knew he did something good. "Oh my God baby," I whispered crawling closer to him.Eli let go with one hand trying to reach for me before falling on his butt making himself laugh.Dad chuckled shaking his head, "That boy really has no fear.""He got that from Ethan," I smiled softly before my smile slowly faded because Ethan should have been here for this he should have seen Eli trying to walk for the first time and he would have probably picked him up spinning him around like Eli just won a championship. My chest hurt thinking about it.Eli crawled ov
Ethan's povI was walking through the gardens outside the villa trying to clear my head when I heard somebody yell a name."Lena!"The second I heard it my whole body froze as pain hit my chest so hard I actually grab onto the stone railing beside me. What the hell? Suddenly flashes started hitting me one after another an ocean, white flowers moving in the wind and a woman standing barefoot near the water and then another memory hands holding mine, wedding vows, a ring sliding onto someone's finger and tears in someone's eyes.My breathing became uneven while more memories kept coming a nursery, a baby crib, tiny clothes folded on a chair and a woman crying while I held her against my chest. The pain in my head got worse making me shut my eyes tightly."Sir?" One of the guards asked sounding worried.I barely heard him because the memories kept coming a woman laughing while I kissed her, warm skin under my hands, ocean air coming through open windows and the feeling of loving somebody
Keenan’s POVLiving in Lena’s house again feels strange not bad just strange a few months ago this place was quiet just Lena, me and the occasional chaos of Jess dropping by with her kids or Ruth bringing over enough food to feed an army but now the house feels like the center of a war.Security gu
Ryan’s POVI knew the second Maya went down that I needed a new angle.I didn’t panic. I don’t panic. I adjust.That’s the difference between me and people like Ethan. He reacts. I plan.When I found out Lena suddenly had “biological parents” who appeared out of nowhere, I didn’t believe it for a s
Lena’s POVI wake before the sun staring at the ceiling with my heart beating too fast. The house is quiet and I lie on my side, one hand curled over my stomach like it belongs there. The baby moves sometimes at this hour, slow, soft kicks that feel like tiny reminders that life is still happening
Lena’s POVFour weeks have passed since the storm rolled across Achwick like it wanted to erase everything in its path and yet the town is still standing, breathing and somehow growing instead of breaking.From the front window of the café I watch it every morning the slow reshaping of a place that







