Chapter 1

PROLOGUE

Sophia’s POV

My hands would not stop shaking.

I looked down at the pregnancy test again and smiled, it was positive which means I was pregnant.

After staring at it for almost five minutes, I grabbed my bag and rushed out of the hospital, I could not wait to tell Ethan.

The whole drive to his company, I kept imagining his reaction, he  had been talking about our future for months.

About our wedding, about the house we would buy, about the children we would have one day and now that day was finally here.

I stepped out of the elevator and headed straight for his office, I was about to enter when I heard his voice…

Then I heard his voice“Lena is pregnant.”

My feet stopped and my  smile disappeared.

I frowned. Lena? Who was Lena?

Then he continued, "I'll take care of her.”

The words made my feet started shaking, I just stood there.

Certain that I had heard wrong.Then Ethan continued. “I’ll do everything I can to make sure she and her child don’t lack anything.”

The pregnancy test slipped from my fingers, It dropped  on the floor, I stared at it.

The door was slightly open an I could hear his voice clearly now

“No matter what happens, I’ll always be there for them.”

This was where I couldn’t hold it anymore, this was Ethan, the  man I had loved for five years, the  man I was supposed to marry, the  man I had come here to surprise.

My hand slowly moved to my stomach.

I could not do this, I  could not walk in there and pretend everything was fine.

I did not want to share the man I loved with another woman, I did not want my child growing up in the middle of this mess, another tear slipped down my face as I took a step back from the door.

Then another.

CHAPTER ONE

Sophia’s POV

Five years later…

The moment we stepped out of the airport, my daughter wrinkled her nose and looked around.

“This country is so hot,” she complained, fanning herself with both hands.

I laughed despite feeling nervous.

“We’ve only been here for two minutes.”

“That’s enough for me,” she said with a dramatic sigh.

Beside her, her twin brother dragged his small suitcase behind him while looking around curiously.

Neither of them knew how much this place meant to me, none of them knew that I had once planned to build my whole future here.

“Mum.”

I looked down at my son.“Yes?”

He slipped his hand into mine and looked up at me with hopeful eyes.“Do you think we’ll find Dad here?”

The smile on my face faded immediately.

My daughter groaned.“Not this again.”

“What?” he asked.

“You ask about Dad all the time.”

“Because I want to meet him.”

His answer was so simple that it hurt.

For five years, I had avoided that question, I never knew what answer to give. How was I supposed to tell him that his father was here?

How was I supposed to tell him that I left before his father even knew he existed?

I forced a smile. “We didn’t come here to find anyone. Remember, Mum came here for work.”

My son’s shoulders dropped.“Oh.”

The disappointment in his voice made me feel guilt. Before  he could ask anything else, I pointed toward the daycare center.

I had already arranged a nearby daycare before coming.

My daughter crossed her arms the moment she realized I wasn’t taking them with me.

“Do we really have to stay here?”

“Only for a little while,” I said, crouching in front of them. “Once I’m done with my interview, I’ll come back for both of you.”

My son nodded obediently, but my daughter still looked unconvinced.

I kissed their foreheads and forced a smile.“Wish me luck.”

“Good luck, Mum,” my son said immediately.

My daughter sighed dramatically.“Fine. Good luck.”

Laughing softly, I stood and headed toward the company.

This job mattered, more  than anything now.

***

The interview was in less than an hour, and I desperately needed this job.

After leaving the country, I spent years moving from one place to another, taking whatever work I could find while raising my twins alone.

The company I worked for overseas shut down three months ago, and since then finding a stable job had not been easy.

That was why I found myself standing in front of Willy Company as I held my resume tightly in my hand.

I couldn’t afford to fail this interview. Not when my children were waiting for me to return with an answer that would decide our next months.

I took a deep breath and walked inside.

…

“Sofia Alan.”

My name came from the front, I stood up slowly, holding my file tighter than I needed to.

My legs felt heavy as I walked toward the door, I was just hoping it goes well, and I get the job.

I pushed the door open and stepped in but  everything stopped.

 Who am I seeing? No! My eyes must be seeing wrong.

That posture…that presence…

It couldn’t be! Ethan?

Ethan?Sitting at the head of the table like he had always belonged there, my  fingers tightened around the file until it hurt, No!

It could not be him.

My heart started beating too fast.Why was he here?

This was Willy Company, I had checked everything before I applied? His name was never part of it.

So why was he sitting there like he owned the whole place? My  eyes dropped to the table as I tried to steady myself.  He probably  would not recognize me,  five years was enough time for him to forget.

People changed, I had changed too, my hair, I changed the colo, my  face? Of course I have given birth literally everything .

But…

“Sofia Alan.” His voice cut through my thoughts.

I lifted my head again, his  eyes were already on me.

Then he leaned back slightly and looked at the people sitting beside him.n“You may all leave.”

No one moved at first, most  of them looked confused.

“Sir?”

“I said leave.” This time his voice was sharper.

Slowly, chairs shifted, papers were gathered, footsteps filled the room one by one, until the door was  closed.

And I was left standing there alone with  Ethan.