THE MAN SHE NEVER FORGOT

Chapter two

Daniel Bennett stared at the anonymous messages on his phone.

Someone wanted him to stay away from Maya Collins. But why?

For six years, he had believed Maya abandoned him. He buried himself in work, built his company into an empire, and convinced himself he no longer cared about her.

Now she had returned with a little girl who might be his daughter.

Daniel turned to his assistant.

“Find the best specialist for Lia. Money is not an issue.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And arrange the paternity test. I want the results as soon as possible.”

After his assistant left, Daniel walked to the window.

He needed answers. Why had Maya returned after six years? And who was threatening him?

His phone rang.

It was his mother, Victoria.

“Daniel, darling, you missed my calls yesterday.”

“I’ve been working, Mother.”

“You’re always working. I’m organizing dinner tomorrow, and I expect you to attend. It’s time you found a suitable woman and started thinking about your future.”

“I’m not discussing my love life.”

Victoria sighed. “You have a family name to protect. Don’t forget that.”

Daniel ended the call, irritated by her words.

For some reason, he couldn’t stop thinking about the past.

⸻

At the hospital, Maya sat beside Lia’s bed, gently stroking her daughter’s hair.

Daniel had arranged for a specialist to examine Lia the following morning. For the first time in weeks, Maya felt a little hope.

Still, she couldn’t forget the coldness in Daniel’s eyes.

He believed she had abandoned him, but he didn’t know the truth about the message that had destroyed her world.

Six years earlier, she had received a message from his number.

I never loved you, Maya. Our relationship was a mistake. Don’t contact me again.

She had called him repeatedly, but he never answered. When she visited his house, someone told her Daniel didn’t want to see her.

Then she discovered she was pregnant.

Heartbroken and alone, Maya left the city and started a new life. She believed Daniel had rejected her and that she had no reason to remain where every memory hurt.

Now she wondered whether everything she had believed was a lie.

“Mummy?”

Maya looked down at Lia.

“I’m here, sweetheart.”

“Will the man from your office come back?”

“Why do you ask?”

“He looked sad when he saw me.”

Maya swallowed the lump in her throat.

“Sometimes grown-ups are sad for reasons children don’t understand.”

Lia hesitated.

“Is he my daddy?”

Before Maya could answer, someone knocked.

Daniel stood at the doorway.

Maya rose quickly. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to check on Lia.”

“You didn’t have to come yourself.”

“I know.”

He entered the room and approached the bed.

“Hello,” he said gently.

“Hello,” Lia replied.

“I’m Daniel.”

“I’m Lia.”

A faint smile appeared on his face. “I know.”

Lia studied him carefully.

“Are you my daddy?”

Daniel froze.

He looked at Maya, who couldn’t bring herself to answer.

“I don’t know yet, sweetheart,” he said. “But I’ll make sure you get the help you need.”

Lia nodded.

Daniel stayed for several minutes, asking about her favorite cartoons and toys. Maya watched them together, imagining the family they might have been if things had turned out differently.

When Lia grew sleepy, Maya stepped into the corridor with Daniel.

“Thank you for coming,” she whispered.

“Don’t thank me yet. The test hasn’t confirmed anything.”

“I understand.”

Daniel studied her face.

“Who told you I didn’t want you anymore?”

“The message came from your number. I tried calling you, but you never answered. When I visited your house, someone told me you didn’t want to see me.”

“Who told you that?”

“I don’t remember her name. She worked at the house.”

Daniel looked away.

Someone had known where Maya was and might have deliberately kept them apart.

“Maya, don’t tell anyone you’re back. Especially not my mother.”

She stared at him. “Why your mother?”

“I need time to understand what’s happening.”

Before she could ask another question, his phone vibrated.

Another message appeared.

I warned you to stay away from Maya.

Then a second message arrived.

Ask your mother what happened six years ago.

Daniel’s expression changed.

His mother?

He looked at Maya, who immediately noticed his uneasiness.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Nothing.”

But it wasn’t nothing.

For six years, he had trusted his mother without question. Victoria had always insisted that she knew what was best for him, especially when it came to the people he allowed into his life.

Could she have known something about Maya’s disappearance?

Could she have been involved?

Daniel pushed the thought away, but the questions remained.

He looked through the hospital window at Lia, who was sleeping peacefully.

If she was his daughter, he had missed five years of her life.

And if someone had stolen those years from him, he would find out who.

Even if the truth destroyed his own family.