Chapter 6

Damien’s POV

I stood there in the small café and the world stopped spinning. The boy looked up at me with my own silver-gray eyes. Same shape, same color. His dark hair fell across his forehead just like mine did when I was a kid. He tilted his head, curious instead of scared. My chest felt tight, like someone punched me.

“Lena,” I said again, my voice rough. “Is he mine?”

She looked pale, like she might fall over. Her hands shook as she stepped in front of the boy. “Eli, go in the back with Iris, okay? Mommy needs to talk to this man.”

“But Mom—” Eli started.

“Please, baby,” she said softly.

Iris, the woman behind the counter, gave me a hard look. “You heard her. Out. Or I call the cops.”

I didn’t move. I couldn’t. Five years of searching, and here they were. My wife. My son. Right in front of me in this quiet little town.

“I’m not leaving,” I said. “Not until we talk.”

Lena’s eyes filled with fear. She looked different now. Older. Stronger. But still the same woman who left me that pregnancy test on the counter. “Damien, not here. Not in front of him.”

I nodded once. “Outside then.”

She kissed the top of Eli’s head and whispered something to Iris. Then she followed me out the door. The sea air hit us hard. I could hear waves somewhere close.

“How long have you known?” I asked, turning to face her. My hands were in fists at my sides. I wanted to touch her. I wanted to yell. I wanted to pull her close and never let go.

“Since the day I left,” she said quietly. “I heard you on the phone. You said the baby would be yours. That I was secondary. What was I supposed to do, Damien? Stay and let you take him?”

“That wasn’t what I meant!” My voice came out too loud. A few people on the street looked over. I lowered it. “Raphael was playing games. I never planned to take the child from you. I didn’t even know you were pregnant when he called.”

She crossed her arms. “You expect me to believe that? After everything?”

“I kept my word about Noah. He’s out of prison. Been out for almost two years now. I made sure of it.”

Lena’s eyes went wide. “What?”

“I never stopped looking for you, Lena. Five years. Quietly. I didn’t want my enemies to find you first. Raphael. My stepmother. They’re dangerous.”

She shook her head. “I built a life here. Eli is happy. He doesn’t know about you. He thinks his dad is… gone.”

The words hurt more than I expected. “He’s my son. I have rights.”

Her face changed. The soft look disappeared. “You come here after five years and talk about rights? I raised him alone. I worked two jobs again. I gave him everything while you stayed in your rich world.”

I stepped closer. She smelled like coffee and books, just like the old days. “I want to see him. Know him. And you… we need to talk about us.”

“There is no us,” she said, but her voice cracked a little. “The contract ended when I ran.”

“The marriage didn’t. You’re still my wife on paper.”

She laughed, but it wasn’t happy. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am. And Eli needs to know the truth. He has my eyes, Lena. Anyone can see it.”

A little boy’s voice called from the café door. “Mom? Are you okay?”

Eli stood there watching us. My heart did something strange. It felt warm and painful at the same time. This was my son. My blood.

Lena turned fast. “I’m fine, sweetie. Go back inside.”

But Eli walked over anyway. He looked up at me without fear. “You look like me,” he said.

I knelt down so I wasn’t so tall. “Yeah. I do.”

“Are you my dad?” he asked.

The question hit me hard. I looked at Lena. She had tears in her eyes now.

“Yes,” I said softly. “I think I am.”

Eli smiled a little. “Cool. Mom says my dad has special eyes like mine. Are you a good guy or a bad guy?”

I swallowed. “I’m trying to be a good guy. I want to know you, Eli. If that’s okay with your mom.”

Lena touched his shoulder. “We’ll talk about it later, baby. Go finish your coloring.”

When Eli went back inside, I stood up. “He’s smart. Curious. Like you said in the reports Marcus gave me once.”

“You had people watching us?” she asked, angry again.

“Not the whole time. Marcus found you but kept it quiet. He thought he was protecting you from me.”

She looked shocked. “Marcus? Your security man?”

“Yes. He had feelings for you, I think. But that’s another story.”

We stood there in silence for a moment. The wind blew her hair across her face. She looked beautiful and tired.

“I want you both to come back with me,” I said. “At least for now. Eli is sick, Lena. The doctor here told my team about blood issues. He needs better care.”

Her face went white. “How do you know that?”

“I’ve been here two days. I asked questions. Quiet ones. He needs specialists. My doctors can help.”

Tears fell down her cheeks now. “Don’t take him from me, Damien. Please. I can’t lose him.”

I stepped forward and did what I wanted to do since I saw her. I pulled her into my arms. She fought for a second, then cried against my chest.

“I won’t take him,” I whispered into her hair. “But we do this together. No more running. No more secrets.”

She pulled back and looked up at me. “I’m scared. Your family. Raphael. All of it.”

“I’ll protect you both. I’ve changed, Lena. These five years broke something in me. I need you. Not just the contract. Not just an heir. You.”

She wiped her eyes. “I don’t know if I can trust you again.”

“Then let me prove it. Stay close for now. We’ll stay in the resort house I bought. Separate rooms if you want. Just… give me time with my son. And with you.”

Iris came out with Eli’s hand in hers. “Lena, you okay? I can call someone.”

Lena looked at me for a long moment. Then at Eli. “I’m okay. This is… Eli’s father.”

Eli smiled big. “See? I knew he had my eyes!”

I felt something crack open inside me. The cold armor I wore for years felt thinner.

“Can we get ice cream now?” Eli asked. “Mom said maybe if I’m good.”

I looked at Lena. She gave a small nod.

“Yes,” I said. “We can get ice cream. All of us.”

As we walked down the street, Eli between us, I knew this was only the beginning. Secrets were still waiting. Raphael. Celeste. The truth about Lena’s mother. But right now, with my son’s small hand near mine and Lena’s shoulder brushing my arm, I felt something I hadn’t felt in years.

Hope.