The billionaire ex-wife: we have a child

“Mummy!”“Mummy!”“Mummy!”A Little hands shook me as a small voice filled the quiet of the room.“Wake up! Wake up! It’s my first day of school!”My eyes flew open at his words.I blinked several times, rubbing the sleep from my eyes before glancing down at the little boy grinning at me. Mason stood at the side of the bed, his lips curved into a mischievous smile, as if he already knew how to tug me out of dreamland.I couldn’t help but smile back. “Come here, Mas,” I said softly, calling him by the nickname I’d given him the day he was born.He immediately scrambled to climb onto the bed, his small legs kicking with determination. He always tried, even though he never quite managed it on his own. That stubborn grit in him, the same grit that made him refuse help until the last second reminded me so painfully of his father.Swallowing down the lump rising in my throat, I leaned forward, caught his little arms, and pulled him up into my lap.“Are you ready for your first day of school,

The clouds drifted past the window as the plane dipped inside, the skyline of the city slowly unfolding beneath us. My stomach knot, not from the landing but from everything that waited for me down there.Yesterday felt like a movie. After leaving with Mason, I found myself back at the house, relieved to see my mother wasn’t around. I don’t think I would have had the strength to face her questions or her judgment. Mason had fallen asleep in the car, his small head tilted against my shoulder as I carried him upstairs. I tucked him into his bed carefully, making sure he was comfortable, smoothing the blanket over his tiny body. He didn’t stir not even once.I stood in his doorway for a moment longer than I should have, just watching him breathe. My little boy was always my anchor, even when the rest of the world felt like it was falling apart.Then I forced myself into motion. I dragged two suitcases out of Mason’s walk-in closet and started packing his things clothes, shoes, his favori

Aria Bennett PovA gasp escaped my lips when I heard what my so-called mother just said. I refused to believe that she would do this to me."What ?" Ethan shouted, making Mason jump from his seat."Calm down", I hissed at him gesturing to my son "you're scaring him"I was surprised when he looked and his features softened visibly. He seemed to have taken a liking to Mason and I didn't think that was such a good idea. Not wanting Mason to hear more about my disastrous life I nudged Talia who was awfully silent and motioned to Mason."Could you take him out please?", I asked "I don't want him to hear this.She smiled sadly at me as she knew that things were just getting started."Sure"I pulled Mason to me, hugging him quickly. Pulling away I pushed him towards Talia."I'll see you in a bit Mas"He smiled a toothy grin at me "okay mommy"I watched as they left the room then I turned back around to face the two other persons in the room. There was complete silence for what felt like the

Aria Bennett POVIt’s been a week since my entire world tilted off its axis.A week since I found out Vivian the woman I called “Mom” my entire life wasn’t my real mother.A week since I learned she had a hand in destroying my marriage.No matter how many times I tried to get answers out of her, she brushed me off with the same cold line: “Ask your father.”So today, that’s exactly what I was going to do.I climbed the marble steps of my father’s company, my heels clicking sharply against the floor. The receptionist looked up at me and immediately shrank in her chair. She didn’t even try to stop me this time and for good reason. The last time she did, she ended up with a broken nose.Don’t judge me.She’d refused to let me in because I wasn’t “dressed appropriately.” Jeans and a loose shirt, straight off a flight, apparently didn’t meet her idea of “boardroom standard.” Even after I told her who I was, she still called security my friends, who found the whole thing hilarious. She didn

Aria Bennett — POVI sit on the chair by his bed and watch him sleep.He looks the same. Same strong face. Same dark eyelashes on his cheeks. Same Ethan. But he is not really the same. Because inside his head, five years are gone.The machines go beep-beep softly.I put my hands in my lap and tell myself I am only here because it is the right thing to do. Not because I still care. Not because seeing him fall on the ground made my heart hurt again after I spent four years trying to close that hurt.Just the right thing to do.He moves a little.I sit up straight.His eyes open slowly. First, he looks at the ceiling. Then he turns his head and sees me. Then he smiles. The same smile. The one that used to make me feel weak.“Hey,” he says in a rough voice.“Hey,” I say.He tries to sit up and makes a hurt face.“Don’t,” I say fast, standing up. “You might hurt yourself.”“I’m okay.”“You are not okay. A car hit you, Ethan.”He looks at me for a long time. “You were crying.”I blink. “Wh