Prologue

Ethan’s POV

I felt someone bumped at me.

A small, solid thud against my leg. I glance down and see a boy, clutching a crumpled paper envelope to his chest. His wide brown eyes met mine, startled.

“S-sorry po!” he blurts, stepping back quickly. “Hindi po kasi ako nakatingin.”

I kneeled down instinctively, picking up the envelope he dropped. “You okay?”

He nods, his cheeks pink. “Opo, sir. Hinahanap ko po kasi kung saan 'to ilalagay. Para po kasi 'to sa donation box.”

I open my mouth to tell him where it is, but something made me pause.

The boy’s eyes. Warm brown with gold flecks. Those eyes— are very familiar.

I shook my head. No, it can't be. It's just probably coincidence.

“There,” I say, pointing to the table across the plaza. “You can drop it over there.”

He beams, flashing a smile that makes something twist in my chest. “Thank you po, Sir!”

Ava’s POV

“Adam?”

Halos hindi na marinig ang boses ko dahil sa ingay ng paligid. I move past tables of donated goods. Scanning every direction, ang puso ko ay halos atakehin na sa kaba at pag-aalala kung nasaan ba ang batang 'yon.

He was just beside me, handing out those envelopes for the fundraising. Nawala lang sya paningin ko dahil may kinausap akong volunteer and now he’s gone.

Nasaan na ba ang batang 'yon? Lagot talaga 'yon sa akin kapag nahanap ko 'yon.

“Adam!” I call again, this time louder.

And then I see him.

The feeling of relief washes over me but it was instantly replace by dread.

My stomach dropped.

I paused through my tracks. There before me, across the small plaza, under the string lights, Adam is talking to a tall man in a dark suit. The only man I hoped never to see again.

Ethan Lancaster.

Why? Why is he here? He shouldn't be here. He shouldn't be talking to MY son.

For a second, the world tilts. The air left my lungs, and I could almost hear my heart beating in my ears.

I froze, every part of me trembling.

It’s been years, but time has done nothing to dull the pain. He looks the same: composed, distant, untouchable.

And he’s talking to my son.

No.

Panic seizes me, almost cold and suffocating. I start walking, this time, fast but careful as I am trying not to draw attention. Afterall I can't let anyone know about the truth, especially him. I can’t let him see the resemblance. I can’t let him know.

“Adam,” I say when I finally reach them, forcing a smile. I didn't care anymore if I looked stiff or tense, all I care is to pull my Adam away from him. “There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

Ethan straightens, his gaze landing on me. I felt his gaze, that familiar weight, like he’s trying to read every thought I’ve buried for years. I knew that he recognized me immediately.

I couldn't look him in the eyes. Is he surprised? Have I ever double crossed his mind? Even once?

I gulped. I shook my head to shake this thoughts away. No, Ava. Don't be stupid.

“Ms. Monteverde,” he says evenly, voice deep and calm. “It’s been a while.”

Of course he remembers me. Of course he’d still sound like that— polite, unreadable, as if nothing ever happened between us.

Kung sabagay, wala naman akong kwenta sa kanya.

I manage a nod, pretending to be composed. As if his whole existance didn't shake me at all. “Mr. Lancaster. Thank you for coming to support the clinic.”

He gave a curt smile. “It’s good to see dedicated volunteers like you still here.”

My throat tightens. I almost rolled my eyes, good thing that I stopped it. The irony of his words cuts deeper than he’ll ever know.

I bend down, scooping Adam gently into my arms. “Say thank you to the nice man, sweetheart. We should go.”

Adam waves, his small hand flapping cheerfully. “Bye-bye po!” he says with a grin that mirrors Ethan’s so perfectly it hurts.

"Is this your child?" He eyes me heavily, suspicion filling up his gaze.

"That is no longer your concern. It's nice meeting you again, Mr. Lancaster."

I turn away, holding Adam close as if distance could erase the truth written all over his face. My hands shake, and my chest aches with everything I’ve kept hidden for years.

We disappear into the crowd, the music swallowing the sound of my uneven breaths.

As I clutch my son tighter, one thought repeats in my head.

A desperate plea.

Lord, let us not meet ever again.