All Chapters of Secrets and Second Chances : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

MARIA'S POV The moment the plane touched down, I knew I was home. Louisiana. Five years. Five years since I had left this place with three premature babies, a broken heart, and no idea what my future would look like. Now, I was coming back with a thriving business, three growing boys, and a life I had built with my own hands. “Are we really here?” Timmy asked excitedly. I looked at him and smiled. “Yes, we're here.” Theo pressed his face against the window. “It's bigger than I imagined.” Ted laughed. “You've never been here before.” “I know. That's why I'm imagining it.” I shook my head, smiling at them. My boys had grown so much. Sometimes I still couldn't believe how quickly the years had passed. A black Mercedes-Benz AMG was waiting for us outside the airport. The driver stepped forward as soon as we approached. “Welcome back, Mrs. Jackson.” I paused for half a second. Then I smiled. “Thank you.” I had gotten used to that name. Naomi Jackson. To most people,

MARIA'S POV I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting one of my earrings. For a moment, I simply stared at the woman looking back at me. The emerald-green gown hugged my figure perfectly before falling gracefully toward the floor. The silk caught the light whenever I moved, making the deep green shade look almost like it was glowing. The neckline rested delicately across my shoulders, leaving my collarbones exposed. A thin diamond necklace sat against my skin. Matching diamond earrings framed my face, while a slim bracelet glittered around my wrist. I looked down at my shoes. Gold stilettos. Elegant. Expensive. And definitely not made for running. I laughed softly. My blonde hair had been styled into soft waves that fell over one shoulder, while my makeup remained simple—defined eyes, glowing skin, and soft rose-colored lips. I turned slightly, watching the small train of the gown sweep across the floor behind me. Beautiful. That was the word that came to mind. But str

MARIA'S POV I stepped onto the balcony and quietly closed the door behind me. The noise from the gala immediately became muffled. I rested my hands on the railing and took a deep breath. I needed the silence. Seeing Ethan again had stirred something I wasn't quite ready to name. Not pain exactly. Not anymore. Maybe it was simply the strange feeling of standing in front of someone who had once known every part of me and realizing that he no longer knew me at all. My phone vibrated. I looked down at the screen. Andrew. A smile immediately found its way onto my face. I answered. “Hey.” “Finally.” I laughed softly. “I'm at the gala, remember?” “I know. I've been trying to call you.” “I didn't hear my phone.” “I figured.” There was a brief pause before he sighed. “I'm sorry I couldn't make it tonight.” “You don't have to apologize. You had your own business to deal with.” “I still wanted to be there.” “I know.” I looked through the glass doors at the ballroom. Peopl

ETHAN'S POV I left the bedroom and headed straight for my study. I needed to work. At least, that was what I told myself. The moment I closed the study door behind me, I loosened my tie and walked toward my desk. The partnership proposal from Naomi Jackson was still on my mind. I picked up the folder and opened it. Numbers. Projections. Expansion plans. Distribution possibilities. Everything looked good. More than good. Her company was exactly the kind of business I wanted to work with. So why wasn't I thinking about the business? I stared at the figures in front of me. My mind drifted back to the gala. To Naomi. I had met hundreds of business owners over the years. Some were confident. Some were overly eager. Some spent an entire conversation trying to convince me how valuable they were. Naomi hadn't done any of that. She had been composed. Calm. Almost indifferent to the fact that she was speaking to Ethan Woods. That had caught my attention. I wasn't used to

MARIA'S POV Morning came earlier than I wanted. I woke to the faint sound of footsteps racing down the hallway, followed by a muffled giggle. Then— “Mommy!” I smiled before I even opened my eyes. “I'm awake.” The bedroom door flew open. Ted stood there, his hair sticking up in every direction. “Are you really awake?” I turned toward him. “Unfortunately.” He frowned. “What does unfortunately mean?” I laughed. “It means yes, I'm awake.” He grinned and disappeared. A second later, I heard Timmy shout from the hallway. “Mommy! Theo took my shirt!” “I did not!” “You did!” I shook my head and got out of bed. Some things had changed dramatically in five years. My mornings hadn't. I slipped into a simple house dress and headed downstairs. The kitchen was quiet when I entered. This was one of the few parts of my morning I refused to delegate. No matter how busy my schedule became or how many people worked for me, I liked making breakfast for my boys myself. It was so