Chapter 4
The first night in the house is strange.
Ethan gives me the guest room, but I can't sleep. I lie in the dark, listening to the sounds of the house, half-convinced I'll wake up and find myself back in that tiny apartment, alone again.
Around midnight, I hear soft footsteps outside my door.
I sit up, my heart racing.
The door creaks open. Lily stands in the doorway, clutching a stuffed rabbit, her face illuminated by the hallway light.
"Can I sleep with you?" she whispers.
I don't hesitate. I lift the covers, and she scurries in, pressing herself against me. She's warm and solid and real.
"I had a bad dream," she mumbles into my shoulder.
"What was it about?" I ask softly, stroking her hair.
"That you'd leave again," she says.
My heart aches.
"I'm not going anywhere," I promise her. "I'm right here. And I'm never leaving you again."
She snuggles closer, and soon her breathing becomes slow and steady. I lie there, holding my daughter, watching her sleep. She's so beautiful. So perfect. I missed so much. Her first steps. Her first words. Her first day of school.
Tears slide down my cheeks, but they're not tears of sadness. They're tears of gratitude. I have her back. Finally.
The next morning, I wake up to the smell of coffee and pancakes.
Lily is still asleep beside me. I carefully extricate myself from her grip and make my way downstairs.
Ethan is in the kitchen, wearing an apron that says "World's Okayest Dad," flipping pancakes at the stove. He looks up when I enter, and a warm smile spreads across his face.
"Good morning," he says. "Sleep well?"
"Better than I have in seven years," I admit.
He nods toward the table, where two cups of coffee sit waiting. "Black, no sugar. I remembered."
My heart does that flutter thing again.
We sit in comfortable silence for a moment, sipping our coffee.
"I called a lawyer this morning," Ethan says finally.
I look up, surprised. "Already?"
He nods, his expression serious. "We need to make this official. Custody. Your rights as Lily's mother. And Victoria... I need to make sure she can't hurt any of us again."
The mention of Victoria's name sends a chill down my spine.
"Do you think she'll try something?" I ask.
Ethan's jaw tightens. "I don't know. But I'm not taking any chances. I've already hired security for the house. And I want you and Lily to stay inside until we know she's gone for good."
I nod, even though the thought of being trapped again makes my skin crawl. This is different, though. This is protection, not imprisonment.
"Thank you," I say softly. "For everything."
He reaches across the table, his hand covering mine. His touch sends a jolt through me, a reminder of everything we once had.
"You don't have to thank me," he says. "I should be the one thanking you. For keeping Lily safe. For coming back. For... for not giving up."
Just then, Lily appears in the doorway, rubbing her eyes.
"Pancakes?" she asks hopefully.
Ethan laughs, the sound warm and genuine. "Pancakes," he confirms.
The three of us eat breakfast together, and for a moment, everything feels normal. Like we're just a regular family, not three people whose lives have been shattered and put back together in the span of twenty-four hours.
Lily tells me about school, about her best friend Emma, about the horseback riding lessons she takes every Saturday. I listen, drinking in every word, every detail I've missed.
After breakfast, Lily asks if we can play in the backyard.
Ethan looks at me, concerned. "I don't know if that's a good idea—"
"Please, Daddy?" Lily begs, giving him her best puppy-dog eyes.
He looks at me, and I nod. "I'll be right there with her. And we'll stay close to the house."
Ethan sighs, but he smiles. "Okay. But stay where I can see you."
We go outside, and Lily shows me her swing set, her treehouse, the garden she planted with Victoria last spring. My heart twists when she mentions Victoria's name, but I don't say anything. Lily loved her, in her own way. That's not something I can just erase.
We're swinging on the swing set, Lily laughing as I push her higher, when I see it.
A car parked at the end of the driveway, partially hidden by trees.
My blood runs cold.
I recognize that car.
Victoria.
"Elena?" Ethan calls from the porch. "What's wrong?"
I don't answer. I grab Lily's hand, pulling her off the swing.
"We need to go inside," I say, my voice tight.
"But—"
"Now, Lily."
I practically run to the house, Lily stumbling behind me. Ethan meets us at the door, his face serious when he sees my expression.
"What is it?"
"She's here," I whisper. "Victoria. At the end of the driveway."
Ethan's face hardens. He steps outside, looking toward the driveway. When he comes back in, his expression is grim.
"She's gone now," he says. "But she was definitely there."
I hold Lily close, my heart pounding.
"She's not going to stop, is she?" I ask.
May you like
Ethan puts his arm around both of us, pulling us close.
"Then we'll make her stop," he says firmly. "Whatever it takes. I promise you, Elena. No one is ever going to hurt you or Lily again."
