Carrying The Billionaire's Secret

Four years later

The morning sun filtered through the white curtains, painting soft golden streaks across the wooden floor of the small house Arielle now called home.

"Mommy!" a voice giggled from the hallway.

Arielle turned from the stove just in time to catch her son as he ran into her arms, nearly knocking over her cup of tea.

"Liam, careful!" she laughed, scooping him up. "Your feet are getting faster every day."

He grinned up at her with those stormy gray eyes—so much like his. Eyes that Arielle still avoided looking into for too long, because they reminded her of a man she'd sworn to leave behind.

"I saw a bird outside! A really big one!" Liam exclaimed.

"Did you say good morning to him?"

"Yes! I told him you were making pancakes. Can birds eat pancakes?"

Arielle chuckled and kissed his forehead. "Only the imaginary ones, baby."

Liam squirmed out of her arms and ran to the table, dragging his favorite toy car behind him. The way he filled the quiet space with energy made her heart ache and heal at the same time.

She had survived.

They had survived.

---

She placed a plate of pancakes in front of him just as the door creaked open.

"Smells good in here," a warm male voice called.

Arielle turned, her smile softening.

"You're early," she said.

Ethan Reyes stepped inside, brushing off his coat. His kind brown eyes flicked toward the little boy at the table, who immediately lit up.

"Uncle Ethan!" Liam shouted.

"Hey, champ. You saving me a pancake?"

"I saved you the big one!"

Ethan laughed and ruffled Liam's hair before giving Arielle a knowing look.

"He woke up at six again?"

She nodded. "He's on a mission to beat the birds every morning now."

The three of them sat together, like they had done so many times before. Peaceful. Familiar.

But deep inside, Arielle knew this life hadn't always been this easy.

---

[FLASHBACK – Four years ago]

Liam had been barely six months old when the fever came.

Arielle, exhausted and scared, rushed him to the nearest clinic. Her hands shook as she explained the symptoms to the nurse.

"He's burning up… I-I don't know what to do... please, help us..."

That's when Ethan appeared.

The pediatric nurse on duty that night—calm, gentle, steady. He took Liam into his arms like he'd done it a hundred times before.

"Shh. Don't worry. We'll bring it down."

And he did.

He stayed through the night, even after his shift ended. Brought soup for Arielle when he found her asleep in a chair. Called her a cab. Checked in for days afterward.

"I just want to make sure you're both okay," he'd said.

Arielle didn't trust him at first. She didn't trust anyone.

But Ethan never asked questions. Never pushed. Never judged.

And slowly—piece by piece—he stayed.

---

[Back to Present]

Ethan helped clear the dishes while Arielle wiped syrup from Liam's mouth.

"You know," he said quietly once Liam ran off to play again, "he's lucky to have you."

Arielle smiled, but her eyes didn't quite meet his.

"We're lucky to have you too."

There was a long pause.

"You know I meant what I said last week," Ethan said gently. "About us."

She looked at him now.

"I know."

"I'm not asking you to forget your past. I just want to be part of your future."

"Ethan…" her voice cracked slightly, "you've been so good to us. But I still carry things I haven't let go of."

"I'm not trying to replace anyone. I just want to stay. With you. And with Liam."

The silence stretched between them.

Arielle didn't say yes.

But she didn't say no either.

And that… for now… was enough.

---

Later That Night

Arielle stood outside on the porch, watching the sky shift from lavender to navy.

Inside, Liam was asleep with his stuffed dog clutched tight. Ethan had left after dinner, promising to drop off groceries in the morning.

She ran her hand along the worn railing, her heart quiet.

Four years.

Four years without Leonard.

Four years of raising his child in secret.

He hadn't come looking.

No letters.

No calls.

Maybe he really had moved on.

Maybe he still believed she'd ended the pregnancy… just like he told her to.

"I'll protect him, no matter what."

She whispered those words again, like she always did.

And she meant them.

Even if Leonard Castillo never knew the truth…

She would carry his secret to the grave.

---

End of Chapter 13