Lucas didn't think.
He just moved.
The moment Ethan's face appeared—those familiar eyes, the trembling breath, the shock written across every line of his expression—Lucas grabbed him and pulled him into a tight embrace.
Five years.
He had waited five years for this moment.
And now Ethan was finally here, warm in his arms, real.
Lucas's voice cracked as he whispered against Ethan's shoulder,
"Ethan… you're here… you're really here…"
The world around them disappeared. The crowded mall, the lights, the noise—none of it existed. For the first time in half a decade, Lucas's heart felt whole, and all he wanted was to show how much his love had never changed.
He lifted Ethan's face gently, inching closer, his lips barely a breath away—
But then—
"Papa!!"
Eli's tiny, trembling cry sliced through the air.
Ethan's eyes widened. Reality crashed back like a bucket of ice water. He snapped out of Lucas' hold immediately, panic replacing softness. He grabbed Eli into his arms protectively.
Ethan's heart thudded painfully. People were staring — Arlo, Selena, Lele… Everyone's eyes were on him.
Lucas reached out again, voice hoarse, "Ethan… don't go. Please… don't leave me again."
Ethan stepped back, expression turning cold.
"Excuse me, sir," Ethan said sharply, voice cutting like a blade. "Who are you?"
Lucas' pupils contracted. His breath stopped.
Arlo gasped softly.
Selena froze.
Lele blinked, confused.
The entire corridor sank into stunned silence.
Ethan continued, his tone firm but trembling underneath, "Sometimes… we need to forget the past to protect the life we have now. My life is only about Eli. I don't know you. Please… don't confuse us."
Lucas' face fell apart — shock, anger, hurt, betrayal, all crashing at once.
Arlo tried to interfere. "Ethan, listen—"
But Lucas snapped, voice breaking, "Arlo. Let him go."
Ethan didn't look back. He carried Eli away with hurried steps, heart racing, vision blurring. He reached the car, placed Eli gently in the seat, and then—
His chest tightened.
He grabbed the area above his heart, breath shaking, those old words echoing violently in his mind:
"Please go."
That moment, five years ago, had stabbed deeper than any knife.
Eli touched Ethan's hand softly. "Papa… what happened?"
Ethan forced a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Nothing, sweetheart… Papa's fine."
But he wasn't.
Not even close.
He started the car, drove home.
Meanwhile at the hotel—
Glass shattered.
A loud crash echoed through the hall.
Lucas had thrown a decorative piece across the room. Rage — raw and uncontrollable — burned through his veins. He picked up another item, then another, smashing whatever he could reach. Mirrors cracked, ornaments fell, the room trembled with his anger.
Arlo, Selena, and Lele ran inside upon hearing the roar.
"Lucas darling, what happened—" Selena began
"GET OUT!" Lucas roared. "I SAID GET OUT!!!"
Selena stumbled backward, terrified.
Arlo remained the only one inside.
She watched Lucas breathing harshly, fists clenched, eyes burning red.
"You done?" she asked calmly, stepping over broken glass.
Lucas turned to her sharply. "Why am I angry? Really? Didn't you see what happened?! I waited five years. FIVE YEARS. And he looks me in the eye and says he doesn't know me?! That he forgot me?!"
Arlo didn't flinch.
Instead, she asked softly, "And did you think… why he did that?"
Lucas snapped, "Because he never loved me! Because he—"
"Stop."
Arlo's voice was firm, steady.
She walked closer, picking up shattered glass pieces and setting them aside.
"If someone reacts that harshly," she said slowly, "it means they're mentally broken inside."
Lucas laughed bitterly.
"Mentally broken? From what? Cheating on me? Getting fucked by my uncle? Is that what broke him?!" His voice shook with pain. "Tell me, Arlo! Is that why?!"
Arlo paused.
She met his eyes directly.
"Lucas… did you ever see Ethan sleeping with your uncle?"
Lucas froze.
Silence.
"No, right?" Arlo continued. "After the breakup, you were depressed. Your mother sent you abroad. Even from there, you tried sending people to look for Ethan. And when you didn't find him, you gave up."
Lucas clenched his jaw.
"Now think," Arlo said quietly. "If he was the one who cheated… why did he disappear? Why did he avoid you today? Why did he look like he was the one in pain? Why did he say he doesn't know you? Why didn't he show guilt?"
Her words hit him harder than any truth ever had.
Arlo sighed. "And Lucas… he has a kid. A five-year-old. If he has a child now, maybe he rebuilt his life. Maybe he's even married."
Lucas' eyes widened in pain.
Arlo stood up. "I'll send staff to clean the room."
She left him alone.
Lucas sank onto the bed, memories pounding his head — Ethan's soft eyes, the way he said sir, the lies, the distance, the hurt… and worst of all, the tears Ethan tried to hide.
He covered his face, whispering,
"Ethan… what happened to you?"
Later that night—
"Papa! We're home! We're home!!"
Eli tumbled into the house with excitement.
Ethan forced a bright smile. "Yes we are."
Eli opened all the shopping bags like treasure boxes. Ethan sat on the bed silently, staring at the tiny table in front of him.
There was an old watch.
Broken.
Useless.
Ethan picked it up slowly.
A memory crashed into him—
"Happy Birthday, honey!"
He had handed Lucas the same watch years ago.
Lucas had grabbed Ethan's waist and kissed him deeply.
The next memory was darker—
A sharp slap.
Lucas's rage-filled eyes.
The watch flying from his hand, hitting the floor, breaking into pieces.
Ethan collapsing to the ground, stunned and heartbroken.
"Papa?"
Eli's soft voice broke the memory.
Ethan quickly shoved the watch pieces into a drawer, wiping his face.
"Yes, baby?"
"Look!" Eli pointed his toy gun.
"Dsh dsh dsh! I shot you!"
Ethan gasped dramatically and fell on the bed.
"Aah! I'm dying! Save me!"
Eli collapsed onto him giggling.
And in that laugh, Ethan found a small escape from his pain.
Next Morning
Lucas read files in his hotel robe when Arlo entered.
"Sir, today you must have to take over the medical shares. but you have a meeting regarding the medical-drug supply issue. The hospital partnered with our company is involved, so they requested your presence."
Lucas nodded. "Leave the details."
Arlo handed a tablet. "Here are the attendees. You have two hours."
Lucas scrolled lazily — until a name froze his breath.
Dr. Ethan Stan
28 years old
Obstetrician-Gynecologist
Lucas sat up straight, heartbeat speeding.
"Arlo," he said sharply, "bring me all personal information of the employees attending. Fifteen minutes."
"But sir, they're just attendees. You only need the manager—"
"Are you deaf?!" Lucas snapped. "Do what I said!"
"Ok, sir."
Morning with Ethan
At the school gate, Ethan sighed.
"We're here."
"Noooo I don't want to go!" Eli clung to him.
"Don't you want to be a doctor like Papa?" Ethan coaxed gently.
"But yesterday was sooooo fun…" Eli pouted.
Ethan kissed his cheek.
"If you go every day, Papa will take you shopping every Sunday."
"Really!??" Eli's eyes sparkled.
"Yes."
"Okay bye Papa!" he ran inside.
Meanwhile… Selena
Dressed in her flashiest outfit, sunglasses on, she strode into Lucas's room using a spare key.
He had just stepped out of the shower, towel around his waist.
Her eyes locked on his abs.
Lucas glared.
"How did you enter my room?"
"Oh, come on, I thought we were going on a date today…" she teased.
"Shut up."
Arlo walked in.
"Miss Selena. Leave. Now."
"Are you deaf?" Lucas snapped. "GET OUT."
Selena left angrily.
But outside the door, she heard Arlo say:
"Sir, here are the employees' personal information files."
Selena's eyes narrowed.
Employees? Personal information? What is he planning?
She walked away with a smirk.
Lucas's Discovery
After dressing, Lucas opened the files, flipping through each one until he reached Ethan's.
He read every line slowly.
Joined the hospital 4 years ago.
Clean record.
Excellent reputation.
And then—
Marital Status: Unmarried.
Lucas's breath stopped.
Unmarried…?
Then whose baby…?
His heart pounded violently.
Meanwhile, Selena stomped toward her car and dialed furiously.
"I'm not marrying him! He's rude, disrespectful, AND he hugged another man yesterday right in front of me!"
The woman on the phone gasped.
"What?!"