Chapter 2 - The Man From Her Past
“Well.”
Ethan stopped beside the table.
“Look who finally came back.”
Maya stood immediately.
“Walk away.”
Ethan glanced at her.
“Still collecting loud friends, Norah?”
“Don't talk to her.”
Norah barely recognized her own voice.
Ethan smiled.
“There she is.”
He pulled out the empty chair.
Norah kicked it back beneath the table.
“You're not sitting.”
His smile faded slightly.
“You've changed.”
“Yes.”
“I heard you got married.”
Norah said nothing.
Ethan glanced at her ring.
Then laughed.
“Moretti.”
Maya's expression tightened.
“You know who her husband is?”
“Everyone knows who Lucian Moretti is.”
Ethan leaned closer.
“I just never understood what he saw in you.”
The old Norah would have apologized.
For what, she wouldn't have known.
The new Norah stood.
“We're leaving.”
She reached for her coat.
Ethan caught her wrist.
Everything inside her stopped.
Maya snapped, “Let go of her.”
Ethan ignored her.
Norah looked down at his hand.
“Take your hand off me.”
“You disappear for years and that's all you have to say?”
“I didn't disappear.”
Her voice trembled, but she continued.
“I left you.”
His jaw tightened.
“Same thing.”
“No.”
Norah pulled her wrist free.
“Not even close.”
The cafe had gone quiet.
Ethan noticed people watching.
That always mattered to him.
Appearances.
Control.
He smiled again.
“Let's talk outside.”
“No.”
“Norah.”
“I said no.”
She turned toward the door.
Ethan followed.
Maya reached for her phone.
“I’m calling Gideon.”
But Gideon was already coming inside.
The moment Ethan saw him, he stopped.
Gideon approached calmly.
“Mrs. Moretti.”
Ethan laughed.
“Mrs. Moretti.”
Gideon ignored him.
“Car's outside.”
Norah nodded.
Then nausea rolled through her.
Hard.
She grabbed the edge of the table.
Maya caught her elbow.
“Norah?”
“I'm fine.”
Ethan stared at her.
Then at the untouched coffee.
Then at the water.
Something changed in his face.
“When did you stop drinking coffee?”
Norah froze.
Maya stepped between them.
“None of your business.”
Ethan wasn't looking at Maya anymore.
His eyes dropped toward Norah's stomach.
There was nothing visible beneath her sweater.
But Ethan had always been good at finding vulnerabilities.
His expression sharpened.
“No.”
Norah's stomach dropped.
Ethan stared at her.
“You're pregnant.”
“Leave.”
“You're actually pregnant?”
“Ethan.”
His laugh came out strange.
Almost disbelieving.
“Does Moretti know?”
Norah didn't answer.
That was enough.
Ethan smiled.
“He doesn't.”
Gideon stepped forward.
“Sir, you need to leave.”
Ethan looked at him.
“Or what?”
“Don't make me answer that.”
Ethan's smile disappeared.
Norah grabbed her coat.
“Come on, Maya.”
They headed toward the door.
Behind them Ethan called:
“You always did this.”
Norah stopped.
Maya whispered, “Don't.”
But Norah turned.
“Did what?”
“Run.”
The cafe became completely silent.
Norah stared at the man who had once convinced her that surviving him was cowardice.
“No.”
She shook her head.
“I stayed with you for four years.”
Ethan's face hardened.
“Leaving was the first brave thing I did.”
She walked outside.
Gideon followed.
Maya climbed into the car beside her.
As the door closed, Gideon looked through the cafe window.
Ethan was standing perfectly still.
Watching.
Gideon pulled out his phone.
Norah saw it.
“Don't.”
He looked at her.
“Mrs. Moretti—”
“Don't call Lucian.”
Gideon hesitated.
“That's not a request I can follow.”
“Please.”
That stopped him.
Norah's voice broke.
“Give me one hour.”
Gideon studied her.
“One.”
“Thank you.”
He put the phone away.
But inside Cafe Pernell, Ethan Ror was already reaching for his own.
May you like
And Norah had no idea that he'd spent years blaming her for everything that had gone wrong after she left.
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