“What was that look, Winona? The tension between you and Mr. Montgomery was off the charts,” Stav whispered dramatically as he hurried to catch up with me on the way back to my desk.

I drew in a deep breath and closed my eyes for a moment, trying to calm my nerves. Ares had cornered me the entire presentation, questioning and challenging every word I said. What should have been a straightforward two-hour presentation had turned into a relentless back-and-forth that stretched to almost four. Luckily, I had studied every single detail of the materials Ms. Bennett had given me, so I had answers for every challenge he threw my way.

“And the way he was looking at you,” Stav went on, clutching his chest. “Like he was angry but secretly impressed at the same time.”

I hit him lightly on the arm, unsure whether to laugh or get irritated. “Stop it. That is all in your imagination.”

I started packing up my things, eager to leave, but Director Bennett appeared right in front of me.

“Mr. Montgomery wants us to join him for lunch. Everyone is coming,” she said firmly.

“Ma’am, I really can’t today. I need to go home—”

“So Ms. Sinclair can’t join us?”

The voice that cut me off made my stomach twist.

“She can, Mr. Montgomery,” Director Bennett quickly replied, her eyes flicking to me as if daring me to refuse. “Right, Winona?”

I forced a smile even as my chest tightened. “Of course, Mr. Montgomery.”

Inside, I was furious. Four years ago, he had turned me away when I needed him the most. Now he was pulling me along at his convenience. What was he trying to do, ruin me all over again?

I glanced at my watch. Only two hours left before Jackson’s Family Day would start. If I stayed for lunch, I would never make it.

“Ms. Sinclair?”

Ares’s voice broke through my thoughts again. Everyone was already waiting at the door, and I was the only one left standing.

I straightened, forcing myself to nod. “After you, Mr. Montgomery.”

The team took the employee elevator, while I ended up in the VIP one with Ms. Bennett, the company director, and Ares.

Ares had booked out the most exclusive restaurant in town for all of us. The food was incredible, but I could not sit still. My thoughts were already with Jackson, imagining the disappointment on his face if I did not show up.

“Are you in a hurry to be somewhere, Ms. Sinclair?” Ares asked suddenly. “You have been checking your watch since we sat down.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. If he would just stop talking to me, maybe I could focus. He had no idea how much I was already resenting him for holding me up.

“It’s her son’s Family Day, Mr. Montgomery,” Stav answered for me. “She is already late.”

Ares froze. His brows drew together as if he had just been told something completely unexpected.

“Oh. I am sorry, I did not know you had a child,” he said, quickly glancing away. “You can go.”

I did not waste another second. I thanked Director Bennett and the director and hurried out of the restaurant without looking back at Ares.

As I rushed outside, questions flooded my head. How could he not know? Did he truly believe I had gone through with the abortion? Was that why he thought I was still living alone?

I shook the thoughts away. What mattered now was Jackson.

I tried to flag down a taxi, but none came. Ten minutes passed, then thirty. Nothing. Out of desperation, I booked a motorbike only to find out that the main roads had been closed due to a large rally.

“No, no, this cannot be happening,” I whispered, close to tears. I only had an hour left before Family Day would begin.

“You are still here?”

That familiar voice made me tense.

Ares.

He stood there looking completely composed while I was falling apart inside. But I was proud of myself. I could face him now without tears because the years of raising Jackson alone had hardened me in ways I had never expected.

I turned to him, my voice clipped. “What do you want, Ares?”

He gave a short laugh. “Nothing. I just wanted to see how much you know about your field. I am about to invest in that company, after all. Do not overthink it.”

He brushed past me and got into his car, but just moments later he stepped out again, muttering a curse.

“How long are we supposed to wait?” he snapped at his driver.

“Two hours, sir. We cannot get through because of the rally.”

“Two hours? No. Call the helicopter. We are leaving now.”

His secretary immediately made a call. I felt my heart sink even further. If even Ares could not get through by car, there was no way I would make it to Jackson’s Family Day.

“Do you need a ride?”

I had not even noticed him approach me again.

“No, thank you,” I said quietly. If he became an investor in my company, we would have to cross paths again whether I liked it or not. But I would not let him back into my life, into our life. Once was enough.

My phone rang. Evan was calling, but when I answered, it was Jackson’s small voice I heard.

“Mommy, where are you? Are you not coming?”

I turned away from Ares, clutching the phone tightly. In the distance I could already hear the helicopter blades beginning to spin as Ares’s group headed to the rooftop of the building across the street.

“I am on my way, sweetheart. I will be there soon,” I said, even though it was a lie. “Wait for me, okay?”

When the call ended, I ran straight toward Ares, pushing my pride aside. “Ares!” I called out.

He stopped and looked at me, waiting as I reached him.

“Can I… get a ride?” I asked, my voice trembling.

He searched my face, clearly seeing the desperation written there. “Where are you going?”

“St. Anthony Academy,” I said quickly.

“Come,” he replied calmly, falling into step beside me.

We crossed into the telecom building opposite the restaurant, where people greeted Ares and showed us to the elevator leading up to the rooftop.

The wind whipped my hair wildly as we stepped out to the waiting helicopter. I almost stumbled but Ares reached for my hand, steadying me just as he used to every time we traveled this way.

“Call someone at St. Anthony Academy and tell them we will be landing there,” he told the pilot once we climbed aboard.

I owed him for this, but that did not erase the pain he had caused me. He had never been a father to Jackson. He had chosen Astrid over us. I could never forget that.

“Sir, you have a meeting in fifteen minutes,” I heard his secretary remind him. “We will not make it. We need to close this deal.”

“We will close it no matter what,” Ares said firmly.

That was the businessman in him. He never lost.

The helicopter descended onto the wide school field where the students and parents had already gathered for Family Day. The crowd moved aside to give us space to land.

“Thank you,” I said softly. There was no need for sweet words. A simple thank you was enough.

I ran straight for Jackson’s classroom the moment I stepped out. He was sitting at a table with his chin propped on his hands, clearly waiting for me.

“Sweetheart,” I called, and he jumped up and ran straight into my arms.

“Mama! I thought you were not coming!”

“Of course not,” I whispered, holding him close. “When Mama says she will be here, she will be here. Now let us get you ready, okay?”

We were about to leave the classroom when the door opened and Ares stepped inside.

“You left your phone,” he said, holding it out to me.

But then Ares’s eyes dropped to Jackson, and Jackson tilted his head back to look up at him.

Time seemed to stop.

Anyone who saw them at that moment would know the truth. The same sharp jawline, the same dark, steady eyes, the same way they stood with quiet defiance. They were father and son, and the resemblance was undeniable.

Ares’s jaw tightened, and his entire expression hardened as his gaze slowly lifted back to mine. The air between us grew heavy, charged with something I could barely name.

“I think you have something to explain to me, Ms. Sinclair,” he said, his voice low, rough, and unmistakably cold.