Chapter Three

Zoe’s POV

Work had drained me. As soon as I stepped into the living room, the first thing I saw was Ethan sitting on the couch, typing something on his laptop.

My eyes blinked several times while I tried to.make.sure that I wasn't staring at the wrong person right now.

He didn’t even look up.

I instinctively pulled my daughter closer. What the hell was he doing here?

“Mommy, who is he?” Ariana asked, her eyes wide with surprise. She clearly wasn’t used to seeing strangers in the house.

That stranger was her father.

My heart skipped a beat. What would happen if he found out?

I kept Ariana close, her head resting against my side.

Ethan finally looked up, his eyes landed right on her. I wondered if he knew about me having a child or not? The expression on his face has shown that he had no idea.

“Go to your room. I’ll come see you soon,” I told her softly, brushing her hair gently and handing her school bag over.

“Okay, Mommy.” She ran up the stairs.

“Don’t run—”

“Is that your daughter?” Ethan cut in, standing before I could finish.

“I should be asking what you’re doing here.”

“Who’s the father?” There was something flickering in his eyes—guilt, or maybe hope?

“That’s none of your business. You’re not supposed to be here. That’s the real issue. What exactly do you gain by coming back into our lives? You have been gone for five good years!?”

“I see you’ve both met,” Levi said as he came down the stairs in a sweatshirt and shorts, his usual look for the past five years.

“What’s he doing here, Levi? Of all people, you know how much I hate this.”

“He’s my brother. And do I need your permission before I do anything?” His voice had a sharp edge. He rubbed his face, clearly frustrated.

“You could’ve at least told me. I deserved that much.” I dropped my bag on the nearest couch, my voice flat.

Ethan stood silently, watching.

“Let’s talk,” I said, brushing past both of them and shooting Ethan a glare.

Levi followed me into his room.

“Why are you doing this? You know his daughter is here. I can’t trust him—not after everything. This affects me.”

“He won’t figure it out. He still thinks you cheated. Do you really believe he’ll soften up now?”

“He might. Anything’s possible now that he’s back. But why didn’t you tell me first?”

“That’s what he wanted.”

“What?”

“I’m being threatened,” Levi admitted, letting out a long breath. “Ethan texted me months ago saying he wanted to work with me again. I said no.”

“Why the hell would he want to come back after everything? And what does he have on you that made you agree?”

“I don’t know why he wants back in your life. And I can’t tell you what he’s holding over me. It’s... family.”

In the five years I’d known Levi, I had never seen him like this—cornered, vulnerable.

“I hope you sort things out soon. I’ll see if I can get anything out of him.” I turned, about to walk out.

I just hoped whatever he was being blackmailed with wasn’t something serious.

"What if he is actually here for you?" Levi questioned immediately my hand was on the door knob. The way my heart raced after I had saw him earlier today showed that's part of me still wanted him.

The easy his cologne filled my nose, it reminded me of how he'd pull me into his arms back then. How we were filled with laughter before everything flipped.

"I won't give in to him anymore. He isn't worth me after what happened." I forced a smile twisting the door knob as I then walked right out of the room.

When I got downstairs, my stomach dropped.

Ariana was talking to Ethan. Ethan was smiling and she was doing the same too.

“What the hell are you doing, Ari?” I shouted, rushing over. I pulled her into my arms immediately.

They were having a conversation. That was something I should avoid. Ethan was smart and small clues could allow him figure out that she was his real daughter.

“I’ve told you not to speak with strangers.” I crouched down, gripping her wrists gently.

“I waited upstairs, but you didn’t come... so I came to find you,” she said, her head lowered.

Guilt pricked at my chest.

“That still doesn’t mean you talk to strangers.”

“You wouldn’t let strangers into the house,” she pouted. From across the room, Ethan let out a quiet laugh.

What was so funny?

“Seems like your daughter’s smarter than you,” he muttered loud enough for me to hear. I shot him a glare and rose to my feet.

She took after her father, and I wasn't going to lie.

“Go to your room. I’ll be there in five minutes. Just five.” I sent Ariana back upstairs and faced him alone.

“I thought you had no choice in working with me. Turns out you’re the one who made the choice.”

“Wow. Took you long enough to figure it out,” he replied with a heavy sigh.

So Levi had been telling the truth.

“I guess you were wrong about moving on from me too,” I said, a faint smirk tugging at my lips.

“You could say that.” he paused. "

“I waited upstairs, but you didn’t come... so I came to find you,” she said, her head lowered.

Guilt pricked at my chest.

“That still doesn’t mean you talk to strangers.”

“You wouldn’t let strangers into the house,” she pouted. From across the room, Ethan let out a quiet laugh.

What was so funny?

“Seems like your daughter’s smarter than you,” he muttered loud enough for me to hear. I shot him a glare and rose to my feet.

She took after her father, and I wasn't going to lie.

“Go to your room. I’ll be there in five minutes. Just five.” I sent Ariana back upstairs and faced him alone.

“I thought you had no choice in working with me. Turns out you’re the one who made the choice.”

“Wow. Took you long enough to figure it out,” he replied with a heavy sigh.

So Levi had been telling the truth.

“I guess you were wrong about moving on from me too,” I said, a faint smirk tugging at my lips.

“You could say that.” he paused. "

My stomach twisted. Why did he still have this effect on me? Five years mahn!!!

“So what exactly do you gain from all of this?”

“I heard rumors. About you and my brother. Some said you were dating, others said you were getting married. You have no idea how pissed I was,” he stepped closer, grabbing my waist and pulling me to him.

You really pulled a great move by staying with my brother, I'm not going to lie. If your plans were to make me jealous, I'm afraid you succeeded."

“We’re not together. I can date whoever I want.”

I tried to push him off, but his grip tightened.

“We never signed those papers. You’re still mine.”

The audacity.

“In your dreams, Ethan.” I felt his body against mine, his desire pressed against me. “Let’s sign them right now. I was stupid to hold back before. I’ve had better things since and they are things you could never give me.”

I was lying, but I didn’t care. If that made him back off, good.

“Better things?”

“Yes. Including satisfaction you could never give me. With that little man you carry down there,” I said, calm and deliberate, while my eyes traced to his pants looking at his dick which was bulging in his pants.

That enough could tell how much I was lying right now.

The look on his face shifted.

I knew it would hurt him—but at what cost?

“Oh, now you’re challenging me.” His hand slid from my waist to my backside, as he slowly rubbed his hand across my ass.

I wanted to push him away but his grip had loosened and my body refused to move. My body was really giving in at this point.

I haven't fucked a man ever since, and this just—

His other hand ran down my thigh, sparking sensations I didn’t want to admit were still there. He slowly moved his hand, as I felt it on my pant.

"Are you sure you don't really want this? You are wet for me wifey." He chuckled, his words brought me back to reality.

I pushed off his arm immediately, stepping back as fast as I could.

“I’ll make you regret those words,” he whispered. “And I’ll remind you who you belong to, and change your mind about the satisfaction part.”

I told him he'd regret leaving me, and I must have made him really regret seeing how back he was here to claim me ans act as if nothing happened.

No way! I wouldn't let him win in this game of his.

He walked away, looking far too satisfied with himself.