Chapter 5

The board members gave Edward dirty looks, and one of them stepped forward to confront him directly. "Mr. Lane, what's gotten into you lately? How could you mess up such an important decision?"

Just then, Edward's phone buzzed again—it was Megan calling.

He frowned and answered in a sharp, irritable tone. "What?"

Megan's voice came soft and clingy over the line. "Edward, why haven't you come to see me? I miss you so much."

Edward let out a sharp breath. "I'm swamped. I have a million urgent things to do right now."

Megan's voice rose, sharp with hurt and anger. "What could be more important than me? Don't you love me anymore?"

Edward ran a hand through his hair, frustration boiling up inside him. "Megan, I'm in the middle of a company crisis. Can you stop being so dramatic for five minutes?"

Megan's tone got even sharper. "Dramatic? I'm being dramatic? Edward, who's been by your side these past three years?"

Edward took a slow, deep breath, trying to stay calm. "Megan, just calm down. I'll explain everything later."

Megan's voice trembled with suppressed tears. "Calm down? You're just looking for an excuse to break up with me, aren't you?"

Edward rushed to calm her down, desperate to end the annoying call quickly. "I never said that. I just have urgent work to take care of first."

Megan's voice was full of suspicion. "What kind of work? Is she back? Your wife? I knew it—now that she's back, you'll throw me away like I mean nothing."

Her broken sobs annoyed Edward, who was already on edge.

He used to think her tears were cute, a sweet sign of how much she cared. Now, they just annoyed him—one more distraction from the mess he was in.

His face darkened, and his tone turned cold and firm. "Megan, that's enough. I'm hanging up."

He ended the call and tossed his phone aside, his jaw tight with growing frustration.

Right then, Eric burst into the conference room, his face tight with urgency. "Mr. Lane, I found something."

Edward sat up straight, a little hope sparking in his chest. "What is it? Spit it out."

Eric spoke respectfully. "A week ago, Mrs. Lane bought a lot of items at a maternity store in the suburbs."

Edward's eyes lit up. He leaned forward, his voice urgent. "Where is this store?"

"Willowtown, a small town just south of the city," Eric said quickly.

As soon as Eric said Willowtown, Edward thought back to what Helen had told him about the place.

It was the small town where her grandmother lived—the quiet little town she'd spent every summer in as a kid. Whenever she talked about it, her eyes would light up as she described its quiet, winding streets and warm, cozy charm.

Edward's face turned serious, his mind made up. "Get the car ready. We're going to Willowtown—now."

Willowtown was a two-hour drive from the city center.

On the drive, Edward stared out the window, his eyes fixed on the passing scenery, his heart beating fast with a mix of nerves and excitement.

When the car drove into Willowtown, Edward stopped for a second, immediately drawn to the town's quiet beauty.

Cobblestone streets glistened in the warm sun, lined with cute white houses with black wooden shutters. A clear, slow-moving creek ran through the heart of the town, and the soft breeze carried the sweet smell of blooming hydrangeas and freshly cut grass.

The town was small, with a single main street lined with old-fashioned boutiques and family-style diners on both sides.

Edward told Eric to ask the locals if they had seen Helen.

A few minutes later, Eric came back, grinning widely, barely able to hide his excitement. "Mr. Lane, we have a lead! The locals say a young woman with three babies is staying in an old cottage on the east end of town.

"It used to be her grandmother's house."

Edward's heart skipped a beat, his voice urgent. "Show me the way. Let's go!"

The cottage was hidden at the end of a narrow, tree-lined lane.

Edward hurried down the winding path, the air thick with the earthy smell of damp dirt and freshly cut grass.

When he got to the cottage, he saw the wooden front door was slightly open. In the small front yard, baby onesies and soft swaddle blankets hung on a clothesline, fluttering gently in the soft wind.

He took a deep breath, gathering his courage, and pushed the door open slowly and carefully.

The courtyard was very quiet—only the soft sound of wind through the leaves broke the silence.

He snuck toward the living room, peeking through a small crack in the window.

There she was. Helen sat in an old rocking chair, a tiny baby curled safely in her arms, humming a soft lullaby under her breath.

She wore a simple cotton sundress, her hair tied back in a loose, messy bun, with a few stray hairs framing her face.

Golden sunlight streamed through the window, wrapping her in a warm glow, making the whole scene feel peaceful and fragile.

The other two babies slept soundly in nearby bassinets, small smiles on their chubby cheeks.

Standing still in the doorway, Edward's throat felt tight, and he couldn't say a word.

Helen must have felt him there—she looked up slowly, and their eyes met.

There was no panic or shock on her face—only quiet calm as she spoke softly. "You've found me."

Edward froze for a second, then hurried into the room, his voice rough with regret. "Helen... how could you leave without saying anything? Do you know how long I've been looking for you?"

Helen looked down at the sleeping baby in her arms, her voice steady. "Why would I leave you a message? You never really cared about me, or where I went."

"Of course I care!" Edward blurted out. "You're my wife—how could I not?"

Helen let out a bitter laugh. "Wife? Be honest, Edward. Is there anything real left between us? Anything at all?"