Chapter 2
I stayed calm, smoothly spinning my lie.
"She's four and just started kindergarten," I replied.
I fled the country when Lily was born and registered her a year later.
Truth was, Lily was actually five.
As I spoke, a man slipped an arm around me and pulled me from under Ethan's umbrella into his arms.
"Daddy!" Lily called, her face brightening as she looked up.
I was caught off guard, staring into Leo Grey's teasing smile.
Ethan frowned. "Your husband?"
I stayed silent. Leo and I had a fake marriage just for Lily's papers.
Leo smiled softly and nodded at Ethan.
"Thanks for bringing my wife home. The rain is heavy, so drive safely," he said.
He handed me the umbrella, lifted Lily with one arm, and put his other arm around me, leading us to the apartment.
I didn't look back until we reached the building entrance.
The street outside was empty. Ethan was gone.
The next days were quiet; I didn't see Ethan again.
One day, I visited Ethan for a lesson while Ben begged him for food in a sweet voice.
"Daddy, I want your noodles!" Ben pleaded.
Ethan got up to make noodles. Ben pulled me into the kitchen.
When the stove flared, I froze and crouched, hands over my ears.
"Ms. Clark, what's wrong?" Ben asked, worried.
Ben hugged me, worry on his face.
My pupils dilated as I stared in terror at the flames.
A soul-crushing pain returned as I recalled the flames burning my face, the fire clinging to me despite my desperate attempts to smother it.
I barely held back a scream.
The stove switched off suddenly, and Ethan stood before me, calm and steady.
"Are you afraid of fire?" he asked.
He gently guided me over to the dining table.
For a moment, the Ethan I pulled from the fire and the man before me were one.
I stepped back, trying to steady myself. "I'm fine, just need a minute."
Ethan stayed, his face stone-hard, eyes dark and endless, fixed on me.
"Did you experience a fire before? You're still carrying it, aren't you?" he asked.
My heart pounded and my breath was short and shallow.
"It happened when I was a kid. It's past now," I said, brushing it off.
Ethan paused, seeming to believe me, and said no more.
The noodles were ready. Ben climbed the stool to add seasonings, and I helped him.
I set a bowl of noodles in front of Ethan.
"Thanks, Mr. Hayes, for letting me stay for dinner," I said politely.
I just wanted to finish the lesson and leave quickly.
I missed Ethan tensing up briefly.
He spoke, his voice soft and lingering.
"Ms. Clark, did you skip the scallions and cilantro in my bowl?"
I froze, staring at my noodles with scallions and cilantro, then realized I'd left his plain. He never liked toppings.
Ethan's gaze deepened, his dark eyes unreadable.
I gave a sheepish smile. "Sorry, Mr. Hayes. I got so caught up with Ben and my bowl, I forgot your toppings.
"Do you want some cilantro or scallions? I can put some on for you."
I smiled apologetically, hoping Ethan wouldn't notice my fear.
"No need. Coincidentally, I don't eat either," Ethan said coolly.
He stirred his noodles with forks.
Steam rose from the noodles as I sighed quietly and stirred my bowl.
In the following days, Ethan kept trying to figure me out.
One day, he drove me home and casually said as I got out.
"Ms. Clark, is your husband always this busy?"
I froze, then nodded. Trying to seem normal, I said, "It's close; I can walk the rest."
He stayed silent and rolled up the window.
I stepped forward, but his car stayed still.
Through the tinted glass, I saw his dark eyes fixed on me.
I quickly texted Leo to pick me up.
When Leo ran down the stairs, out of breath, I hugged his waist in front of Ethan, smiling happily.