A LOVE FORGOTTEN

A Weighty Secret

I couldn't shake off the guilt that had been eating away at me for weeks. The weight of the lie I told Ethan was suffocating me, yet I carried it because the truth felt more dangerous. I had told him I knew nothing about Emily's whereabouts. But the truth was, I knew exactly where she was. I had kept a vigilant eye on her, making sure she was safe.

Every time Ethan's voice cracked with worry or frustration, I felt like a traitor. The guilt gnawed at me, a constant ache I couldn't soothe. But I justified it, over and over again, with one name: Anita.

I didn't trust her. There was a darkness in her, a hunger for control that made my skin crawl. She was skilled at weaving her way into people's lives, twisting their thoughts and desires until they saw only what she wanted them to see. If she discovered where Emily was hiding, I knew she'd unleash her manipulations and leave nothing but wreckage in her wake. And Emily couldn't afford that. Neither could Ethan.

So, I took matters into my own hands. I used nearly every resource I had to hire a team of discreet bodyguards to shadow Emily. They ensured her safety from a distance, blending into the background, eyes always watchful. The cost was immense, but no expense was too great for peace of mind. At least, that's what I kept telling myself to stay sane.

But watching from the shadows wasn't enough. My mind spun with worst-case scenarios. What if she was in trouble? What if she wasn't as safe as I thought? The fear clawed at me until, finally, I couldn't stand it anymore. A few days ago, I decided to see her in person. I needed to know, with my own eyes, that she was okay.

I arrived in the city just as dawn painted the sky with streaks of pale gold and gray. The air was crisp, filled with the scent of wet pavement and brewing coffee. I walked the streets with my hood up, my heart pounding in my chest. Every corner, every shadow felt like a trap. But the fear of discovery was nothing compared to the fear of failing her.

When I finally saw her, time seemed to slow. She was walking along a park path, her hair catching the morning light. But it was what she was pushing that stole my breath away: a stroller. My eyes widened, my pulse roaring in my ears. The baby inside was bundled in soft blankets, small fingers curled in sleep.

Could it be Ethan's child?

The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. My legs wobbled beneath me, and a flood of emotions crashed over me: disbelief, anger, confusion, and a guilt so deep it felt like drowning. I had been keeping more than one secret from Ethan. This wasn't just about Emily's location; it was about a child, a whole life he didn't know existed.

My trembling hand fumbled in my pocket as I reached for my phone. I had to call him. He deserved to know the truth. My thumb hovered over his contact, the screen glowing with his name. Just one call, and the burden would be lifted.

But before I could press it, I felt a cold, unmistakable pressure against my spine—a gun.

"Don't move," a low, gravelly voice commanded.

My entire body froze. Fear shot through me like lightning, turning my limbs to stone. The world around me seemed to collapse into a tunnel of sound and sensation. The distant laughter of children in the park, the rush of wind through the trees, all faded as that cold metal reminder of mortality pressed harder against my back.

I slowly raised my hands, palms open, my heart slamming against my ribs. My mind raced with questions. Who was this? Had I been followed? Was it Anita's doing? A thousand possibilities swarmed my thoughts, each more terrifying than the last.

"Turn around. Slowly," the voice growled.

I complied, turning inch by inch, afraid to even breathe. My eyes met the face of a man I didn't recognize. Dark eyes, expression cold and unreadable, a scar slashing across his jawline. He looked like he belonged in a world where violence was currency, and mercy was a foreign language.

"What do you want?" I managed to whisper, my throat dry.

"You're asking the wrong questions," he said, eyes narrowing. "Who are you protecting, and how much are you willing to lose?"

Panic tightened its grip around my chest. He knew something. Maybe not everything, but enough to make me dangerous to him—and him dangerous to me. My mind flashed to Emily and the baby, their fragile safety hanging by a thread.

I swallowed hard, trying to think of a way out. But the truth was, I had been playing a dangerous game, and it was finally catching up to me.

"Let's take a walk," the man ordered, his voice deadly calm. The barrel of the gun was hidden beneath his coat, but its threat was all too real.

As he prodded me forward, I couldn't help but wonder: had my need to protect them just put us all in greater danger? And how much longer could I keep this weighty secret before it crushed us all?