Chapter 2 - THE SECRET EMMA NEVER TOLD HIM
Emma locked the door after Nathan left.
Then she leaned against it.
Her breathing was uneven.
For four years, she had imagined the day Nathan would discover the truth.
She had imagined anger.
Accusations.
Maybe even hatred.
She had never imagined seeing pain in his eyes.
Real pain.
She walked into the boys' bedroom.
Ethan and Noah were asleep.
She stood there watching them.
Their faces were peaceful.
They had no idea their entire world had just shifted.
Emma whispered,
“I'm sorry.”
The next morning, Nathan arrived at the school.
Emma saw him through the office window.
He wasn't wearing one of his expensive suits.
He wore jeans and a dark jacket.
He looked almost ordinary.
Almost.
The principal rushed toward him.
“Mr. Harrison, we had no idea you were coming.”
“Please don't treat me differently because of who I am.”
The principal smiled nervously.
Nathan looked around.
“This is where Emma works?”
“Yes.”
“She's a good teacher.”
“The best we've ever had.”
Nathan nodded.
“I know.”
The principal hesitated.
“May I ask why you're here?”
Nathan looked toward the science wing.
“I want to see the laboratory.”
The new laboratory was impressive.
Modern equipment.
Digital microscopes.
Robotics stations.
A planetarium projector.
Everything Emma's students had dreamed about.
Nathan watched her class through the glass.
Emma stood beside a model of the solar system.
She smiled at the children.
The smile was different from the one she had shown him.
This one was warm.
Natural.
She belonged here.
Nathan felt something twist inside him.
This was the woman he had once loved.
And somehow, he had missed four years of her life.
After class, Emma found him waiting.
“You shouldn't be here.”
“I wanted to see where you work.”
“You already bought the place.”
“I didn't buy it.”
“You donated five million dollars.”
“I wanted to help.”
“You wanted to feel less guilty.”
Nathan didn't argue.
“Maybe.”
Emma crossed her arms.
“But I need to know something.”
“What?”
“Why did you donate anonymously?”
“Because I didn't want you to know.”
“Why?”
Nathan looked at her.
“Because I knew you'd refuse.”
Emma's expression softened for half a second.
Then hardened again.
“You're still trying to solve everything with money.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
Nathan nodded.
“I've spent my entire life believing money could fix anything.”
“And now?”
He looked through the classroom window.
“Now I know it can't.”
Emma didn't respond.
Then her phone rang.
She glanced at it.
Her face drained of color.
Nathan noticed.
“Who is it?”
“No one.”
She declined the call.
Seconds later, another call came.
Same number.
Emma turned away.
Nathan saw the fear in her eyes.
“Emma.”
“I said it's nothing.”
He reached for her hand.
She pulled away.
“Don't.”
Nathan stopped.
She whispered,
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
Emma looked toward the empty hallway.
“Four years ago, when the twins were born, someone tried to take them.”
Nathan's blood ran cold.
“What?”
“The hospital nursery alarm went off at 3:17 in the morning.”
She swallowed.
“Someone had entered the neonatal unit.”
Nathan stared at her.
“Who?”
“We never found out.”
“Never?”
“No.”
“But the police—”
“Your father made sure the investigation disappeared.”
Nathan felt his stomach turn.
“Why would he do that?”
Emma's eyes filled with tears.
“Because someone wanted one of the babies dead.”
Nathan couldn't speak.
“Which one?”
Emma shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Nathan stared at her.
“You said one of them.”
“Yes.”
“Which one?”
“I don't know.”
Suddenly, footsteps echoed down the hall.
A man appeared at the end of the corridor.
He wore a black coat.
He looked directly at Emma.
Then at Nathan.
Emma immediately grabbed Nathan's arm.
“Don't look at him.”
Nathan turned anyway.
The man disappeared through a side door.
Nathan moved.
Emma grabbed him.
“No!”
“Who was that?”
“I don't know.”
“You recognized him.”
Emma said nothing.
Nathan's voice became quiet.
“Emma.”
She finally whispered,
“He was at the hospital.”
Nathan froze.
“Four years ago?”
She nodded.
Then her phone buzzed.
A text message appeared.
Emma read it.
Her hands began shaking.
Nathan looked at her.
“What does it say?”
She slowly turned the phone toward him.
The message contained only six words.
HE KNOWS WHICH BOY IS HIS.
Nathan looked toward the hallway.
And for the first time, the threat became real.
May you like
Someone wasn't trying to destroy their marriage anymore.
Someone was watching their children.
