unexpectedly your's

Mia sat frozen in Eleanor Sinclair's office, her fingers tightening around the armrests of her chair as the older woman's gaze bore into her.

"There's something about that child," Eleanor mused, more to herself than to Mia. "Something… familiar."

Mia's breath hitched.

She forced herself to remain calm, but her mind was spiraling. Eleanor was too perceptive, too dangerous. If she kept pressing, if she kept looking too closely—

No. She couldn't let that happen.

"I suppose all children have that innocent look," Mia said lightly, trying to mask the tremble in her voice.

Eleanor's lips twitched in a smile that wasn't a smile at all.

"Perhaps."

Mia knew that look. It was the look of a predator who had caught the scent of blood.

The rest of the meeting blurred into the background. Mia responded when necessary, kept her head down, and avoided any further missteps. But the moment she left the office, she felt like she was gasping for air.

Liam.

She needed to check on him. She needed to see him, to make sure that no one had been watching him too closely.

But as she approached the daycare, her steps faltered.

There, through the glass partition, stood Adrian Sinclair.

Her breath caught in her throat.

He was kneeling in front of Liam, his expression unreadable.

Liam, ever curious, was looking up at Adrian, tilting his head in that way he always did when he was trying to understand something.

Something in Adrian's face softened.

Mia felt like she was going to be sick.

She forced herself to move, pushing open the door.

"Liam," she called, her voice carefully controlled.

Her son turned, grinning. "Mommy!"

Adrian rose slowly, his gaze locking onto hers.

For a moment, there was only silence.

Then Adrian spoke, his voice low, steady.

"We need to talk."

Mia's pulse thundered.

Not here. Not now.

But she knew—there was no escaping this.

She gave a tight nod. "Alright."

They sat across from each other in a quiet lounge, away from prying eyes.

Mia was painfully aware of how close Adrian was, how intense his stare had become.

He studied her for a long time, then finally said, "You disappeared."

She swallowed. "I had to."

His jaw clenched. "Why?"

Mia exhaled shakily, shaking her head. "You wouldn't understand."

Adrian leaned forward, his voice sharp. "Try me."

She hesitated. She had spent years running, hiding. But the weight of the truth was suffocating.

Mia opened her mouth—

But before she could speak, Adrian's phone buzzed.

He didn't even glance at it.

But then—another buzz. Then another.

Something about the rapid notifications made Mia's stomach twist.

Adrian frowned, pulling his phone from his pocket. His expression darkened as he scanned the screen.

"What is it?" Mia asked warily.

His eyes flicked up to her, stormy and unreadable.

"You tell me," he murmured, turning the screen toward her.

Mia's breath caught.

It was a news article.

A picture of her.

A picture of Liam.

And the headline that made her blood run cold:

"Mystery Woman and Child Linked to Sinclair Heir—Who is She Hiding From?"

The world tilted.

No. No. No.

This couldn't be happening.

Her hands trembled as she grabbed the phone, scrolling through the article.

Speculation. Theories. Whispers that the child bore a striking resemblance to Adrian Sinclair.

And at the very bottom—

A name.

Samantha Carter.

Mia's heart slammed against her ribs.

No.

It wasn't possible.

Samantha was gone. Out of her life.

But this—this was her doing.

Mia felt her entire world start to unravel.

And across from her, Adrian Sinclair's gaze sharpened like a blade.

"Now," he said, his voice like ice. "Tell me the truth."

To Be Continued…