ake, staring at the ceiling, the word father bouncing around in his head. A billionaire who'd left him and Sarah to scrape by in Chicago

-up shirt, and grabbed a coffee from the hotel lobby. His phone buzzed

n NY? Wha

eeting some guy today. Lo

ant: Better not be a m

. He stepped outside as a black SUV pulled up, the same driver fro

n hour, they turned into a gated estate, the kind Ethan had only seen on TV. A massive stone house loomed ahead, surrounded by perfectly trimmed

g on gravel. A woman in a sharp blazer met him at the door. "Mr

ings that probably cost more than his mom's apartment. Claudia was tall, her dark hair pul

waiting," she

ndow, looking out at the estate. He was tall, thin, with gray hair and a suit that fit like it was made for him. He turned, and Ethan'

his voice low but stead

expected, some larger-than-life figure, maybe but Victor looked human,

d to a chair.

ross from him, studying him like he was a puzzle. "

on't talk about her like

s flickered. "I did. And I don't expect

his voice sharp. "Why now? W

arting my business. We fell in love, but my world was... complicated and dangerous. I had enemies, peo

d every day. Mom worked herself sick. Yo

sent what I could through channels, anonymously. Sara

arity." Sarah always said they were lucky breaks. Had that been Victor? He pushed the thought away. "So

with cancer. I don't have long. I want to know you befor

u're joking. I'm a mechanic. I don

r said. "You're my son

ou don't get to call me that. You

t, hardworking. You saved a man from a car accident last year. You work two jobs

en watching him felt wrong, invasive. "Why me? You've got a

ne else. No other children. My compa

"You don't trust me. Y

t I've built. If you want no part of it, you can walk away. But

any that ran the world. It was too much. "I need

Claudia will show you to a guest

the hall, bigger than his apartment, with a view of the estate's gard

y son, my heir. It didn't feel real. He thought of Sarah, working he

wered, her voice

said. "Victor. He

n, "What did

ing. He wants me to take over his company." Eth

t he was gone, and I thought it was better if you did

how?" Eth

e said. "Business rivals, and w

"You should've told me.

ice cracking. "I'm sorry.

han said. "I need

When he hung up, he felt more lost than ever. He texted Ava, needing her

e quick: Call

the first ring. "Ethan, what's

ew York, met a guy who says he's my dad. Some rich g

cond. "Your dad? That'

ead. He wants me to take over his business, l

" Ava said. "W

ut... I don't know, sa

m sorry, Ethan. That's he

him, but she never told me. I fee

ou deserve that. And Ethan? You don't have

the knot in his chest. "T

ll me tomorrow, okay? Le

world was pulling him in, but Ava's voice reminded him of who he was. A mech

ain. And maybe, just maybe, h