The Alpha's Secret babies

el'

ized I'd been holding. My body still thrummed with tension,

w dare he? How dare he show up after all these years and act like I owed him anythi

chest. I needed to shake this off. I had work to do. I w

self that I was fine. That I could just go about my d

n lasted unt

untouched salad with that, he slid into the seat across from m

d, poking at a cherry

e on. You think I don't kn

at Ethan still got under my skin. That after all this time, he still had

said finally. "Jus

go-at least for now. "Well, if you ever decide you

see a movie later tonight, do

how tired I am my triplets s

ts were already drifting as I'd managed to avoid Ethan all morning,

had never been part

ed into knots as a familiar presence lingered just ou

ha

unreadable. His gaze locked onto mine the moment he saw

r way, but he pushed off the wall, stepping i

ced myself to keep my voice steady. "Actual

ned frustratingly calm. "That's the prob

e inside. The door clicked shut behind him, and I turne

d it as the sound was quiet, almost insigni

nk you're doing?" I deman

. "You're going to listen to me," he said, voice low. Controlled. But t

icker of fear. "I don't owe you anything, Ethan. Not my t

isn't about forgiveness

wouldn't know the truth if

't say anything. Then, just when I thought I had the upper h

the room tu

gid as my breath caugh

forward, his gaze locke

ring wildly. This couldn't be h

years making

the certainty there sent a wave

kne

uld ever be th

the weight of his revelation pin

but his fists clenched at his

. "I don't know what you think y

ce overwhelming. "Hazel, don't do t

e. "A right? You lost any right

dn't choose her. You don

u weren't there. And now, you think you can waltz back in and clai

g in his eyes. "This isn't just about yo

wasn't wrong, but I wasn't ready for this confron

o leave," I

g, agonizing moment, we stood th

e, he reached for the l

, he met my eyes one last

leaving me gasping for a