Kai's POV
I didn't listen to the voicemail.
That's the first thing I think when I wake up at 5 AM after maybe two hours of sleep. My phone sits on the nightstand, silent and accusing. Ethan's message is still there, unheard.
I grab the phone and hover my finger over the delete button.
Then Luna screams from her bedroom.
I'm out of bed and running before my brain even catches up. Parent instinct—it never sleeps even when you haven't.
Luna is sitting up in her new bed, tears streaming down her face. "Daddy! I had a bad dream!"
I scoop her up and she wraps around me like a tiny octopus. "Shh, baby. It's okay. Daddy's here."
"The man from the airport was in my dream," she sobs into my shoulder. "The one with the sad eyes. He was crying and calling your name and I didn't know how to make him stop."
My heart clenches. Great. Now Ethan is haunting my daughter's dreams too.
"It was just a dream, sweetheart. He can't hurt us."
"I don't think he wants to hurt us," Luna says, pulling back to look at me with those too-wise eyes. "I think someone hurt him. Like someone hurt you."
Four years old. She's four years old and already too perceptive for her own good.
River appears in the doorway, rubbing his eyes. "Is Luna okay?"
"Bad dream," I explain. "Come on, let's all have breakfast together. Early start today."
Because today is my first day at Crescent Bay Medical Institute. My fresh start. My chance to prove that Kai Rivers is more than just Ethan Cross's humiliated ex-boyfriend.
I can't mess this up.
Marcus Chen arrives at 7 AM sharp, carrying a box of donuts and wearing the world's ugliest sweater. "Morning, sunshine! Ready for your first day?"
Marcus is my best friend from Silverpine City—a single dad whose daughter is best friends with Luna. When I told him about the job offer here, he immediately started applying to local companies. "You're not facing this city alone," he'd said. "Not again."
Now he flops onto my couch and grins at the twins. "Who wants chocolate donuts for breakfast?"
"Marcus, no—" I start.
"Uncle Marcus, YES!" River and Luna shout together.
I give up. Pick your battles, that's what parenting books say.
While the twins demolish donuts and Marcus makes them laugh with silly voices, I get ready. Professional outfit. Lab coat. Hair neat. Confident face.
"You sure you're okay?" Marcus asks quietly while the twins are distracted. "After yesterday? The airport thing?"
"I have to be okay," I say, checking my reflection one more time. "This job is too important. The twins need stability. I can't fall apart because Ethan Cross decided to show up with flowers."
"Kai." Marcus's voice is serious. "That man looked at those kids and knew. You saw his face. What are you going to do when he comes after you?"
"He won't."
"Kai—"
"He won't," I insist. "Ethan got what he wanted five years ago. He dumped me. He destroyed me. He moved on. Yesterday was just... shock. Curiosity. It doesn't mean anything."
Marcus looks at me like I'm an idiot. "That man stood in an airport crying and begging you to talk to him. That's not curiosity. That's—"
"I'm going to be late," I interrupt, grabbing my bag. "Thanks for watching them. I'll be back by six."
As I leave, I hear Luna ask, "Uncle Marcus, why does Daddy look scared?"
I close the door before I can hear his answer.
Crescent Bay Medical Institute is everything Dr. Santos promised. Modern. Clean. Filled with equipment I've only dreamed about using. My new lab is twice the size of my old one in Silverpine City.
Dr. Santos gives me a tour, introducing me to other researchers. Everyone is friendly. Professional. No one mentions the airport incident, though I catch a few curious glances.
"And this is your lab space," Dr. Santos says, opening a door. "You'll have two research assistants starting next week. Full access to all equipment. Unlimited budget for your omega suppressant-free treatment research."
It's perfect. It's everything I wanted.
"Now, I should mention," Dr. Santos continues, "our biggest research partner is Cross Pharmaceuticals. They fund about sixty percent of our omega health research."
My stomach drops. "Cross... Pharmaceuticals?"
"Yes! Ethan Cross, the CEO, completely transformed the company after his father retired. Very supportive of innovative treatments. He sometimes works from an office here—likes to stay involved with the research his money funds." She smiles. "You might meet him! He's wonderful. Much kinder than his father ever was."
I can't breathe. Ethan works here. In this building. This building.
"Are you okay, Dr. Rivers? You look pale."
"Fine," I manage. "Just... excited. New job nerves."
Dr. Santos pats my shoulder and leaves me to "get settled."
I stand in my beautiful new lab and want to scream.
How did I not know this? How did I not research who funded the institute? How could I be so stupid?
My phone buzzes. Text from Marcus: "Luna wants to know if you're having a good day. I'm telling her yes. Don't make me a liar."
Right. I can do this. I just have to avoid Ethan. Simple. The building is huge. What are the chances we'll run into each other?
I spend the next two hours organizing files and familiarizing myself with the lab equipment. It's calming. Scientific. Logical. Everything my life hasn't been since yesterday.
Then the door opens.
"Dr. Rivers?"
That voice. That voice that used to whisper "I love you" in my ear. That voice that destroyed me in front of five hundred people.
I freeze, my back to the door, hands gripping the edge of the lab counter.
Maybe if I don't turn around, he'll leave. Maybe this is a nightmare. Maybe—
"Kai. Please. Just look at me."
I turn around slowly.
Ethan stands in my doorway holding two coffee cups. He looks terrible. Dark circles under his eyes. His expensive suit is wrinkled. His hair is messy. He looks like he hasn't slept in days.
Good.
"I remembered you like caramel macchiato with extra foam," Ethan says quietly. His voice shakes. "I know you probably don't want anything from me. I know I have no right to be here. But I needed to see you. To talk to you. Please."
He holds out one of the coffee cups. It's from Angelo's—the coffee shop we used to go to together five years ago. The one that closed down three years ago.
He found the owner. He convinced them to make my exact drink order.
Just like he used to do.
"Get out," I say. My voice shakes but I keep it firm.
"Kai, please. Just five minutes. We need to talk about—"
"About what, Ethan? About how you humiliated me? About how you destroyed my life? About how you left me with nothing?"
"About the children!" Ethan's voice breaks. "Please, Kai. Are they mine? I need to know. Those eyes—Luna has my mother's eyes. The timing is right. Please, just tell me the truth."
My hands are shaking. "You don't get to ask me questions. You don't get to show up with coffee and act like we're old friends. You don't get ANYTHING from me!"
"I know what I did," Ethan says desperately. "I know I destroyed you. I know I don't deserve answers. But Kai, if those are my children—if I have a son and daughter I never knew about—please. Please don't keep them from me."
"You kept yourself from them!" I shout. "You chose to leave! You chose to humiliate me instead of trusting me! You chose your precious reputation over—"
I stop. I can't say it. I can't admit that I was pregnant when he destroyed me. That his children were already growing inside me when he looked at me like I was trash.
"Over what?" Ethan whispers. "Kai, over what?"
"Get out," I say again. "Get out of my lab. Get out of my life. I don't want your coffee. I don't want your apologies. I don't want YOU."
Ethan flinches like I hit him. But he doesn't leave. He sets both coffee cups on the counter gently, carefully.
"I'll leave," he says quietly. "But Kai? I'm not giving up. I spent five years looking for you. Five years regretting what I did. I'm not walking away again. Those children... whether you tell me or not, I know they're mine. And I'm going to prove to all of you that I've changed."
"People don't change," I say bitterly.
"I did. I had to." He backs toward the door. "I'll give you space. I won't push. But I'm here, Kai. When you're ready to talk, I'm here."
He leaves, closing the door quietly behind him.
I stand there shaking, staring at the two coffee cups. One caramel macchiato with extra foam. One black coffee with two sugars—Ethan's order.
He remembered everything.
My legs give out and I collapse into my chair, head in my hands.
This is a disaster. I can't work in the same building as Ethan. I can't see him every day. I can't—
My phone buzzes. Text from an unknown number:
"Dr. Rivers, this is Jason Park, COO of Cross Pharmaceuticals. I wanted to welcome you to CBMI. Ethan speaks very highly of your research. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're excited to fund your revolutionary work."
Another text, different unknown number:
"Hi Kai! It's Sophie, Ethan's sister. Remember me? I'm so happy you're back. Can we meet for coffee? I need to talk to you about something important. It's about what really happened five years ago. Please. - Sophie"
My hands shake harder. They're all coming after me. Ethan. His friends. His family.
And sitting on my counter are two coffee cups that prove Ethan remembers every tiny detail about me—including how I take my coffee after five years apart.
What am I supposed to do with that?