Morning found Ethan already in his office.
Not late.
Not distracted.
Just… staring.
Sunlight poured through the glass walls, painting the city in gold, while Ethan sat behind his desk with a cup of coffee he hadn't touched. His laptop was open. Emails unread. Calls ignored.
Marcus stood near the window, scrolling through his phone.
After five full minutes of silence, Ethan finally spoke.
"So," he said, staring straight ahead, "hypothetically speaking—what does a man do when he's engaged without agreeing to it?"
Marcus didn't look up. "Hypothetically? He panics."
Ethan sighed. "I'm serious."
"So am I," Marcus replied. "You look like a man who just realized freedom comes with fine print."
Ethan leaned back in his chair. "I can't marry someone I don't even know."
"You could," Marcus said. "People have done worse."
"That's comforting," Ethan muttered.
Marcus finally looked at him. "Alright. Let's list your options."
Ethan straightened. "Good."
"Option one," Marcus said, counting on his fingers. "You go along with the engagement. Smile. Attend dinners. Pretend everything's fine."
Ethan grimaced. "Next."
"Option two," Marcus continued, "you fight your grandfather."
Ethan shook his head immediately. "Not happening."
"Option three," Marcus said slowly, "you bring up the fact that you might already have… complications."
Ethan stiffened.
"That's not an option," he said flatly.
Marcus raised an eyebrow. "You asked for advice."
Ethan rubbed his temples. "I didn't plan any of this."
Marcus smirked. "That's your life motto."
Ethan glanced at the window again, watching cars move below. "What if I just… ignore it for now?"
Marcus laughed. "Ah yes. Your favorite strategy. Delay until the universe explodes."
Ethan didn't smile.
"I don't want to hurt anyone," he said quietly.
Marcus softened. "That's new."
Ethan shot him a look. "Don't get used to it."
Silence returned—lighter this time.
Marcus clapped his hands once. "Alright. Here's the real answer."
Ethan looked up.
"You don't decide today," Marcus said. "You survive today. One mess at a time."
Ethan exhaled slowly. "That's the best advice you've got?"
Marcus shrugged. "From a man who knows you? Absolutely."
Ethan leaned back, staring at the ceiling.
Engagement.
Expectations.
A future he hadn't chosen.
Marcus leaned against the desk, watching Ethan pace like a man negotiating with fate itself.
"Alright," he said finally, tone casual. "I have another option."
Ethan stopped. "If this involves me faking my death, I'm listening."
Marcus smirked. "No. Simpler."
Ethan crossed his arms. "Go on."
"You marry the girl who's already carrying your child."
Silence.
Ethan stared at him. "You're joking."
Marcus shook his head. "Dead serious."
"That's insane," Ethan said. "I barely know her."
Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Funny. That didn't stop biology."
Ethan groaned. "This is not funny."
"Oh, it is," Marcus said lightly. "Think about it. Your grandfather wants grandchildren."
He gestured vaguely downward. "Congratulations. They're already loading."
Ethan closed his eyes. "Do not say it like that."
Marcus grinned. "Too late. Production has begun."
Ethan ran a hand through his hair. "You're suggesting I cancel an engagement, upset two powerful families, and marry a woman I met once?"
Marcus shrugged. "When you say it like that, it sounds dramatic."
"It is dramatic."
Marcus leaned forward. "But it's also honest. No pretending. No contracts. No surprises."
Ethan laughed once—short, disbelieving. "My grandfather would lose his mind."
Marcus nodded. "Yes. But he'd also get what he wants."
Ethan stopped pacing.
"Grandchildren," he muttered.
"Already on the way," Marcus reminded helpfully.
Ethan looked at him. "I hate you."
Marcus smiled. "You asked what to do."
Ethan dropped into his chair, staring at the ceiling.
for the first time, the most irresponsible man in the room was considering the only decision that actually made sense.
That realization scared him more than anything else so far.
On the other side of the city, Ethan's grandfather sat alone in his private office.
The room smelled faintly of old books and polish. Sunlight filtered through tall windows, landing on a neatly arranged desk that reflected decades of discipline and order.
He wasn't supposed to be here long.
But his eyes had stopped on a file Marcus had left behind carelessly, for once.
A thin envelope.
Medical letterhead.
His grandfather frowned and opened it.
He read once.
Then again.
The words didn't change.
Paternity Test: Positive.
His hand tightened around the paper.
For a long moment, the room was completely silent.
No cane tapping.
No sigh.
No anger.
Just shock.
"So…" he murmured quietly, more to himself than the room, "it has already begun."
He lowered himself slowly into the chair, suddenly feeling every one of his years. The plans. The party. The engagement announcement how carefully he had arranged everything.
And all this time
Life had already made its own decision.
A strange smile touched his lips. Not happy. Not upset.
Thoughtful.
"You never fail to surprise me," he said softly, imagining Ethan's face if he knew.
He folded the report carefully and placed it back in the envelope, tapping it once against the desk as if sealing a truth rather than paper.
"So the grandchildren I asked for…" he said quietly, almost amused, "were already on their way."
The smile faded.
This changed things.
Not just for Ethan but for him.
He stood, picked up his cane, and walked toward the window, gazing out at the city.
"Now," he said calmly, "the question is how long before the boy realizes he cannot outrun blood."
Outside, the city moved as always.
Inside that office, a future had just shifted.
Ethan barely had time to sit down before the office door opened again.
This time, it wasn't a knock.
It was an entrance.
His grandfather walked in, cane tapping sharply against the floor, expression darker than any boardroom crisis Ethan had ever faced.
Ethan straightened instinctively. "Good morning"
"Sit," his grandfather snapped.
Ethan sat.
Marcus, standing near the window, suddenly found the view very interesting.
His grandfather slammed the file onto the desk.
"Do you have any idea," he said slowly, "what kind of shock it is to find out your grandson is about to become a father through a medical report?"
Ethan's stomach dropped.
"You didn't think this was something to mention?" the old man continued. "Or did it slip your mind between clubs and late mornings?"
Ethan opened his mouth. "I was going to—"
"Going to what?" his grandfather cut in. "Wait until the child called me great-grandfather?"
Marcus cleared his throat. Loudly. "Sir—if I may."
The old man turned his glare on Marcus. "You may explain why you knew."
Marcus swallowed. "Well… technically… it's not as bad as it sounds."
Ethan shot him a look. Don't.
Marcus ignored it.
"She's his girlfriend," Marcus said quickly.
Silence.
Ethan's head snapped toward him.
"My what?"
His grandfather blinked. "Girlfriend?"
Marcus nodded enthusiastically. "Yes. Serious one. Very… private relationship."
Ethan stared at him in disbelief.
The old man folded his arms. "And the pregnancy?"
Marcus hesitated. Just a second too long. "A mistake."
Ethan choked. "Marcus—"
"A timing mistake," Marcus corrected fast. "Not the relationship."
His grandfather's eyes narrowed. "So you're telling me my grandson—"
"Yes," Marcus interrupted, "is irresponsible with timing but not feelings."
Ethan rubbed his face. "I did not approve this explanation."
The old man studied Ethan closely. "Is this true?"
Ethan exhaled slowly.
"Yes," he said finally. "She is… someone important."
Marcus nodded aggressively. "See? Important."
"And you thought hiding this was wise?" his grandfather demanded.
"No," Ethan admitted. "I thought delaying it was."
His grandfather scoffed. "You always confuse the two."
Marcus leaned in slightly. "Sir, if it helps—this wasn't planned."
The old man shot him a look. "Nothing ever is with him."
Then he sighed.
A long, tired sigh that softened the room.
"You frustrate me," his grandfather said, quieter now. "But at least this time, the chaos has a name."
Ethan blinked. "That's… comforting?"
"Don't push it," the old man replied.
He turned to leave, then paused at the door.
"Bring the girl," he said firmly. "Girlfriend or not."
Ethan stiffened. "You want to meet her?"
"I want to meet the future," his grandfather said. "Before it surprises me again."
The door closed.
Silence followed.
Ethan slowly turned to Marcus. "You called her my girlfriend."
Marcus shrugged. "I panicked."
"You called the pregnancy a mistake."
"I clarified."
Ethan stared at him. "You're lucky I need you alive."
Marcus grinned. "Admit it. That went better than expected."
Ethan leaned back in his chair, exhaling.
Better… maybe.
But now, everything was moving faster than he could control.
The door hadn't even fully closed when it opened again.
His grandfather stepped back inside, slower this time but no less commanding.
"One more thing," he said.
Ethan straightened immediately. "Yes?"
His grandfather's gaze was steady. Calculating. "I want to meet her."
Marcus blinked. "Meet… her?"
"Yes," the old man replied calmly. "The girl."
Ethan's chest tightened. "Now?"
"No," his grandfather said. "Soon."
He rested both hands on his cane. "If she is important enough to change your future, then she is important enough to stand in front of me."
Ethan hesitated. "She didn't sign up for this."
"Neither did I," his grandfather replied evenly. "Yet here we are."
Marcus tried to lighten the mood. "She's… very normal. Very non-terrifying."
The old man glanced at him. "Good. That will balance my grandson."
Ethan sighed. "You're serious."
"I am always serious," his grandfather said. Then, softer, "Especially about family."
He turned toward the door again, pausing just once.
"Bring her with honesty," he added. "Not excuses."
Then he left.
The silence that followed was heavier than before.
Ethan leaned back in his chair slowly. "He wants to meet her."
Marcus nodded. "Congratulations. You've reached the 'meet the family' level."
Ethan stared at the ceiling. "She doesn't even want to see me."
Marcus smiled thinly. "That's what makes it interesting."
Ethan exhaled.
A meeting he hadn't planned.
A future moving faster than he liked.
And a woman who had no idea she was about to step into a world that never asked permission.
Ethan picked up his phone the moment the door closed.
He stared at the screen for a second, then dialed.
Once.
Twice.
The call didn't even ring.
Call failed.
He frowned and tried again.
Same result.
Ethan's jaw tightened. He opened the contact details, stared at the screen, then looked up at Marcus.
"She blocked me."
Marcus winced. "Ouch."
"I asked for an abortion," Ethan reminded him flatly.
Marcus nodded. "Ah. That explains the permanent digital exile."
Ethan dropped the phone on the desk. "I need to talk to her. My grandfather wants to meet her."
Marcus raised an eyebrow. "You're saying that like it's a small request."
Ethan ignored him. "Do you know her name?"
Marcus paused.
Then shook his head. "No."
Ethan blinked. "You don't?"
"No," Marcus said honestly. "You didn't ask. I didn't pry."
For a moment, Ethan just stared at him.
Then—unexpectedly—he smiled.
"That," Ethan said, nodding once, "is impressive."
Marcus smirked. "I respect privacy."
Ethan leaned back. "I slept with a woman and don't know her name. That's a new low even for me."
Marcus shrugged. "At least you didn't stalk her."
Ethan's smile faded. "I need a way to find her. Without forcing it."
Marcus thought for a moment, then snapped his fingers. "The DNA report."
Ethan looked up. "What about it?"
"Medical reports don't say 'anonymous mystery woman,'" Marcus said. "They have names."
Ethan straightened. "Get it."
Marcus moved quickly, pulling the file from the cabinet and placing it on the desk between them. The envelope felt heavier than paper had any right to.
Ethan opened it slowly.
His eyes scanned the page once.
Then again.
And stopped.
There it was.
Clear. Black ink. No ambiguity.
Mother: Clara Hayes
Ethan exhaled slowly.
"Clara," he repeated under his breath.
The name felt… real.
Marcus leaned over his shoulder. "Clara Hayes," he read. "Sounds like someone who definitely blocked you on purpose."
Ethan closed the file carefully.
"So now," Marcus said, "you know her name."
Ethan nodded. "And she knows I don't deserve to say it yet."
Marcus glanced at him. "What are you going to do?"
Ethan stared at the file for a long moment.
"Find a way," he said finally, "to talk to her without making her regret ever meeting me.but before that I want to knew everything about her."
Marcus smiled faintly. "That's new."
Ethan didn't respond.
Because for the first time since everything began, he wasn't thinking like a CEO
He was thinking like a man who had already lost control
and was trying, desperately, not to lose more.