THE BILLIONAIRE'S FORGOTTEN VOWS

Twenty minutes later, a black SUV pulled up outside Elena's building. The driver called her phone.

"Ms. Carter? I'm here to collect you and the children."

Elena looked at the packed bags by the door. She'd thrown together clothes and toys while Mia helped wake the confused twins. Liam kept asking questions she couldn't answer.

"Is this really necessary?" Mia asked, watching the suspicious car across the street.

"I don't know. Maybe Richard's just trying to scare me."

"But it's working."

Elena picked up Lily, who was half asleep.

"Come on, baby. We're going on an adventure."

"Where?" Liam asked, dragging his stuffed dinosaur.

"Somewhere safe."

The driver met them at the door, he was a large man who introduced himself as Marcus. Not her lawyer Marcus, a different one. He carried their bags and kept his body between them and the street as they walked to the SUV.

The suspicious car's engine started as they pulled away.

"They're following us," Elena said, her heart racing.

"Not for long," the driver replied. He made three quick turns, then pulled into an underground parking garage. The other car couldn't follow without being obvious.

They drove through tunnels until Elena had no idea where they were until fnally they stopped in front of a private elevator.

"This goes directly to your apartment," the driver said.

"Mr. Blackwood is waiting upstairs."

The elevator opened into a beautiful apartment, much smaller than Ethan's penthouse but still nicer than anywhere Elena had ever lived. It was rwo bedrooms, a modern kitchen, large windows with a view of the city. The furniture was already in place, and there were toys in the corner of the living room.

Ethan stood by the windows, still dressed despite the late hour. He turned when they entered.

"You came," he said, relief clear in his voice.

"Did I have a choice?" Elena set Lily down on the couch.

"What's going on, Ethan? Why is your father having us followed?"

"Because he thinks he can intimidate you into leaving." Ethan knelt down to Liam's level.

"Hey buddy. Sorry to wake you up so late."

"This is cool," Liam said, looking around.

"Is this a hotel?"

"Something like that. You'll stay here for a while, okay? Until things are safer."

Lily was fully awake now, clinging to Elena's leg. Ethan noticed and kept his distance, respecting her space.

"There's food in the kitchen," he said to Elena.

"The bedrooms are set up. Security is monitoring all entrances and no one gets in without clearance." He said to her.

"How long are we supposed to stay here?" She asked rubbing on Lily's small hands slowly.

"As long as necessary."

Elena wanted to argue but she was exhausted.

"Fine. We'll talk about this tomorrow."

He has told her that the paternity test is at ten and that he'll have a car ready at nine thirty.

After Ethan left, Elena got the twins settled in their new bedroom. It had two small beds with new sheets and blankets. Someone had even bought them new pajamas in the right sizes.

"Mommy, why does that man have toys for us?" Liam asked as she tucked him in.

Elena's throat tightened. "He's just being nice."

"Is he rich?"

"Very rich."

"Cool." Liam yawned. "I like him."

Elena kissed his forehead, her heart breaking. "Go to sleep, baby."

She sat in the living room after they were asleep, she was too wired to rest. The apartment was beautiful and comfortable, but it felt like a cage. Ethan controlled where she lived now, when she could leave, who could visit.

Her phone buzzed and a message from a number she didn't recognize, but she knew who it was.

Check the second bedroom closet. - E

Elena frowned and walked to the other bedroom. The closet was full of women's clothes, all in her size. It was Jeans, shirts, dresses, professional outfits for work. Everything she'd need.

Another message came through.

I remembered your style, If anything doesn't fit, just tell me.

Elena stared at the clothes, anger and something else mixing in her chest. He'd remembered her and afer five years, he still knew what she liked.

She typed back quickly. You can't just buy me a new wardrobe.

His response was immediate.

You left your apartment with one bag. You need clothes. This isn't about control, it's about practicality.

Everything you do is about control.

She waited for his response but none came. After ten minutes, she gave up and went to bed, but sleep didn't come easily.

The next morning, the paternity test was quick and painless. The technician swabbed the inside of the twins' cheeks while they sat on Elena's lap. They had only thought it was a game.

Ethan only watched from across the room

"Results in forty-eight hours," the technician said.

"We'll call with the findings."

"We already know what they'll say," Ethan said quietly after the twins were led to a waiting room with toys.

"Then why do this?"

"Because it needs to be official and Legal. I won't have anyone questioning whether they're mine."

Elena studied his face and he looked tired, like he hadn't slept either.

"What happens when it's confirmed?"

"We figure out how to be parents together."

"We can't even be in the same room without fighting."

"Then we'll learn." Ethan moved closer.

"Elena, I know you hate this. I know you feel trapped. But I'm not trying to take them from you. I just want to be their father."

"You should have been their father from the beginning."

"I would have been if I'd known they existed!"

His raised voice made Elena flinch. Ethan immediately backed away, running his hand through his hair.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell." He took a breath.

"I got something yesterday. From my father's old assistant, she said she had information I needed to see."

Elena waited.

"She gave me letters. Letters you sent me five years ago, dozens of them." Ethan pulled an envelope from his jacket.

"My father intercepted every single one. I never saw them. Elena, I never knew you were trying to reach me."

Elena's vision blurred with tears.

"I wrote you for months. Called your office every week. I thought you just didn't care."

"I cared." His voice broke. "God, Elena, I never stopped caring. I thought you hated me and wanted nothing to do with me. If I'd known..."

"But you didn't know. And now here we are."

They stood in heavy silence until Rebecca Walsh entered the room.

"The judge approved the temporary custody arrangement," she said.

"Joint legal custody, primary physical with Ms. Carter. Mr. Blackwood gets supervised visitation three times a week."

"Supervised by who?" Elena asked.

"By you, if you prefer. Or we can hire a professional."

"I'll do it," Elena said quickly. She didn't trust anyone else with her children.

Rebecca nodded

. "Then we're done here. Unless there are any questions?"

Elena had a million questions, but none Rebecca could answer.

That afternoon, Elena tried to work on the gala planning from the apartment. She had vendor meetings scheduled, menu tastings to organize, a million details to handle. But every time she tried to focus, her phone buzzed with another message from Ethan.

How are the kids?

Did Liam eat lunch? He's picky about vegetables.

Can I come by tonight? Just for an hour.

Finally she called him.

"How do you know Liam is picky about vegetables?"

"I've been reading parenting books. They say four-year-olds often resist certain foods. I thought..."

"Ethan, you can't learn four years of parenting from books in two days."

"I'm trying."

Elena softened despite herself.

"I know. Yes, you can come by tonight by Six o'clock."

Not to long after the call ended, a call came in. She guessed it was Ethan's father but she picked anyways.

"Ejoying your new apartment? Don't get comfortable. This isn't over. When I'm done, you'll lose everything, your business, your children, your freedom. Tick tock, Ms. Carter." The person said from the other end and the call ended before she could say anything.

A message came in later and it included a photo. It was taken through the apartment window, showing Elena, Ethan, and the twins exactly as they sat right now.

Someone was watching them.