Real Daughter

Ethan felt like he'd just seen a ghost. His heart raced as he shot up from the bed, only to sit back down abruptly when he realized he was naked. His head throbbed, and his memory was a blur. 

What happened last night? 

He only hoped his worst fears weren't true.

The woman beside him stirred, her soft sigh breaking the eerie silence. Slowly, she opened her eyes, and a lazy smile spread across her face when she saw him. She sat up, completely unbothered, and casually ran her fingers through her disheveled hair.

"What's the matter? Did you see a ghost?" she teased, her voice soft.

Ethan's eyes narrowed, anger flaring in his chest. "Who are you? How did you get here?"

Her brows lifted in mild surprise before she let out a soft laugh. She leaned forward, her bare skin brushing against the duvet he'd hastily wrapped around himself. Her fingers reached out, tracing the curve of his lips.

"Boo, you don't remember? You brought us here," she said, her voice laced with amusement. "We met at the party last night, and then—"

"Shut up!" Ethan snapped, his voice sharp. His mind raced, desperately trying to piece together the fragments of the night before. He slapped her hand away and stood up, clutching the duvet tighter around his waist.

"Get out," he ordered, his voice low and full of disgust.

She pouted and stood up from the bed, walking towards him… Naked. She stood in front of him, smiling, "Why? You didn't seem to mind last night," she said, her tone teasing as she closed the distance between them.

But Ethan stepped back, his glare icy. "I said, get out!" he barked, his voice firm.

The woman hesitated for a moment, then smirked. "Your loss," she said nonchalantly, gathering her clothes from the floor. She didn't seem the least bit fazed as she dressed, tossing him a wink before she sauntered out of the room, leaving Ethan alone.

Ethan paced front and back to the bed, running a hand through his messy hair. His head was still pounding, but the guilt in his chest was heavier. He vaguely remembered the woman approaching him at the party, but after that, his memory was blank.

He walked to the bedside to grab his phone, only to see Sophia's name appear multiple times. His stomach dropped. She had called him several times during the night.

"Damn it," he muttered, his fingers trembling as he quickly dialed her number. He pressed the phone to his ear, hoping she'd answer and that he could explain, even though he wasn't sure what had happened himself.

The phone rang and rang, but she didn't pick up. Anxiety gnawed at him as he lowered the phone, staring at the blank screen. 

What if she came over? What if she saw that woman leaving his place?

"Shit!" Ethan hissed, throwing the phone onto the bed. He rushed into the bathroom, determined to clean up and get rid of any trace of the mess he had just woken up to.

The cold shower did little to calm his nerves as he scrubbed his skin, as though he could wash away the guilt. His thoughts raced as the water ran over him. How was he going to fix this? What if Sophia found out?

Wrapping a towel around his waist, Ethan stepped out of the bathroom. He needed to clean up the evidence and figure out a plan before things spiraled out of control.

—

Ethan's heart raced as he hurried down the stairs, skipping steps in his haste. His shirt was unbuttoned, exposing his chest, and his damp hair stuck out in all directions, evidence of his rushed attempt to clean himself up. His tie hung loosely around his neck, and his eyes darted nervously toward the door. Panic was written all over his face as he swung the door open and stepped outside, his chest rising and falling with deep, frantic breaths.

Just as he reached for his car door, his phone buzzed in his pocket. The name "Sophia" flashed across the screen. His heart sank.

Ethan fumbled with the phone, almost dropping it before answering. "Sophia," he greeted, trying to sound calm, but his voice cracked slightly.

"Ethan!" Sophia's voice came through the speaker, loud and full of anger and frustration. "Where have you been since yesterday? First, you left me at the party without a word, then you didn't answer any of my calls. Do you even know how worried and scared I was?"

Her tone softened, but the underlying anger was still present. She wanted to scream at him, insult him for being unreliable, but she couldn't. Not now. Not when she needed him the most. Her grip on him, both emotional and practical, felt fragile, and she wasn't ready to let go.

"I'm so sorry, baby," Ethan breathed out, relieved she hadn't shown up at his apartment. He leaned against his car, shutting his eyes briefly. If she had come, everything would have spiraled out of control. "I didn't mean to make you worry."

"Why didn't you pick up my calls?"

Sophia's voice cracked slightly, betraying the vulnerability she tried so hard to hide. The thought of Ethan pulling away from her made her feel so insecure. What if he was losing interest? What if he found her unworthy now that she wasn't the Grigoras' real daughter?

"My phone was on silent," Ethan lied smoothly, his hand rubbing the space between his brows. He turned and walked back into the apartment, trying to shake off the lingering anxiety. "I swear, it wasn't intentional."

"Where are you now?" Sophia asked.

"I'm at home. I just woke up," he replied.

There was a pause before she responded, her voice subdued, almost hesitant. "It's fine. I'm coming over right now."

Ethan froze. "Okay, baby. I'll be expecting you."

As soon as the call ended, Ethan sprang into action. He became so restless as he bolted to his bedroom. He tore through the room, yanking off the bedsheets and searching for any evidence that the other woman had been there. His heart pounded as he checked every corner, his mind racing with the possibility of something being left behind.

By the time Ethan heard Sophia's car pulling into the driveway, he had managed to restore the room to its original state. He quickly smoothed his shirt and ran a hand through his hair, attempting to appear composed.

When the door opened, and Sophia stepped in, Ethan was taken aback. Her eyes were puffy and red, her face pale and blotchy. It was clear she had been crying…crying over him.

"Baby," he whispered, rushing to her side. He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as if to shield her from the pain he had caused. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, his lips lingering there. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

Sophia clung to him, burying her face in his chest. She didn't say anything at first, but her trembling hands spoke volumes. Ethan tightened his hold on her, guilt and relief washing over him in equal measure. For now, he had managed to keep his secret safe.

"I'm so sorry for worrying you," Ethan murmured as he gently led Sophia to the dining area. He pulled out a chair for her, gesturing for her to sit.

Sophia sniffled, dabbing at her eyes with her fingers. She didn't respond but sat down quietly, her gaze distant.

Ethan didn't waste a second. He rushed to the kitchen, his steps hurried and his movements clumsy as he began rummaging through the cabinets and fridge. He didn't even think to ask if she has eaten. 

Eggs, bread, some vegetables…anything he could find was quickly laid out on the counter. His hands moved almost on autopilot as he cracked eggs into a bowl and whisked them, glancing occasionally toward Sophia to make sure she hadn't left.