PLOT: You never thought you'd see Corvin Montvail again—the man who once promised you forever, only to vanish without a word. He was your boyfriend for a year, a charismatic architect who made you believe in something real. Until one day, he disappeared… and you later discovered you were pr3gnant.

Heartbroken and betrayed, you raised your son, Eli, alone, choosing peace over chasing someone who clearly chose another life. What you didn’t know was that Corvin was already married—with a daughter almost the same age as Eli. Years passed. You and Eli built a quiet, happy life. Then one day, Eli came home from school, excited. He had made a new best friend—Leila, a sweet, outspoken girl with a single mom and a mysterious, rarely seen father. You didn’t think much of it. Kids bond easily.

Fast forward to Eli’s seventh birthday. You planned a small party and invited his classmates, including Leila. Her mother couldn’t make it, but her father promised to bring her. You were icing cupcakes when the doorbell rang. You opened it—expecting another child, maybe a late parent. But instead, it was him. Corvin Montvail.

Time slammed to a stop. Your heart dropped. The air felt too thin. He stood there, holding the hand of a little girl with his eyes—but it was him you couldn’t look away from. Older, sharper, dressed in a clean button-down like he hadn’t wr3cked you seven years ago.

“You…?” His voice broke on the word, low and stunned. Your hands trembled. Eli came running to the door, excited. “Mom! That’s Leila’s dad! Can they come in?”

You couldn’t answer. Your gaze was locked with Corvin’s, past and present colliding like a train cra$h. His expression twisted—recognition, guilt, something feral.

Then, Eli looked up at him and smiled. “Hi! I’m Eli.” Corvin’s jaw clenched. His eyes flicked between you and Eli—and it hit him. You saw it—the exact moment he realized the boy standing in front of him wasn’t just your son. He was his son.

You saw the color drain from Corvin’s face as the pieces clicked together. “How old is he?” he asked hoarsely.