CEO Single Dad Falls For Her, Never Expected She’d Love His Kids Like Her Own
Chapter 5
Ethan tried to create distance.
It lasted four days.
He stopped having dinner with Ava.
He began leaving before breakfast.
He asked the children to spend more time with their tutors.
Ava noticed.
She didn’t complain.
That made it worse.
One evening, Ethan found her packing her things.
“What are you doing?”
“Leaving.”
He froze.
“Why?”
“You’ve been avoiding me.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“You’ve been busy for four days?”
“Yes.”
Ava nodded.
“Okay.”
“That doesn’t mean you need to quit.”
“I think it does.”
He stepped closer.
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want to become a problem.”
“You’re not.”
“Then what am I?”
Ethan couldn’t answer.
Ava looked at him.
“You hired me to take care of your children.”
“Yes.”
“And I’ve done that.”
“Yes.”
“But lately, you look at me like I’m something else.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
“You are.”
Silence.
Ava swallowed.
“What?”
“You’re something else.”
He looked at her.
“I don’t know when it happened.”
Ava’s heart began beating faster.
“But it did.”
She stepped backward.
“Ethan…”
“I know.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“You don’t understand.”
“What don’t I understand?”
“I can’t be another person who gets blamed when this goes wrong.”
He frowned.
“Why would I blame you?”
“Because you have a history.”
His expression changed.
“What does that mean?”
“Your wife died.”
“Yes.”
“And everyone probably thinks the next woman has to be perfect.”
Ethan stared.
“I don’t.”
“You might not.”
Ava’s voice softened.
“But your children deserve someone who won’t disappear.”
Ethan moved closer.
“I don’t want you to disappear.”
Her eyes met his.
“Then don’t make me.”
He stopped.
Neither moved.
Then Lily’s voice came from the hallway.
“Ava?”
They separated.
Lily stood there holding a stuffed rabbit.
“Can you stay?”
Ava looked at Ethan.
Then at Lily.
“I think so.”
Ethan breathed out.
That night, after the children slept, he found Ava on the balcony.
“I was afraid,” he admitted.
“Of me?”
“Of losing them again.”
Ava nodded.
“I understand.”
“I don’t want to replace Claire.”
“You won’t.”
“I don’t want you to feel like you have to become their mother.”
“I don’t.”
He looked at her.
“What do you want?”
Ava smiled.
“To be someone they can trust.”
“And me?”
She looked away.
“That is more complicated.”
Ethan smiled.
“Good.”
