Mom, Don't Cry! Here comes a new Daddy! novel Chapter 102

4 Chapter 96

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Chapter 96

(Ethan’s POV)

The drive back to my apartment feels longer than it should.

My phone rings twice. Once from my lawyer confirming the charges have been filed. Once from the detective handling Jake’s case, asking for a formal statement tomorrow morning.

I answer both calls mechanically. My mind still stuck on Sabrina’s empty expression. On Jake’s unusual quietness.

On how close I came to losing both of them today.

When I pull into my building’s garage, all I can think about is a hot Shower and sleep. Maybe tomorrow, after I’ve had some rest, I can figure out how to make this right. How to bring the light back to Sabrina’s eyes, and laughter on Jake’s face.

I take the elevator to my floor, barely registering the ride up.

The doors open. I walk down the hall to my apartment.

And stop dead when I see my door slightly ajar.

What the hell?

I know I locked it this morning. I always lock it.

My hand goes to my phone, ready to call security. Then I hear it.

A child’s laugh. High-pitched. Unfamiliar.

And a woman’s voice. “Emma, sweetie, don’t touch that. It’s expensive.”

Ice floods my veins, quickly replaced by burning rage.

I shove the door open. “What the hell are you doing here?”

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Giselle spins around. She’s in my kitchen, going through my cabinets like she owns the place. Emma-the girl she claims to be my daughter-is in the living room, playing with what looks like one of my decorative sculptures.

“Ethan!” Giselle’s face lights up like I just made her day. “I was starting to worry. You’ve been gone so long

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“How did you get in?” I’m sure I locked the door. And even if I didn’t, I don’t recall telling her where I live. So how did she find my place?

“Your father brought us here. He thought spending time with Emma would help you bond with her. Make it easier for you to accept-”

“Emma isn’t my daughter and you know it.” I yank off my tie, suddenly feeling strangled. “Now take your

Chapter 96-

daughter and get out of my house.”

“Ethan, please. Just give us a chance-”

“Get. Out.”

I’ve had a long day and all I want to do right now is take a shower and get some rest.

I don’t have the energy to take part in whatever drama this woman is directing right now.

“Ethan, please…just give us a chance-”

I pull out my phone. “You have thirty seconds before I call security.”

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Giselle’s expression hardens. “Your father wants this. He wants you to accept Emma as your daughter-”

“My father can go to hell. And you’re welcome to join him.” I start dialing. “Twenty seconds.”

“Emma is innocent. She doesn’t deserve this-”

“Ten seconds.”

Emma starts crying. Loud, dramatic sobs that sound rehearsed.

I don’t care.

Security answers on the second ring. “Mr. Hale?”

“I have intruders in my apartment. Send someone up immediately.”

“Sir, your father said-

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“I don’t give a damn what my father said. Get them out. Now.”

Two security guards arrive within three minutes. They look uncomfortable when they see Giselle and

Emma.

“Mr. Hale, your father specifically authorized-”

“My father doesn’t live here. I do. And I’m telling you to remove these people from my property. Unless you’d like me to call the police and have them charged with trespassing.”

That does it. The guards move toward Giselle.

“You’ll regret this!” she shrieks as they escort her out. “Your father won’t let you off easy for throwing out his granddaughter!”

“Tell him if he’s that desperate for a grandchild, he can raise her himself!” I slam the door in her face, and lean against the door, breathing hard.

Stephan Hale is asking for this.

He crossed the line this time.

If he won’t respect me and my choices, then he can’t blame me for not giving him the respect he deserves

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Chapter 10

as my father.

Because Giselle Windle? No way in hell will I marry her!

I move to the kitchen, stepping over the mess Giselle left behind. Dishes in the sink. Spilled juice on the counter. Emma’s toys scattered across the floor like landmines.

The audacity of that woman.

Breaking into my home-because that’s what this was, regardless of my father’s involvement-and making

herself comfortable like she owns the place.

My jaw clenches so hard my teeth ache.

I grab a glass from the cabinet and fill it with water. The cool liquid does nothing to calm the fire burning in.

my chest.

I need to handle this. All of it.

Giselle. My father. The paternity test results that are taking too damn long. Everything standing between me and the life I actually want with Sabrina and Jake.

If this drags any longer, Stephan Hale might just approach Sabrina and pressure her into leaving me.

My phone buzzes in my pocket.

I pull it out, expecting another crisis. Another emergency that needs my attention.

But it’s just a text from Sabrina.

Thank you for everything today. Don’t worry about us/I’ll treat you to dinner once I get myself together again.

Short. Simple. Practical.

Just like my woman.

Nothing can take her down for long. No matter how big the incident, she always gets back up again. And to do this, she doesn’t even need my help. But that doesn’t stop me from caring

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The shower is scalding. Hot enough to burn away the adrenaline still coursing through my system.

I slam my palm against the tile wall. Once. Twice. Until the sting grounds me.

I’ve spent thirty-two years avoiding this feeling. Keeping people at arm’s length. Maintaining professional distance even in personal relationships.

Because this-this overwhelming, all-consuming need to protect–is terrifying

My mother taught me that lesson early. Love makes you vulnerable. Opens you up to devastation when the person you love inevitably leaves.

But standing here, water streaming over me, hands still trembling slightly from residual adrenaline of what Sabrina and Jake went through today-

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