"I'm not going with him."

Rachel's voice shook as the aircraft doors opened.

Ethan stood beside her.

"Then you won't."

His security guard had confirmed that the man waiting at the gate was carrying a photograph of Rachel and Sophie.

He had approached airport personnel, claiming Rachel was his wife and had taken their daughter without permission.

Rachel felt sick.

She had never married Derek.

And he had never shown any interest in caring for Sophie until Rachel tried to leave him.

Ethan looked toward the flight attendant.

"Please contact airport security. Tell them a passenger has reported being threatened."

Claire nodded immediately.

Rachel held Sophie tightly while the other passengers began leaving the plane.

The businessman who had complained about the crying baby hurried past without looking at her.

Ethan glanced toward him.

The man walked faster.

Rachel almost smiled.

Then she remembered the message about her mother.

The smile disappeared.

"Can we please get off this plane?"

Ethan nodded.

His guards accompanied them into the terminal, but remained a few steps away.

Rachel wanted to be able to breathe.

She didn't want another man making every decision for her.

As they approached the arrival corridor, she spotted a tall man wearing a tan coat.

He was standing beside the information desk.

In his hand was a photograph.

Rachel stopped.

"That's him."

Ethan looked toward the man.

"Do you know him?"

"No."

The stranger saw Rachel.

His expression changed.

He began walking toward her.

"Mrs. Walsh?"

Rachel stepped backward.

"That's not my name."

The man smiled.

"Your husband asked me to bring you home."

"I'm not married."

He glanced toward Sophie.

"Then perhaps we should discuss the baby."

Ethan stepped forward.

"She's already told you no."

The stranger's smile disappeared.

"And who are you?"

"Ethan Callahan."

For a moment, the man looked confused.

Then recognition hit.

He stopped walking.

Rachel watched his face lose color.

"Mr. Callahan, I didn't know—"

"Then you should have asked before approaching a woman who told you to leave her alone."

Two airport security officers arrived.

Rachel explained that she had received threatening messages and did not know the man approaching her.

The stranger claimed he had simply been hired to provide transportation.

Security separated them while obtaining their statements.

Rachel held Sophie close.

Her hands were trembling again.

Ethan turned toward her.

"Where were you planning to stay tonight?"

"A hotel."

"Do you have a reservation?"

She shook her head.

She had intended to find something inexpensive after landing.

But now Derek knew where she was.

Ethan looked toward his security team.

"I have a private guesthouse nearby. You can stay there tonight if you want. Or we can arrange a hotel under your own name and have airport security help you leave safely."

Rachel stared at him.

He was offering her a choice.

Not demanding obedience.

She looked down at Sophie.

The baby was rubbing her eyes.

"Just for tonight," Rachel whispered.

Ethan nodded.

"Just for tonight."

Then Rachel's phone rang.

Her mother.

Rachel answered immediately.

"Mom?"

Her mother's voice was trembling.

"Rachel, somebody came looking for you."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, sweetheart. But he said something strange."

Rachel tightened her grip on the phone.

"What?"

"He said Derek doesn't care where you go."

A pause.

"He only wants the envelope you took from his apartment."

Rachel went completely still.

Because she had taken an envelope.

May you like

“CAN I SIT WITH YOU?” THE MAID’S LITTLE GIRL ASKED — THEN THE FIANCÉE SA…

“Sir, Your Son Was Crying by the Kitchen,” My Four-Year-Old Told the Maf…

The Mafia boss found his bleeding maid alone at 3 a.m.—but when she ment…

But she had never told Derek.

👉 Rachel thought she was running from an abusive man who wanted custody of their baby, but someone was searching for a document she had accidentally carried out of his apartment.