The heavy weight of autumn clouds loomed over the city, casting shadows that mirrored the ones lurking in Celia's heart. It had been three months since she'd left Ezra behind, but her thoughts often drifted back to him, no matter how hard she tried to block him out. The constant pounding of her heart, the secrets she carried, and the overwhelming fear that her fragile new life could come crashing down at any moment kept her on edge.
The news of her pregnancy had both terrified and empowered her. The last thing she ever wanted was for her children to be part of Ezra's dangerous world—a world filled with ruthless power, corruption, and violence. She had left that behind for a reason, and she would protect her twins with everything she had.
She hurried down the street, the cool breeze biting against her cheeks as she adjusted the scarf around her neck. Her small one-bedroom apartment was only a few blocks away, nestled in a quiet neighborhood far from the luxury and chaos she had once known. It was far from glamorous, but it was safe—and that was all she cared about now.
As she rounded the corner, her phone buzzed in her coat pocket. She hesitated for a moment, feeling a tight knot in her stomach. Lately, every call or text made her jump. She always feared that one day, it would be Ezra on the other end, or worse, one of his men, reminding her that she could never truly escape.
Taking a deep breath, she pulled out her phone and glanced at the screen. Relief flooded through her when she saw the familiar name.
Lana.
She answered the call, her voice tight with tension. "Hey."
"Celia! I've been trying to reach you all day. Is everything okay?" Lana's voice was full of concern, as usual. Her best friend since childhood, Lana had been her lifeline after the divorce—one of the only people who knew about her pregnancy.
"Yeah, sorry," Celia replied, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "I've just been running around all day. It's been crazy at work, and I had a doctor's appointment this morning."
"How are the babies?" Lana's voice softened with warmth.
Celia smiled despite herself. "They're good. Everything's fine. The doctor says they're healthy."
"That's great to hear! You must be so excited… and scared. But you've got this, Celia. You're stronger than you think."
Celia's smile faded as her mind wandered back to Ezra. The thought of him finding out about the twins made her heart race with anxiety. She had to keep him in the dark—there was no other choice.
"Thanks, Lana. I don't know what I'd do without you." Celia's voice wavered slightly, and she cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure. "I'll see you tomorrow for lunch?"
"Of course! And remember, if you ever need anything, I'm here, okay?"
"I know. Thanks."
They hung up, and Celia shoved her phone back into her pocket as she approached the steps to her apartment building. The faint scent of damp leaves filled the air, mingling with the cool autumn wind. She looked around the quiet street, her eyes scanning the surroundings out of habit, checking for anything unusual.
Old habits died hard.
Even though she had left Ezra's world behind, a part of her was always on high alert, as if she expected someone to jump out of the shadows at any moment. After everything she had been through, she couldn't afford to let her guard down. Not now.
Celia climbed the steps to her apartment, her hand trembling slightly as she fumbled for her keys. Once inside, she locked the door behind her and leaned against it, letting out a shaky breath. Her tiny apartment felt like a sanctuary—a safe haven far away from the chaos of her former life.
But as she stood there in the silence, something unsettling crept over her.
A faint, nagging feeling tugged at the edges of her mind. It was as though she wasn't truly alone, like someone was watching her. Her heart pounded in her chest as she glanced around the small living room. Everything looked normal—the furniture was in place, nothing seemed disturbed.
It's just the pregnancy hormones, she told herself, trying to calm the rising panic. You're being paranoid.
But she couldn't shake the feeling.
She crossed the room to the window and peered through the curtains, her eyes scanning the street below. It was quiet, with only a few cars parked along the curb. No sign of anyone suspicious. No sign of Ezra.
She sighed, trying to push the anxiety aside, but it clung to her like a shadow. Turning away from the window, she made her way to the kitchen, her hands trembling as she poured herself a glass of water. The chill of the glass against her palms did little to ease her nerves.
You're fine, she repeated in her mind. Everything's fine.
But deep down, she knew that was a lie.
---
Elsewhere in the City
Ezra sat at the edge of the dimly lit bar, his fingers wrapped tightly around a glass of whiskey. The dark, smoky atmosphere suited his mood, and the silence between him and his closest associate, Vince, was thick with unspoken tension. Vince was one of the few people who had stood by Ezra's side since the beginning—loyal, sharp, and ruthless when needed.
"Any updates on her?" Ezra's voice cut through the low murmur of the bar, his eyes fixed on the glass in front of him.
Vince shifted in his seat, his expression unreadable. "Not much. She's keeping a low profile, just like before. Working at some local café, staying out of trouble. No sign of any new… developments."
Ezra's jaw clenched as he took a slow sip of his drink. He had kept tabs on Celia from a distance, telling himself it was to ensure she stayed safe. But deep down, he knew there was more to it than that. She was constantly on his mind, gnawing away at him like an itch he couldn't scratch.
"I want eyes on her at all times," Ezra said, his voice cold and commanding. "No mistakes. I need to know everything."
Vince raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity flickering in his dark eyes. "Everything? You mean... even if she's moved on? You really want to know?"
Ezra's grip tightened around the glass, his knuckles turning white. The thought of Celia with someone else made his blood boil. He didn't understand why—after all, he had been the one to push her away. He had been the one to believe Zara's lies, to cut her out of his life without giving her a chance to explain.
And yet, the idea of her in someone else's arms felt like a betrayal all over again.
"Everything," Ezra repeated, his voice sharp as glass.
Vince nodded, understanding the weight behind Ezra's words. "Consider it done. We'll keep an eye on her."
Ezra's gaze darkened as he leaned back in his seat, the weight of his own decisions pressing down on him. He had built his life on control, on knowing every move before it happened. But when it came to Celia, he felt like he was losing control. And that terrified him.
It wasn't supposed to be like this. She wasn't supposed to matter.
But no matter how hard he tried to push her out of his mind, she always found her way back in. He could still see the hurt in her eyes that day in his office, the way she had looked at him with a mixture of anger and betrayal. And then, she had disappeared.
Ezra downed the rest of his whiskey in one gulp, the burn doing nothing to ease the turmoil inside him.
He had made a mistake. A terrible, irreversible mistake.
And now, he would pay the price.
---
Back at Celia's Apartment
Later that night, Celia lay in bed, her thoughts swirling as the city hummed outside her window. She stared at the ceiling, her hand resting on the slight curve of her belly. The twins had begun to move more frequently in the past week, tiny flutters that reminded her just how real everything was.
Her world had changed so quickly, and she wasn't sure how to keep up. Every decision felt heavy with consequence—one wrong move, and everything could fall apart. She had already lost so much. She couldn't lose the twins too.
A faint creak from the hallway outside her apartment made her freeze. She held her breath, her eyes darting toward the door. Her heart raced as she strained to hear any more sounds, but the apartment was silent again.
It's nothing, she told herself. Just your imagination.
But as she lay there, the uneasy feeling from earlier returned, stronger than before. It was as though a shadow had crept into her life—one that she couldn't shake, no matter how hard she tried.
And in the darkness, somewhere deep in her heart, Celia knew that her past wasn't done with her yet.
Ezra wasn't done with her yet.