Chapter 3
Chloe POV
The car stopped outside Madison's house.
River didn't move, his gaze landing on my phone screen that had just lit up.
It showed a photo of me and my son Liam, his expression eerily similar to River's.
His slender fingers picked up the phone.
"This is your son?"
My scalp prickled as I snatched it back.
"Yes! Just a random shot!"
He didn't dodge, his eyes narrowing.
"Handsome kid. Doesn't look like your ex?"
"Not at all! Must be a genetic throwback or a mutation!"
My guilty conscience made my volume spike.
River scoffed and pushed open the door, tossing out an cryptic comment.
"Let me take you to dinner sometime. I'd like to meet this genetically mutated little guy."
I watched him disappear, collapsing into the driver's seat drenched in cold sweat.
Meet Liam?
Absolutely not! That scarred eyebrow would expose everything!
When I got home, Liam was sprawled on the carpet drawing, looking up seriously.
"Miss Sullivan, you're forty-five minutes late."
I pulled him into a tight hug.
"Sorry, I ran into a big monster."
Liam pushed me away, looking thoroughly unimpressed.
"Mom, you smell like smoke. It's gross."
I sniffed my sleeve. It had indeed absorbed River's sharp, domineering scent.
In the shower, my thoughts drifted uncontrollably to five years ago.
That night, the bathroom water had sounded just like this.
That man had pinned me against the foggy mirror, his movements fierce, demanding over and over if I felt good.
"Damn it!"
I slapped my flushed face. This could never happen a second time!
The next morning, Madison's phone call woke me.
"Chloe! Save me, Chloe!"
Madison's voice sounded near tears.
"That psycho! First thing this morning he removed every lock in my house! Said it was for security checks!"
"Worst part-he insists I take him to our studio! Says he wants clothes made!"
My brain exploded with a bang.
"Clothes? What clothes? We make women's clothing!"
"He says he wants men's clothes! And he specifically wants you to take his measurements personally!"
Madison was whimpering on the other end.
"Chloe, for the sake of my life, I already agreed. We'll be at the shop in ten minutes!"
Ten minutes?!
I looked at Liam still rubbing his eyes in bed.
It was Saturday-no kindergarten!
I'd planned to take Liam to the studio!
If River ran into Liam at the shop...
I didn't dare imagine.
"Quick! Liam, get dressed!"
I yanked off the covers and frantically dressed my son.
"Where are we going?"
Liam looked confused.
"Running for our lives!"
I grabbed my son and rushed out, hitting the down button just as-
Ding.
The elevator doors slowly opened.
Two people stood inside.
One was a resigned-looking Madison.
The other wore a black dress shirt with sleeves rolled to his elbows, revealing muscular forearms.
River Wilde.
He stood there in the elevator, his gaze piercing through the opening doors, landing precisely on me and Liam in my arms.
In that moment, the world seemed to freeze.
Liam blinked, then suddenly pointed at River and asked the ultimate question.
"Mom, why does this Mr. Monster have a broken eyebrow just like mine?"