The Mafia Boss’s Lost Son

Part 2: The Truth He Never Knew

“How old is he?” Alistair repeated.

His voice was barely above a whisper.

I adjusted Ethan in my arms.

“Five.”

The word seemed to strike him harder than a bullet.

Alistair stared at my son, then slowly looked at me.

“Five years?”

“Yes.”

His jaw tightened. His eyes moved back to Ethan, who was now hiding his face against my shoulder.

“Is he…” He struggled to finish the question. “Is he my son?”

I took a slow breath.

“His name is Ethan Hartwell. He’s my son.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

“And I don’t owe you an answer.”

His three bodyguards exchanged uncomfortable glances.

Alistair took another step forward.

“Eveina, please.”

I had imagined this moment many times over the years. Sometimes I imagined screaming at him. Sometimes I imagined slapping him. Other times, I imagined simply walking away.

I had never imagined feeling so calm.

“Mommy, who’s that man?” Ethan whispered.

Alistair immediately lowered himself to one knee.

“Hello, little man.”

Ethan peeked at him.

“Hello.”

Alistair smiled, but his eyes were already filling with tears.

“What’s your name?”

“Ethan.”

“That’s a wonderful name.”

“My mommy picked it.”

Alistair looked up at me.

“Can I talk to you?”

“There’s nothing to discuss.”

“Please. Just ten minutes.”

I glanced at Ethan, who was still clutching his chocolate cookie.

Finally, I nodded toward the nearby park.

“Ten minutes.”

We sat on a bench while my son played within sight.

Alistair didn’t take his eyes off him.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he finally asked.

I laughed bitterly.

“Tell you what? That I was pregnant? I tried.”

His expression changed.

“I never knew.”

“I know. You were too busy comforting Sophia.”

He closed his eyes.

“She wasn’t what you thought.”

“Alistair, I walked into your bedroom and found her wearing your robe. You told me you would handle me. What exactly was I supposed to think?”

He rubbed his forehead.

“Sophia was my former fiancée. Her family had been involved in business arrangements with mine. She came back to Chicago and told me she was in trouble. I let her stay at the penthouse temporarily.”

“And you forgot to mention that to your girlfriend?”

“I made a mistake.”

“No. You made a choice.”

He looked down.

For the first time since I had known him, the most feared man in Chicago seemed to have no defense.

“I loved you, Eveina.”

I turned toward him.

“Then you should have treated me like someone you loved.”

Before he could answer, Ethan ran back toward us.

“Mommy! Look!”

He held up a small yellow leaf.

I smiled and took it from him.

“That’s beautiful, sweetheart.”

Then Ethan looked at Alistair.

“Are you Mommy’s friend?”

Alistair swallowed.

“I used to be.”

Ethan considered that answer.

“Then you can be my friend too.”

Something broke inside Alistair’s expression.

He looked away quickly, pretending to adjust his coat.

I knew he was crying.

And strangely, I didn’t feel happy about it.

That evening, Alistair asked for my phone number.

I refused.

He asked for the name of our hotel.

I refused again.

Finally, he said something that made me pause.

“I won’t force my way into your life. But if that little boy is mine, I want the chance to know him.”

I looked directly into his eyes.

“You had that chance five years ago.”

Then I took Ethan’s hand and walked away.

But Alistair didn’t follow.

For the first time, he understood that money, power, and fear couldn’t make someone love him.

And he had no idea how to earn back what he had lost.