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“Harper, this is evidence that the fire at your bakery wasn’t an accident,” he reveals, his eyes locked on mine, searching for any hint of recognition or surprise.
“Not an accident,” I repeat, my breath getting heavy. All of this time, I thought that I’d made some stupid mistake and ruined everything, not just for myself but for my kids too. “Antonio, how was the fire started?” I ask, my voice trembling with genuine concern and disbelief.
He snorts, his frustration evident. “Someone deliberately set fabric on fire using lighter fluid,” he explains, his eyes meeting mine, searching for any sign of guilt or recognition.
I take a deep breath, trying to process what he’s saying. My mind races with possible scenarios, but none of them make sense. Then, I notice the way that he’s looking at me. “Are you implying that I might have been involved?” I ask, my tone defensive, my heart hammering in my chest.
“I wouldn’t know.” He shrugs. “But who else would have a reason? Seems to me like you might have.”
The weight of Antonio’s accusation hangs heavy in the air between us, and I can feel my heart sinking with each beat. “Antonio,” I begin, my voice barely above a whisper, “I had nothing to do with this. Why would you even think that I’d be capable of something so…horrible?”
His gaze flicks away from mine for a moment before returning, uncertainty etched in his features. “I don’t know what to think, Harper,” he admits, running his hand through his hair in frustration. “But someone did this, and I can’t figure out why.”
Feeling the sting of his words, I wrap my arms around myself, trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill over. After everything we’ve shared—the way we connected on such an intimate level—I can’t believe he could think so poorly of me.
“Can’t you see how much that bakery means to me?” I plead. “This was my dream, Antonio. It was never just about the money or the success—it was about creating something beautiful, something that brought people joy. And now it’s gone.”
“Who else would have a reason to set fire to your bakery? You could have died.”
When he says the words, everything sinks in for me and I fall to my knees, putting a hand over my mouth.
“Harper?” Antonio’s voice pulls me back to the present, his concern for me evident in every syllable. “Are you okay?”
I can’t say anything. I’m frozen in place by fear as the truth hits me hard.
I’ve messed up.I stayed here for too long, and now he’s found me. I thought we were safe…I thought that we…
“Harper.” Antonio gets onto his knees and grabs my arms. “What’s going on?”
“He’s going to find me,” I say, panicking. “He’ll find me, and he’ll take me back. I can’t go back. He hits me.”
Antonio’s face immediately changes. “Who?”
“Ian Humphrey.” Even the mention of his name sends fear through me.
“The politician.”
I nod. “My ex-fiancé.” I swallow. “Because he swore he’d find me one day and make me pay for leaving him,” I reply, my voice trembling with fear. “And now he’s found me. I ran for so long, but I should have known he’d find me.”
“Are your kids…?”
“His?” I finish for him. “Yes.”
“Harper, you should’ve told me about this earlier,” Antonio says, his voice firm but caring. “We need to make sure you and your kids are safe.”
“Antonio, I didn’t think he would actually find me,” I confess, feeling a mixture of guilt and relief for finally sharing my secret with someone else. “I thought I had left him far behind. I thought we could finally be normal.”
“I’m so sorry for accusing you, Harper,” he apologizes. “I didn’t know.”
“How could you have?” It was my secret, one that I’d never planned on involving anyone in.
He places his hand on mine and gives it a gentle squeeze. “Hey, look at me,” Antonio urges, turning my face toward his so that our eyes meet. “I won’t let anything happen to you or your kids. I promise.”
His sincerity and determination send a shiver down my spine, and I realize just how much I’ve come to rely on him—mainly because I can tell that he really does mean the words.
“We’re not your problem…”
“You’re not a problem at all. Where are your kids now?”
