Chapter 3 Small Storms

Morning sunlight spilled through the tall windows of Ethan Kingsley's mansion, painting golden reflections across the polished floor.

Clara Bennett stood in the kitchen, holding a cup of coffee she had already forgotten to drink.

She was staring at the two small whirlwinds racing around the living room.

"Liam! Isla! Slow down!" she called.

But the twins were not interested in slowing down.

Five-year-old Liam zoomed past the couch holding a toy airplane, making loud engine noises.

"Captain Liam is landing!" he shouted.

His sister Isla chased after him with a stuffed rabbit in her hand.

"No! You're crashing into Bunny Island!"

Clara rubbed her forehead.

Living with the twins had always been chaos.

But living with the twins inside a billionaire's glass mansion?

That was an entirely different level of danger.

Liam skidded across the floor and nearly collided with a marble side table.

"Liam!" Clara gasped.

Before she could reach him-

A deep voice cut across the room.

"Careful."

Liam stopped immediately.

Both children turned.

Standing at the entrance of the living room was Ethan Kingsley, dressed in a dark suit, his presence instantly filling the space with quiet authority.

He had clearly just come downstairs.

His eyes moved from Liam to Isla... then to Clara.

The twins stared at him with open curiosity.

Liam tilted his head.

"Are you the rich man?"

Clara nearly dropped her coffee.

"Liam!"

Ethan blinked once.

Then, unexpectedly, a faint smile touched the corner of his mouth.

"I suppose that depends on who's asking," he replied.

Liam walked closer, studying him very seriously.

"Mummy said we're staying here for a while."

Clara shot him a warning look.

But Ethan's gaze had shifted to Clara now.

"So they know," he said quietly.

Clara sighed.

"They're children, Ethan. They ask questions."

Isla tugged on Clara's sleeve.

"Mummy, is he our landlord?"

Clara froze.

Ethan's eyebrow lifted.

"Landlord?" he repeated.

Clara cleared her throat.

"Well... technically..."

Liam suddenly grabbed Ethan's hand.

"Your house is really big!" he said enthusiastically.

Clara's heart jumped.

She waited for Ethan to pull his hand away.

He didn't.

Instead, Ethan looked down at Liam thoughtfully.

"Do you like airplanes?" he asked.

Liam's face lit up.

"Yes!"

Ethan pointed toward the massive window overlooking the ocean.

"Sometimes helicopters land on the helipad behind the house."

Liam gasped.

"Really?!"

Clara stared at Ethan.

This was not the cold billionaire she expected.

Isla suddenly climbed onto the couch and bounced.

"Do you have ice cream here?"

Clara groaned.

"Isla..."

Ethan looked mildly amused.

"I believe the kitchen is well stocked."

"YES!" Isla cheered.

Before Clara could stop her, Isla sprinted toward the kitchen.

Liam ran after her.

The house fell quiet again.

Clara exhaled slowly.

"Sorry about that."

Ethan crossed his arms.

"They're energetic."

"That's a polite way of saying exhausting."

Ethan studied her for a moment.

"You manage them alone?"

Clara nodded.

"I've had practice."

There was a brief silence.

Then Ethan asked casually,

"And their father?"

Clara stiffened slightly.

"Not around."

Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly.

But he didn't press further.

Instead, he glanced toward the hallway where the twins had disappeared.

"They're comfortable here already."

Clara smiled faintly.

"Children adapt faster than adults."

Ethan's gaze returned to her.

"That depends."

Clara raised an eyebrow.

"On what?"

"On how honest the adults are being."

The tension between them thickened.

Clara held his gaze.

"You think I'm lying about something?"

Ethan didn't answer directly.

But the look in his eyes suggested he suspected more than he said.

Before Clara could respond, Ethan's phone vibrated.

He glanced at the screen.

His expression changed instantly.

The relaxed mood vanished.

"Problem?" Clara asked.

Ethan's jaw tightened slightly.

"My company just lost a major contract."

Clara frowned.

"That happens in business, doesn't it?"

"Not like this."

He turned the phone slightly so she could see the headline.

KINGSLEY GROUP LOSES MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR TECH CONTRACT TO RIVAL COMPANY.

Clara read the name beneath the article.

Her stomach tightened.

Because she recognized it.

Very well.

Ethan was watching her closely now.

"You've heard of them," he said.

It wasn't a question.

Clara forced herself to stay calm.

"Yes."

Ethan stepped closer.

"They're new," he continued slowly.

"Very aggressive."

Clara folded her arms.

"Competition is healthy."

Ethan's eyes darkened slightly.

"Not when they appear overnight and start targeting my contracts."

Clara shrugged lightly.

"Maybe someone finally decided to challenge the king."

The moment the words left her mouth, the room went silent.

Ethan stared at her.

Something about the look in his eyes made Clara's heartbeat quicken.

"You're surprisingly defensive of them," he said quietly.

Clara forced a casual tone.

"I just don't like monopolies."

Ethan studied her as if trying to read something deeper beneath the surface.

Then his phone vibrated again.

Another message.

He glanced at it.

And this time-

His expression hardened.

Completely.

"What is it?" Clara asked.

Ethan slowly lowered the phone.

His voice was colder now.

"Interesting."

Clara's stomach twisted.

"Why?"

Ethan turned the screen toward her.

Another headline had appeared.

MYSTERIOUS NEW COMPANY CEO ANNOUNCES EXPANSION INTO Sydney MARKET.

And beneath the headline...

Was a blurred photograph.

Of a woman leaving a corporate building.

Clara felt the blood drain from her face.

Because even though the image was blurry-

It looked very much like her.

Ethan's eyes locked onto hers.

His voice dropped.

"Clara..."

A slow, dangerous pause followed.

"Is there something you want to tell me?"

Across the hallway, Liam and Isla's laughter echoed through the mansion.

But in the living room-

The tension had turned into a storm waiting to explode.