Chapter 5 A New Beginning

Elena woke to the soft sound of waves crashing against the shore. The faint scent of salt lingered in the air, a constant reminder of her new life in Clearwater Bay. As she stretched and placed a hand on her growing belly, she whispered softly, "It's just you and me now, little one."

She had spent the past month settling into her small seaside cottage. With whitewashed walls and creaky wooden floors, it wasn't much, but it was hers. Most importantly, it was far from the city and the lingering shadows of her past.

Elena had thrown herself into work, writing articles for small magazines and websites. It wasn't glamorous, but it was enough to keep her afloat. Between work and frequent trips to the doctor, her days felt full but peaceful. Maeve, her elderly neighbor, had taken a liking to her. The older woman often stopped by with baked goods or to share stories of the town's history. Elena welcomed her company but kept her guard up, avoiding questions about where she'd come from or why she'd chosen Clearwater Bay.

One afternoon, Maeve invited Elena for tea. Reluctantly, she agreed. Sitting in Maeve's cozy kitchen, surrounded by mismatched china and the smell of fresh scones, Elena found herself relaxing for the first time in weeks.

"You're quite the mystery," Maeve said, pouring tea. "A young woman, alone in a quiet town like this... What brought you here?"

Elena hesitated, searching for the right words. "I needed a fresh start," she said carefully. "The city wasn't... working out for me."

Maeve's eyes softened. "We all need a new beginning sometimes, dear. Clearwater Bay is good for the soul. Just remember, secrets have a way of catching up to us."

The words lingered with Elena long after she returned home. That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, she stood on the porch, staring out at the ocean. For the first time, she felt a sense of calm. Maybe Maeve was right. Maybe this place could heal her.

But her peace was short-lived.

The next morning, as Elena stepped out to pick up the newspaper, she noticed a sleek black car parked down the street. Its tinted windows glinted ominously in the sunlight. She froze, her pulse quickening. The town was small, and fancy cars were rare.

Shaking off her unease, she told herself it was a coincidence. Still, the feeling of being watched refused to leave her. That evening, she spotted the car again, this time parked near the local diner where she'd gone for a quick meal.

Her mind raced. Was it Dominic? Had he finally found her? Or was it something worse?

The next day, Marcus, the man in the tailored suit who had appeared at her door days earlier, showed up at the small library where she often worked. He greeted her with that same unnerving smile.

"Miss Elena," he said smoothly, his voice low but firm. "I trust you've thought about my offer."

Elena's skin prickled. "I told you, I'm not interested in working with your publishing house. Please stop following me."

Marcus chuckled, stepping closer. "I'm afraid it's not that simple. My employer is very interested in you."

She backed away, her heart pounding. "I don't know who your employer is, and I don't care. Leave me alone."

Marcus leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You're carrying something very important, Miss Elena. You can't hide forever."

Panic surged through her. She grabbed her bag and darted out of the library, her breath coming in short gasps. She didn't stop until she reached her cottage, locking the door behind her.

She pressed a hand to her stomach, tears streaming down her face. The life she had tried so hard to rebuild was crumbling. Dominic's world had found her, and she was no longer sure how long she could keep her baby safe.

As the sun set, Elena realized she couldn't keep running. Whatever danger was closing in, she needed to face it head-on-for her child's sake.

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