Chapter 3 He Knows

Paul's jaw tightened. His son had never been close to any woman besides his grandmother. And with his rebellious streak, the idea of him willingly following a woman to a hotel made no sense.

"Show me who she is."

His assistant immediately pulled up the hotel's security feed.

The moment Paul saw the woman holding Sean's hand in the elevator, his expression went dark.

Hannah Young.

Gone without a word for six whole years... and now she just shows up - and tries to take his son?

Back then, she disappeared and left the child behind. She had someone deliver the boy to him with a message: pay a million, or she'd vanish with him forever.

Who does something like that?

And now, after all this time, she thinks she can come back and take him again - like nothing ever happened?

No. He wasn't going to let that happen.

Six years. No messages. No updates. Not even a single phone call.

And now she thought she could just walk back into their lives... and take the child he raised?

His blood boiled.

"Get the car," he snapped. "We're going to the hotel. And forget the investigation-I know exactly who she is."

...

Meanwhile...

After Sean admitted what he did, Hannah had taken him to dinner.

It was late, and she was starving. Sean's stomach had been growling too. Holding hands, the two walked happily into the restaurant.

"What do you want to eat?" she asked, scanning the menu. "Look-they have a bunch of your favorites."

Sean smiled sweetly. "I'll eat whatever you like, Mommy. You order, I'll copy you. Don't worry about me!"

Trying not to laugh, Hannah flicked his nose. "You little bootlicker. Sucking up to me now?"

He giggled. "I just want to make up for earlier."

"I'll get your favorites too," she said with a smile. "Let's both enjoy dinner."

Their table was warm and full of laughter. But after a while, Sean excused himself to use the restroom.

Not long after he left, several large men suddenly closed in on her.

Hannah's expression shifted. "Who are you? What do you want?"

Her voice dropped cold. This is a five-star hotel. They wouldn't dare cause trouble here... right?

Then he walked in.

Paul Green.

He spotted her instantly.

That woman actually came back.

He could've swallowed the humiliation from six years ago. Maybe. But she'd had a child-and just disappeared? Now she thought she could claim him back like nothing happened?

No. Not a chance.

"What do I want?"

The men parted, and Hannah froze at the sound of that voice.

That deep, familiar voice she heard in her nightmares.

And dreams.

Her entire body locked up.

There he was.

After all this time, Paul Green hadn't changed. Still devastatingly handsome. Still cold as ice. Except now... now he carried himself like someone you didn't cross.

Hannah's face turned ghost-white.

Running into Paul the moment she returned? The man she had once betrayed?

Fate was cruel.

Was this about revenge?

Wait-how did he even find her?

Did he recognize Shawn?

God... what if he figured it out?

She panicked, her breath catching in her throat. She wanted to run-but the men blocked every exit. All she could do was watch as Paul approached.

"I... I made a mistake," she stammered. "I'm sorry. Please, just let me leave."

Her palms were slick with sweat.

Paul's gaze was sharp and unflinching.

"You think sorry cuts it?"

"Six years, Hannah," he said coldly. "Did you really think you could just walk back into my son's life like you didn't vanish on him? Like you didn't abandon everything?"

His voice cut deeper than any knife.

"What kind of mother doesn't even show her face for six years? And now you want to steal him from me?"

Her mouth opened, but nothing came out.

"You don't even deserve to look at him," he spat. "I saw the footage. You're not slick. You think I don't know what you're trying to do?"

"Forget it, Hannah. You're done. You'll never see him again. Not today. Not ever."

She stood there in shock.

But his words landed like bullets.

He was going to take her child.

Panic snapped into fury.

"Are you out of your damn mind?" she shouted. "That's my son! You can't just take him from me!"

"I'm warning you, Paul-he means everything to me. If you try to take him away, I'll fight you with everything I have!"

Paul let out a cold laugh. "Now you care? Where was all this love for the past six years? You're disgusting."

Just then, one of his men stepped close and whispered in his ear. "Sir, we found the young master. He's at the front desk."

Paul nodded, then turned back to Hannah.

"I must be out of my mind talking to someone like you." His voice dropped into a deadly calm. "Out of respect for your grandfather, I won't hurt you. But if you ever come near my son again-if you so much as breathe in his direction-I'll make sure the entire Young family goes under. And when your grandfather dies in shame, remember you brought it on him."

He turned to leave. The men seized Hannah.

Her heart dropped.

He was going to take Shawn.

"Paul, you bastard!" she screamed. "Don't you dare take my son! Stop!"

She struggled against the guards, but it was no use.

Paul didn't even turn around.

The moment Paul disappeared from view, the grip on her arms loosened.

His bodyguards released her without a word, then turned and followed him out of the restaurant, their heavy footsteps fading fast.

Hannah stood frozen for a second, her chest heaving, arms aching from the struggle. Her mind screamed at her to chase them.

She staggered forward, heart racing-he's going to take him, he's going to take Shawn-

"Mommy?"

The small, confused voice cut through the chaos like a lifeline.

She spun around.

There he was.

Sean stood just a few feet away, blinking up at her with wide, innocent eyes. His little hand held a half-folded napkin from the bathroom, and he tilted his head. "Where are you going?"

Her heart nearly gave out.

He was still here. Paul hadn't taken him.

Tears rushed to her eyes-not from fear this time, but from overwhelming relief. She rushed over and dropped to her knees, wrapping her arms tightly around him.

"Mommy's here," she whispered, her voice shaking as she kissed the top of his head. "I'm right here."

Sean blinked again, clearly confused. "Are you okay, Mom?"

She pulled back, her voice suddenly lighter, almost too bright. "Yeah, sweetheart. We're going to eat somewhere else, okay?"

He nodded, still holding on to her sleeve. "Okay."

***