His ex-girlfriend from college, the woman he’d once imagined marrying. And the three children beside her… they resembled him in a disturbing way. The same delicate nose, the hazel eyes, the dimples. His heart began to pound.
For a moment, Ethan thought his mind was playing tricks on him. He hadn’t seen Clara in over seven years. Back then, he’d left her after receiving an offer to move to San Francisco to launch his startup. He’d promised they’d stay in touch, but he never did. The company exploded into colossal success, and his life became a whirlwind of meetings, investors, and luxury.
And now, she was there, in the street, begging for alms.
He approached, unsure if she would recognize him. Clara looked up; her eyes widened in surprise, then she immediately lowered them, embarrassed. Ethan’s chest tightened.
“Clara?” he murmured.
She hesitated.
“Ethan… it’s been a long time.”
She wanted to ask him a thousand questions. What happened to you? Whose children are these? Why didn’t you ever look for me? But the youngest one started coughing, and Clara hugged him, whispering a few words softly to him.
Ethan didn’t think. He acted. He took off his coat and wrapped it around the shivering child. Then, without saying anything else, he declared:
—Come with me.
Clara’s lips began to tremble.
“Ethan, I can’t…”
“Yes, you can,” he replied. “You’re not staying here another minute.”
And just like that, the life she had built began to crumble, on that icy Chicago sidewalk.
Ethan took Clara and the children to a nearby café. The warmth and aroma of coffee filled the air as they sat down at a table. The children—Emma, Liam, and Noah—devoured the pancakes as if they hadn’t eaten properly in days.
Clara looked exhausted. Her hands trembled as she brought a glass of water to her lips. Ethan couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“What happened to you?” he finally asked, in a low voice.
Clara let out a long sigh.
“After you left, I found out I was pregnant. I tried to contact you, but your number had changed. I didn’t know where to find you. I was terrified and alone.”
Ethan’s stomach clenched. He looked back at the children: his children.
“I worked two jobs to support them,” Clara continued, “but when the pandemic hit, I lost everything. The landlord kicked us out of the apartment. Since then, I’ve just been trying to survive.”
Tears filled her eyes. Ethan was speechless. While he celebrated millions, buying houses and cars, the woman he had loved was fighting to keep her children alive.
“Clara… I didn’t know,” she said, her voice breaking. “I would have helped you…”
She shook her head.
“It doesn’t matter anymore. I’m just glad the children are safe tonight.”
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