His Secret Heir - Bound by Truth, Torn by Lies

Audrey's heart pounded against her ribs as the sleek black car rolled to a stop in front of the glittering event hall. Golden lights spilled across the pavement like a trail leading her straight into a past she had spent five long years trying to forget.

Her hand instinctively went to the baby carrier slung across her chest. Ethan stirred inside, murmuring softly, a tiny reminder of why she had returned. She could feel his warmth, the soft rhythm of his breath, and for a moment, Audrey allowed herself a fleeting smile.

"Mommy, are there balloons inside?" Ethan's voice piped up from the back seat.

She turned to him, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. His curls were slightly tousled from the drive, his dark eyes shining with excitement. He had no idea what this night meant to her. He was only four. Too innocent to understand why her hands trembled as she straightened his tiny bow tie.

"Yes, sweetheart," Audrey whispered, brushing a curl off his forehead. "There might even be cake."

The word cake made him grin, and the sound of his small laugh steadied her heartbeat a little. She could do this. She had to. It was just her best friend's wedding not a trap. Not a time machine. Not a doorway back into Vincent's world.

But deep down, a voice whispered that nothing about tonight would be simple.

Audrey stepped out of the car, the city streets glistening from an earlier rain. Asphalt shimmered under streetlights, and the faint smell of roasted peanuts drifted from a distant vendor. The world seemed alive, yet strangely distant. She could feel eyes on her even when none were there, a prickling awareness she couldn't shake.

She clutched Ethan tighter, feeling his small heartbeat against her chest. Memories clawed at her laughter echoing in hallways, whispered promises in the dark, nights she had once believed would last forever. Vincent had been a part of all of them, though she had buried those memories deep.

Inside the ballroom, laughter mingled with music. Guests floated across the floor in gowns and tuxedos, their perfume and cologne mixing into a dizzying haze. Audrey smoothed the front of her soft lilac dress, taking a deep breath as she stepped through the grand entrance.

"Audrey!" a familiar voice squealed.

Her best friend, Zara, rushed toward her in a white silk gown that shimmered under the chandeliers. The bride's eyes were wide with joy and tears, and Audrey's chest softened at the sight.

"You came," Zara whispered, hugging her tightly. "I didn't think you would."

Audrey smiled faintly, trying to keep her voice steady. "Of course I came. I wouldn't miss your day for anything."

But even as she said the words, her stomach twisted. She had been avoiding Lagos for years for one reason: Vincent. The man who once promised her forever... and then shattered her world in a single night.

She lifted Ethan in her arms, letting his small weight ground