Chapter 13 Ethan

• The house was far warmer than Rania had imagined, far from the cold, formal impression that usually clung to Aleksander in public. The moment the front door opened, the sound of small footsteps came running quickly down the hallway, and a second later, a small boy appeared in the doorway of the living room, his big eyes gleaming with curiosity.
• The child stopped right in front of Rania, looking up at her intently, his head tilted slightly like a curious kitten. "Who are you?" he asked innocently, before his eyes suddenly went wide, as though he'd just found the answer himself. "Wait—are you Father's new girlfriend?"
• Rania felt her whole face heat up instantly, nervousness spreading fast until she struggled to find the right words. "N—no," she answered hurriedly, her voice a bit higher than usual. "I'm just your father's colleague. We're working together on a project."