💎 THE MARRIAGE TRAP
🔥 CHAPTER 4 — THE FATHER SHE NEVER EXPECTED 🔥
Alana stood frozen in the kitchen long after Stefan disappeared down the hallway.
His words kept replaying in her mind.
“Whatever it is I feel for you is strong enough that thoughts of you have been dogging me for months.”
She pressed a hand against her chest.
Why did he have to say that?
Why did he have to come back now?
For six months, she had convinced herself that she was perfectly fine without him.
She had learned how to change diapers in the middle of the night.
She had learned to function on barely any sleep.
She had learned how to soothe Juliana when she cried.
She had learned to be both mother and father whenever necessary.
She had built a quiet little life.
And now Stefan had walked into it like he had never left.
Alana closed her eyes.
“No,” she whispered.
She couldn’t allow herself to fall for him again.
Not when she knew how dangerous his life could be.
Not when she knew how easily he could disappear again.
And certainly not because he suddenly felt responsible for their daughter.
A soft cry came from the hallway.
Alana’s eyes widened.
“Juliana.”
She hurried toward the nursery.
But when she reached the doorway, she stopped.
Stefan was already there.
He stood beside the crib, staring down at the sleeping baby.
His expression was completely different.
There was no anger.
No arrogance.
No battle-ready attitude.
Only wonder.
Juliana stirred.
Her tiny fingers curled around the edge of her blanket.
Stefan leaned closer.
“She’s beautiful,” he whispered.
Alana’s heart tightened.
“Yes.”
“She has your nose.”
“And your eyes.”
He looked at her.
“You think so?”
“I know so.”
Stefan smiled.
It was the first genuine smile she had seen from him since he arrived.
He carefully placed one finger inside the crib.
Juliana’s tiny hand grabbed it.
Stefan froze.
His eyes widened.
“She grabbed me.”
Alana smiled despite herself.
“She does that when she likes someone.”
Stefan looked down at their daughter.
“Well, she definitely likes me.”
“Don’t get too confident.”
He chuckled softly.
Then his expression became serious.
“Can I hold her?”
Alana hesitated.
Stefan looked at her.
“I won’t hurt her.”
“I know.”
“Then?”
She sighed.
“Wash your hands first.”
He smiled.
“Yes, ma’am.”
A few minutes later, Stefan carefully lifted Juliana from the crib.
The baby opened her eyes.
For several seconds, father and daughter stared at each other.
Then Juliana smiled.
Stefan’s breath caught.
“Oh, sweetheart…”
His voice cracked.
Alana watched silently.
She had never seen him like this.
The tough investigator.
The man who had spent months walking into dangerous situations without fear.
Was suddenly terrified of holding a six-month-old baby too tightly.
He gently rocked her.
“I missed so much.”
Alana swallowed.
“Yes.”
“I missed her first smile.”
“Yes.”
“Her first laugh?”
“Yes.”
He nodded slowly.
“I can’t get those moments back.”
“No.”
He looked at Alana.
“But I can make sure I don’t miss the next ones.”
Her heart skipped.
“Stefan…”
“I mean it.”
He looked down at Juliana.
“I want to be her father.”
“You can be.”
“And I want to be part of your life too.”
Alana immediately stiffened.
“That isn’t the same thing.”
“I know.”
He stepped closer.
“I don’t expect you to trust me overnight.”
“Good.”
“But I’m not going anywhere.”
Alana stared at him.
“You say that now.”
“I’ll prove it.”
Before she could answer, Juliana began crying.
Stefan panicked.
“What do I do?”
Alana almost laughed.
“She’s probably hungry.”
“Oh.”
He carefully handed the baby back.
Alana took her into her arms.
As she began soothing Juliana, Stefan watched them.
Then his phone rang.
His expression changed instantly.
He stepped away and answered.
“Maynard.”
There was silence.
Then his face hardened.
“Where?”
Alana watched him carefully.
“What happened?”
Stefan ended the call.
He looked at her.
“I have to go.”
Her heart sank.
Of course.
This was exactly what she had feared.
“You just got here.”
“I know.”
“You said you weren’t going anywhere.”
“I meant from you.”
He grabbed his jacket.
“I have a case.”
Alana looked away.
“Of course you do.”
He stopped.
“Alana.”
“Go.”
He moved toward her.
“I’ll be back.”
She didn’t answer.
Stefan leaned down and kissed Juliana gently on the forehead.
Then he looked at Alana.
“I’ll call you.”
He walked toward the door.
But before he could open it, Alana spoke.
“Stefan.”
He turned.
She hesitated.
“Be careful.”
A small smile appeared on his face.
“I always am.”
The door closed behind him.
Alana stood there holding their daughter.
She stared at the door for a long time.
Then she whispered:
“Please don’t make me love you again.”
But what Alana didn’t know was that Stefan’s case had nothing to do with an ordinary investigation.
The moment he stepped outside, his colleague Reese was waiting in a black vehicle.
Reese rolled down the window.
“We have a problem.”
Stefan got inside.
“What kind?”
Reese handed him a photograph.
Stefan looked at it.
His blood ran cold.
It was a picture of Alana.
And beside her was Juliana.
Underneath the photograph was a message:
WE KNOW WHERE YOUR DAUGHTER LIVES.
Stefan’s jaw tightened.
“Who sent this?”
“We don’t know yet.”
He stared at the photograph again.
Then his phone buzzed.
A second message appeared.
IF YOU WANT THEM SAFE, STAY AWAY FROM THE INVESTIGATION.
Stefan slowly raised his eyes.
Nobody threatened his family.
Nobody.
He immediately reached for the door handle.
Reese looked at him.
“Where are you going?”
Stefan’s voice was cold.
“Back to Alana.”
Because suddenly, this wasn’t just about finding his daughter.
It was about protecting the woman he was beginning to realize he could never walk away from.
TO BE CONTINUED…