Emily: You don't understand how dangerous Arthur really is, Ryan. He has eyes everywhere in this city.
Ryan: I don't care about Arthur's power anymore. All I care about is standing right here in front of me.
Emily: He almost ruined my life once. I won't let him near my sons.
Ryan: Come to my apartment downtown. Just for an hour. It's safe, private, and no one from the firm knows I came to this airport today.
Emily looked at her three boys, who were staring at Ryan with wide, curious eyes. Sam reached out a tiny hand and touched the soft fabric of Ryan's dark suit jacket.
Sam: Daddy has a nice coat.
Ryan let out a wet, breathless laugh, gently taking Sam's little hand in his own large palm.
Ryan: Thank you, little man. I can get you one just like it if you want.
Emily: Don't spoil them yet, Ryan. They don't even know who you are.
Ryan: Then let me introduce myself properly. Please, Emily. One hour at my place. Let the boys rest after their flight.
Emily hesitated for a long moment before letting out a quiet sigh. She nodded slowly to the driver.
Emily: One hour. But we talk about everything. No secrets, no lies.
Ryan: No secrets. I promise.
Twenty minutes later, the black car pulled into the private underground garage of a high-rise luxury apartment building in downtown Chicago. Ryan led Emily and the three boys into a private elevator that took them straight to the penthouse floor.
The boys gasped as they walked into the spacious living room with massive floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the city skyline.
Toby: Wow! Look at the big buildings!
Leo: Can we see the boats on the river, Mom?
Emily: Stay close to the couch, boys. Don't touch the glass.
Ryan: They can touch whatever they want, Emily. This is their home whenever they want it to be.
Ryan walked over to a small refrigerator in the kitchen area and pulled out fresh juice boxes and fruit snacks, handing them directly to the boys.
Ryan: Here you go, guys. Go sit on the big sofa and watch the boats.
Boys: THANK YOU, DADDY!
Hearing all three of them call him "Daddy" caused a fresh wave of emotion to hit Ryan's chest. He wiped his eyes quickly before turning to face Emily, who was sitting at the marble kitchen island.
Ryan: How did you survive, Emily? How did you raise three boys on your own without any help?
Emily: I moved to Seattle right after I left. My mother helped me for the first two years until she passed away.
Ryan: Your mother passed away? Mrs. Vance is gone?
Emily: Three years ago. I took a job as an accountant at a logistics firm to pay for daycare and rent.
Ryan: My God... you were struggling while I was sitting on millions in company stock that belonged to us.
Emily: I didn't want your money, Ryan. I just wanted the man who promised to love me forever.
Ryan: I never stopped loving you, Emily. Not for one single day.
Before Emily could answer, Ryan's smartphone on the counter began to vibrate violently, displaying Arthur's name on the caller ID screen.
Ryan: Speak of the devil.
Emily: Don't answer it, Ryan!
Ryan: I have to answer it, Emily. It's time to find out what else my uncle has been hiding from me.