chapter one hundred and seventy-five

Josh's POV

"Anne, it's going to be okay," I try to calm her. "There are security guards at every corner of this house; Ethan won't get near Noah."

She cries again, sniffing. Anne was inconsolable. Noah's return had deeply affected her psyche; she hadn't expected to encounter her deceased son again, and now she was afraid of losing him once more. After all, we didn't know what Ethan might do.

"Did you forget his name is Lucca?" she sobs, upset. "He will hate us, Josh. He'll never see us as parents," she replies anxiously, trying to take deep breaths.

"It's going to be difficult, Anne, but we'll make it, my love. I promise," I respond, gently caressing her face.

"I want you to promise me something," she lifts her head. "The moment you lay hands on Ethan, you'll kill him," Anne stammers; she could barely contain the tears streaming down her face.

I hug her tightly, trying to calm her down. Anne was in shock; she was doing everything to get closer to Noah, but he rejected her every day, i