1

Five years later.

 

They say the storm will pass, and everything will be fine.

 

I agree with that, but something is missing. The storm will likely pass, and it will be okay if we work for it. It will definitely happen if we solve problems and strive to be happy.

 

I did, and there were so many things I had to deal with at a young age. My asshole ex-husband, the bitch who claimed to be my friend, getting divorced and then dealing with the after-effects of that attacking me brutally.

 

It wasn't easy, and I wasn't the only one. Some women face more complicated problems than me, and they don't have anyone to help them. On the other hand, I was lucky, and that's why I never gave up on healing from my past. Forgiving and letting go was the first thing I did, and to do so, I had to keep busy; it was one of my ways to forget those cruel memories, and now, see, I've made it to this point.

 

I found a purpose in my own life when my son was born, a child born without a father. Because of that four-year-old little boy, I've been able to put the pieces back together and rebuild myself with the help of my family and friends. I've built a cafe with the money I've saved since high school, and I've gotten good at managing my own cafe. Although it wasn't easy, it was worth it because if I hadn't felt that bitterness from the start, I wouldn't be able to handle the happiness I do now.

 

Five years passed.. and it wasn't a minute.

 

I'm twenty-seven years old, and I've matured enough to face anything. Everything that happened in the past I've put behind me. Now, I can only focus on one thing; my whole world is centered on him, and nothing can distract me. I wouldn't even let him get hurt, and no one could ever take him away from me.

 

"Momma," a shout from outside woke me from my daydream.

 

I turned around and looked at the little boy who had just opened the door to my room, and Belle, my sister, was behind him with a listless face. He ran towards me with his tiny feet and hugged me. I kissed his cheek a few times. 

 

"He already drained fifty dollars from me." Belle snorted and sat next to me carelessly.

 

I laughed. "Good boy." I pecked his forehead, sat him next to me, and then took off his bag and shoes.

 

"You have to give me 300 dollars," Belle replied.

 

I rolled my eyes. "He's your nephew. You're so stingy."

 

"If I'm not stingy, I can't be rich."

 

"You will be rich if you stop spending your money on those expensive shoes," I retorted. She was always like this; cranky when giving my son a dollar but silent when spending 1000 dollars on her shoes.

 

"I can invest with my shoes, but your son? I can't sell him."

 

I squinted sharply.

 

She grimaced.

 

"He'll make you a lot of money when he grows up. Momma was right, wasn't I?" I turned to Ace, who was staring at us with a frown.

 

He nodded with an innocent face. "Yes, auntie. I'll replace you twice over. I'll buy the company for you when I get rich." He said to Belle.

 

Belle squinted and scooped Ace up in her arms with an anxious voice. "How dare you promise me that? I can't be mad at you." She said while Ace laughed with amusement.

 

I stared at the interaction of the two people and sighed softly. I looked at Ace's face, which was so similar to his father's when he laughed, and as it always did, my heart always did a little jump of uncertainty and tightness that appeared. 

 

I wondered, what if I had told Sebastian I was pregnant then? What if I had waited for Sebastian and not come to his apartment? What if...and what if everything else. 

 

But one thing I knew was that I will still leave him, still take Ace for myself, and keep my son away from everyone who could potentially hurt him. Am I being selfish? Yeah, probably. I won't feel guilty about that.

 

"Momma, I'm so sleepy." Ace said in his adorable voice.

 

I smiled, took his hand, and led him to the bed attached to my office. "I'll make your milk first. You stay here with auntie?"

 

Ace nodded.

 

I made milk quickly in the kitchen outside my office. The second floor was only filled with my private room and the kitchen. It's like an apartment, so Ace and I often stay here when I work late. We lived in Bedford with my family, and since Boston to Bedford was an hour's drive, I often chose to stay here for our safety.

 

"You do know that Ace is really going to be a rich man, right?" asked Belle as I lay beside a sleeping Ace, drinking milk from his pacifier.

 

I raised an eyebrow. "What?"

 

Bellle sighed. "It doesn't matter that you hate your ex-husband so much and hide Ace from the world, he'll know, and he'll claim the only successor to Sanchez's business empire." She answered. "Because there's no carcass that doesn't smell, Bella, and their family—"

 

"Enough," I cut in low. "Then he must know that no matter how hard he tries, I will not let Ace go, he will never claim him. Ace is mine."

 

That was absolute. I wouldn't let anything stand in the way of Ace's happiness, and as I always told myself, I would keep Ace away from people who could potentially hurt him. Sebastian Sanchez is on that list for now and tomorrow.

 

>>.

 

"Hey, baby."

 

I pulled my gaze away from the papers on my desk. "You're back," I stood up from my chair and hugged my mom. "The sunflowers Dad brought are growing, Mom."

 

She chuckled as she sat on the couch in front of me, and I sat beside her. "Yeah, your dad got some special seeds from Switzerland, I'm sure it won't disappoint." She replied. "Where's my grandson?"

 

"He's taking a nap." I replied. "How was the trip to Rome?"

 

"Nothing special." She shrugged, uninterested. "You know it was a business trip, so we didn't get to spend much time with your grandparents. We just had a quick lunch at the restaurant and then went straight back."

 

I snorted. "Why is Dad in such a hurry? There's nothing to catch up on, is there?"

 

"Unfortunately, the company's investors came by, asking for a meeting this morning."

 

I grimaced. "Oh, is there something wrong?"

 

"Nothing. Just the annual meeting." She shook her head and smiled. "I brought you something." She gave me the goody bag and handed it to me. "It's a gift from Nonna for your birthday. Open it."

 

I pulled the parcel out and untied the red ties in the center. I opened the box and raised an eyebrow at what was inside. "She must have knitted this sweater herself?" I asked.

 

My mom nodded. "It's pretty, isn't it?"

 

My grandmother did have a knack for sewing and knitting. Before marrying my grandfather, she'd worked at a famous brand factory, and it had paid off, but she'd had to quit because being the wife of Benito Rossi wasn't easy with all his protective behavior. Even now, that old man never wants to leave his wife for long, or if she's hanging out with my aunts or grandchildren, my grandfather will immediately whine and catch up. I'm sure it's a trait that stems from his love for her. Some men might do that with a woman they adore and love.

 

I cringed inwardly. I wish I could feel that way.

 

"This is so beautiful,"

 

"You can say thank you to her over the phone."

 

I chuckled. "And then there will be the drama of the disobedient grands who won't see her grandmother."

 

"Please understand. She misses you a lot. She wants you to visit her." She said softly.

 

I sighed. "Yeah, Mom. I..."

 

"Are you still worried about meeting Grandpa?" she asked quietly and carefully.

 

I swallowed and shook my head. "I can handle that."

 

"Are you afraid of meeting your ex-husband, then?"

 

I I clucked. "Oh my god, no. I just don't have time to go there, Mom. You know how busy I am with cafe." I replied. "Besides, he's in Spain not Italy, so the chances of meeting him are slim."

 

"Yeah, I know that," she took a breath and let it out quietly. "You can leave your task temporarily to Owen, he can definitely do it."

 

There's a wedding coming up. My cousin, Regina. She and her husband-to-be are having a wedding in Milan. I had already decided to go because Regina threatened not to get close to me anymore if I didn't come. But I was worried about my cafe. My cafe is always crowded- that's what I'm thankful for. I only have a few employees. I'm just afraid they'll be overwhelmed in my absence, plus I don't have a manager, so it's just me, the waitress, the barista, and the chef. But when Mommy mentioned Owen's name, I am more determined to go to Milan. I can rely on him since he was the manager of his father's company before he became the owner of his Mabel business.

 

"Fine." I said. "It's two days away anyway, right? I can get them ready in my absence."

 

"Excellent. Well then, let's go home. Dinner's ready. There are many prizes waiting for Ace to open."