Chapter 5: Her Success

5 years later

Standing on this stage, receiving the prestigious award for being the most accomplished and influential woman globally, I cannot help but contemplate the path that led me here. It has been an arduous and demanding journey, but one that has been immensely rewarding.

“Welcome everyone to our annual awardees night! I am thrilled to be here as the CEO of CLN skin care company. My name is Celine Winston, and I have had the privilege of leading this incredible company for the past five years. Throughout my journey, I have overcome obstacles and surpassed expectations to be where I am today. Tonight, let's celebrate our victory together!”

I remembered Half a decade ago, I took a leap of faith and embarked on the venture of establishing my own skincare company, CLN skincare. Back then, little did I know that it would evolve into the most sought-after and popular brand across the globe.

Stepping off the stage, I was greeted by the applause of the audience. There, I saw my little boy run towards me and hugged me.

“Mommy, you did great!” Connor exclaimed, running towards me and wrapping his tiny arms around my waist.

“Yes, sweetheart, I did,” I replied, smiling down at him.

“I'm so proud of you, Mommy,” he said, looking up at me with his big brown eyes.

“I couldn't have done it without you, my love,” I said, planting a kiss on his forehead.

Connor's brilliance at such a tender age is truly remarkable. I deeply cherish his constant admiration for my accomplishments, as it empowers me to remain resilient in the face of any challenges.

As we walked hand in hand towards the celebration, I couldn't help but reflect on the journey we had taken. From a struggling single mother to the most successful woman globally, it felt like a dream come true. 

I engaged with the guests and received numerous congratulations. I felt a sense of duty towards other women facing challenges similar to mine. I aimed to utilize my success to empower and encourage women to pursue their dreams.

"Excuse me, Ms. Winston, may I speak with you?" a young woman approached me, her eyes filled with admiration.

“Sure, go ahead,” I responded, smiling at her.

“I just wanted to express my gratitude for inspiring me to launch my own business. You gives me hope that I can achieve it too,” she said, her voice quivering with emotion.

“That means a great deal to me. I have faith in you, and I believe you can do it,” I assured her, giving her a hug.

Amidst the loud music and the crowd of people shaking hands with me, my eyes were searching for my best friend, Irene.

Finally, I spotted her making her way towards me through the crowd. Her smile was contagious, and I couldn't help but smile back at her. As she reached me, she embraced me tightly and congratulated me on the success of the company.

"Congratulations, Celine! I'm so proud of you," she exclaimed, her eyes filled with genuine happiness.

Celine looked around the party, taking in the decorations and the joyful atmosphere.

"Wow, this is incredible. I can't believe how far you've come. I remember when we first started this company, it was just a small dream. And now, look at what you've achieved," she said, her voice filled with admiration.

I expressed my gratitude and asked her why she was late. She apologized, explaining that she had spent the family day at school with her husband and daughter, which caused her to be delayed.

"Family day? That sounds wonderful!" I replied.

"Yes, Celine. I want my daughter to have both her mom and dad on that special day," she said.

I couldn't help but glance over at my son, Connor, who was playing with another child. Irene noticed my sudden silence and paused for a moment.

"Connor is growing up so fast, and he's such a bright young boy. If you don't mind me asking, do you have any plans to tell him about his father?" Irene asked me.

Irene's question caught me off guard, and I hesitated for a moment before responding.

"Irene, I appreciate your concern. But I believe that I can raise him alone without a father. We don’t need Franco in our life," I replied, trying to hide my emotions.

Irene nodded understandingly, “I understand, Celine. But you know Connor is a smart kid, you can expect that question from him soon,”

I inhaled deeply while contemplating Irene's words. I am aware that I cannot avoid the truth, but I am determined to keep Franco away from my son.

"Franco doesn't deserve to be a father. If I have to find someone else to be Connor's father figure, I will!" I declared, my emotions running high.

I raised Connor all by myself, facing numerous challenges to provide him with a better life. Franco is just a painful past and a nightmare to me, and I will not allow him to claim Connor as his son.

The next morning, as I descended the stairs post my call to the secretary, I caught the distressed tone of Connor's nanny, Martha. I furrowed my brows and swiftly made my way towards them, noticing Martha's evident panic.

"What's wrong with Connor, Martha?" I inquired with concern.

Martha turned to me and recounted the incident.

"I apologize, Madam. Connor ventured out to the front yard without informing me and narrowly avoided being hit by a car. Luckily, the kind man managed to halt just in time."

I felt a surge of anger as I listened to her and scolded her for her carelessness.

"What?! You are irresponsible. What if Connor had been hit by that car?!" I exclaimed, my anger evident.

I paused in my speech as Connor interrupted me and said, "Mommy, stop blaming Nanny. It's my fault."

"But sweetheart, you were almost hit by the car," I insisted to him.

"No, mommy. Uncle Franco is very kind. He won't be able to hit me with his car.," he insisted.

My heart nearly skipped a beat upon hearing my ex-husband's name from Connor's lips.