Chapter 0007

(Allison's POV)

I came out of Liam's room after he had fallen asleep. He dozed off while I was reading him a storybook. Judging by the cold weather tonight, I bundled him up in a big hoodie. One thing Liam inherited from me was the inability to tolerate cold.

"Is Liam asleep already?" Aunt Hilda asked, emerging from the kitchen with a glass of milk. She decided to spend the night at my house after the launch of my clothing line ended. Alex had gone back to school because he needed to prepare for an exam.

"Yes, he is," I replied, sitting at the dining table with my arms wrapped around myself for warmth, even though I was wearing a hoodie that practically swallowed me.

Aunt Hilda sat in the chair next to me, sipping her milk slowly as she stared at me. "Do you have something to say? You keep staring at me," I asked.

"Now that you asked, I'm going to let the cat out of the bag," she said, pausing briefly. "What was Scott doing at your clothing line launch?" she asked suddenly, causing me to choke as if I was chewing on something.

"I thought you said he left for London? So what is he doing in California? Are you back together with him?" Aunt Hilda bombarded me with questions.

"Of course not, Aunt. Nothing is going on between us. My relationship with Scott ended the day he asked me to abort Liam. All I feel for him is hatred and resentment. As for why he's back in California, I have no idea," I replied firmly.

"Then why was he at your launch? I saw you leaving with him. I just didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to alert your brother—he’d have caused a scene."

I sighed, realizing that my aunt had seen me with Scott. "I was only trying to make him leave," I explained, but Aunt Hilda gave me a doubtful look. She knew how deeply I had loved Scott and how devastated I was the night he broke up with me. But that was in the past. I’m a different woman now—one who wouldn’t dedicate her entire being to loving a man.

"I know you have doubts because of how much I loved Scott, but that's all behind me now. He may be Liam's father, but our love story is a closed chapter," I assured her, and she sighed.

"Just know that over my dead body will I allow you to get back together with Scott. You might be older than Alex, but your brother would skin him alive if he knew you two were even speaking. You went through so much, and I don’t want history to repeat itself."

I nodded, assuring Aunt Hilda that I had no feelings for Scott anymore. Later, I went to my room to lie down while Aunt Hilda settled in the guest room. As I lay in bed, the sound of rain hitting the roof brought back memories of the past—a rainy day and the first time I met Scott.

"You can use my umbrella," he had said, offering it to me.

"What about you?" I asked.

"I can manage. You need it more," he replied with a smile, and I was quick to notice his dimples.

"How do I return it? I mean, your umbrella," I asked shyly.

"I work at that convenience store down the street. You can bring it there whenever you're free," he said, flashing another smile before running off into the rain. I stood there smiling as I watched him go.

A flash of lightning snapped me back to the present. I exhaled deeply. Whatever I had shared with Scott ended years ago. He may have loved me once, but he also shattered my heart. Pushing those thoughts away, I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.

When I opened them again, it was already morning. I quickly prepared Liam for school before heading to my company.

I spent most of the day at work since Aunt Hilda had promised to pick Liam up from school. Though my clothing company was new, it was already attracting customers. We didn’t have many employees yet, but we managed.

"Here’s the last call for the day, Allison," Bonnie said, handing me the phone. I had asked her to call me by my name instead of "boss" because we were the same age, and I considered her a friend.

After speaking with the client, I knew it was time to head home. I already missed my son, and I knew he missed me too.

On my way home, my car suddenly developed a flat tire. It was a quiet road where cars rarely passed. If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have taken this route.

"What am I going to do?" I muttered, frustrated. I didn’t even have a spare tire in the trunk. I could’ve called for help, but I didn’t know any repair services nearby.

Suddenly, a sleek black Rossi car pulled up behind me. I exhaled, relieved, thinking I could ask for help, but my relief quickly turned to annoyance when Scott stepped out of the car. I instinctively looked for a place to hide, so he won't see me, but there was nowhere to go.

"Allie," he called softly.

"What?!" I snapped, turning to face him.

"What happened to your car?" he asked, concern etched on his face.

Why was he worried about me when he had told me six years ago that he didn’t love me anymore? And judging by the luxury car he was driving, a lot must have changed since then.

"That’s none of your business. Stop following me, or I’ll report you to the police," I shot back.

"I’m not stalking you, Allie," he replied calmly, making me feel foolish for yelling.

"Then why are you here?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"It’s just a coincidence. Come with me—I’ll take you home."

"As what?!" I retorted.

"I just want to help," he said gently.

"I don’t need your help. I can manage," I replied, though I had no idea how to get home.

"Acting stubborn doesn’t suit you, Allie. This is a quiet road, and I won’t leave the mother of my son stranded here," he said.

Mother of his son? If he thinks I’d let him be a father to Liam, he must be delusional.

"My life isn’t yours to worry about, and stop calling me the mother of your son because I am not," I said coldly, glaring at him. He sighed in frustration.

"When did you become so stubborn?" he asked, but I didn't reply.

"Let me take you home, Allie. Think about your safety, not about your hatred for me," he urged.

I was about to turn him down again when another car pulled up in front of us. Its owner got out immediately.

"Allison!"

I turned and saw Stefan, smiling and waving at me. Stefan, my friend from New York—or should I say, the man who’s been patiently waiting for me to love him back.