Chapter 5

**FIVE YEARS LATER**

"Emmalin," Octavia called out to the young woman in a waitress uniform stationed at the far end of the large kitchen. "Could you assist Tessa at Table 4? I sent her on an errand." Her voice held a note of urgency.

The young woman, one of Octavia's employees, nodded curtly. "I’ve got it covered, ma'am."

"Thank you," Octavia replied with gratitude before turning her focus back to the dough she was kneading. After a brief moment of work, she glanced at the ornate clock hanging on the wall and noted that it was a few minutes past 2 PM.

A wave of relief washed over her as she realized Jana would soon be back with the kids from school. With that thought in mind, she shifted her focus to other tasks, aware that time was of the essence. As a business owner now; one who had achieved notable success, Octavia was determined to keep moving forward. She owned one of the largest and most popular restaurants in the city, a venture she shared with her partner, Nathaniel Griffin, a millionaire who had helped her out.

Five years ago, after getting her heart broken by the man she had ever loved and devoted her entire being to, Octavia sought to start a new life someplace else, a thousand miles away from Carl and his family. Though it wasn't easy putting her life back together while she was pregnant with the twins, she was fortunate to have Jana by her side during that tumultuous period.

Together, they had worked tirelessly to ensure they created a safe haven for the incoming twins. Octavia proposed the idea of opening a restaurant, and Jana fully supported her vision. With the modest savings they had accumulated through hard work, Octavia managed to secure a location for their business, setting the stage for their entrepreneurial journey, all while still pregnant.

To be honest, the first year of business operation was fraught with difficulties. Luckily for Octavia, she encountered a millionaire who offered to help renovate the restaurant to attract more customers, asking only for a partnership in return. After careful consideration, Octavia accepted the proposal, which secured the critical marketing space she desired, all thanks to Nathaniel Griffin, her business partner.

On this particular day, they had planned to host their 4th business anniversary party in the restaurant after business hours, and Octavia was currently preparing an array of dishes for the occasion. Though it was just herself, Jana, Nathaniel, the twins, and the numerous workers of the restaurant, Octavia prepared as though she was cooking for an entire community. She wanted the occasion to be special, to celebrate how far she had come ever since her divorce from Carl.

"Mommy!" The squeals of the twins scampering toward Octavia broke her reverie as their excited voices pierced through her ears. "Mommy! Mommy! We're back!" They giggled excitedly, wrapping their arms around their mother's legs.

A warm smile blossomed on Octavia's face as her heart swelled with love for her precious children.

Removing her gloves, she knelt to their level and embraced them both, closing her eyes for a moment to savor the affection. After releasing them from the hug, she looked at them, eager to hear about their day.

"How was your day, Jason?" she asked her son, who bore a striking resemblance to Carl.

.

As Octavia continued to stare at him, she couldn't help but be reminded of her ex-husband, Carl Dawson. Her heart twinged painfully, once again realizing the striking resemblance Jason bore with Carl, with those sparkling emerald orbs that sometimes flickered with a hint of coldness and indifference. But Octavia never resented him for it. Her son was too adorable and innocent to be caught up in her grudges towards Carl and his family. In fact, she had previously set aside her desires for revenge, prioritizing the well-being of her children.

Their birth gave Octavia a new purpose in life. She recognized the relevance of moving on with her life and not getting hindered by the past. But a part of her still remained determined to seek revenge. She had resolved that she would only seek vengeance against Carl if he ever waltzed into her life again, a scenario that seemed unlikely given her current distance of a thousand miles and the lack of contact with anyone from that city for the past five years.

Her best friend, Jana Jade, had chosen to accompany Octavia to a new country, aiding her in building a fresh life and caring for the twins. The children had grown fond of Jana, and with the love and support from their mother, their sweet Aunt, and their wonderful Uncle Nathaniel, they never felt the void of their father's absence, for which Octavia was immensely grateful.

“It was fine, Mommy!” Jason, the toddler, replied casually to his mother's question.

Octavia smiled gently before shifting her attention to the other twin, Avery. Avery, the female twin, was the perfect counterpoint to Jason. While Jason was a mirror image of Carl, Avery bore traits from both parents. She inherited her mother’s luscious, wavy blonde hair and her father’s striking emerald eyes.

“I had so much fun, Mommy!” Avery chimed in cheerfully.

Octavia's heart swelled with joy as she playfully ruffled Avery's hair. “You did?”

Avery nodded enthusiastically, her laughter warming Octavia's heart. “Yes, Mommy!”

“That’s wonderful to hear, sweetheart,” Octavia replied, beaming at her daughter.

Just then, the tranquility of their conversation was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching the kitchen. Turning to see who it was, Octavia's face lit up with a genuine smile as she locked eyes with Nathaniel Griffin, the handsome millionaire who had arrived bearing gifts.

“How are you, baby?” Nathaniel’s velvety voice enveloped Octavia, filling her with warmth as she stood to greet him.

“I’m fine. And you?” she asked, wrapping her arms around him in a light embrace before stepping back, her smile unwavering.

He nodded with a charming smile etched on his face.

Nathaniel Griffin was one of the amazing people Octavia had met upon her arrival in the country. He was not only her business partner but also someone who admired her deeply. Two years ago, after they partnered up, Nathaniel had fallen for Octavia. Despite being a captivating and successful CEO, attracting the attention of many women, Nathaniel treated Octavia and her children with exceptional care. Although they weren’t in a romantic relationship, he treated her as though Octavia was his woman. Despite his numerous attempts to win her heart, Octavia had consistently and politely declined, as she wasn’t ready to go down that route again.

Had only been two years since she began to heal from the ruthless damage Carl had inflicted on her, and she wasn't ready for a new relationship. Nathaniel had understood her reasons and hadn't pressed her for more. He simply just continued loving her one-sidedly. He was perfect and kind, but unfortunately, Octavia had closed her heart off to love.

"Uncle Nate!" the twins exclaimed, rushing towards Nathaniel for a warm embrace.

The millionaire's attention shifted to the delightful twins, and a broad smile spread across his face as he saw them dashing towards him. He quickly crouched down to their height and opened his arms wide. The twins barreled into him, wrapping their little arms around him with pure happiness.

Octavia watched the scene unfold, her heart swelling with happiness and gratitude. She was pleased to see how much the children adored Nathaniel, and she appreciated the way he treated them as though they were his own. He consistently assumed the role of a father figure, which made her consider giving him a chance on several occasions. However, the painful memories of her past with Carl swiftly extinguished those thoughts.

"Uncle Nate, I want the chocolates!" Avery exclaimed when she noticed Nathaniel was offering a box of chocolates to her brother, Jason.

"No, you should take the milk candies," Jason replied dismissively.

"But I want the chocolates!" Avery wailed, her voice quivering as tears welled up in her eyes.

Noticing the rising tension, Nathaniel glanced at Octavia for assistance as he felt uncertain about how to navigate the situation. He had brought only one box of chocolates, and now both twins desired it for themselves.

Octavia let out a heavy sigh, recognizing the helplessness in Nathaniel's expression. She wasn’t surprised by the children's behavior; this was typical for them, always vying for the same thing.

She approached them and crouched down to their level, attempting to resolve the conflict.

With a gentle voice, she directed her attention to Jason, who clutched the box of chocolates tightly in his hand as he stared at his mother.

"Jason, baby, would you please share some of your chocolates with your sister? She--" Octavia asked softly.

"No!" Jason protested vehemently, interrupting his mother while shaking his head.

Taken aback, Octavia's frown deepened. "Why not, baby? Do you enjoy seeing her cry?"

"I don't want to, Mom! I always share everything with her; it's not fair!" he shouted in distress. "You're being unfair, Mom! I don't want to!" With that, he ran out of the room, leaving everyone stunned by his outburst. Octavia was rendered speechless for a moment.

Avery's wails resonated sharply in her mother's ears, grounding Octavia back to reality.

Octavia took a deep breath, regaining her composure, and directed a soothing glance toward her daughter.

"Please don’t cry, baby. I’ll make sure you have your own, okay?"

"This is all my fault. I should have brought two for them," Nathaniel lamented, his voice tinged with regret.

However, Octavia shook her head firmly, turning to him.

"This isn’t your fault, Nate. Don’t worry; I’ll take care of it. Just help me keep an eye on her while I look for Jason."

Nathaniel nodded in agreement.

With a heavy sigh, Octavia rose to her feet, removing her apron before she stepped out of the kitchen to search for her son, who had just bolted from her side. Frustration bubbled within her as she recalled Jason's earlier behavior. She had always taught them the importance of sharing, and it pained her to see her toddler acting contrary to those values. The selfishness he displayed by refusing to share his chocolates with his sister was disheartening. Realization struck Octavia, and she couldn't help but think of where he had inherited such traits, who else if not their father?

"Emmalin, have you seen Jason?" Octavia called out after scanning the restaurant in vain.

Emmalin turned to her, uncertainty in her eyes. "I think he ran outside... I’m not sure."

Octavia's expression shifted to alarm, her brows furrowing.

"What? How could you let him run out? What if something happened to him?"

Emmalin offered a shrug, accompanied by an apology. "I’m really sorry."

Octavia dashed out of the restaurant, her mind racing with worry at the thought of her son in potential danger. The area was bustling, and it was close to the road.

As she hurried outside, her heart nearly stopped when she spotted Jason, happily holding hands with someone unfamiliar. Octavia's brows knit together in a deep frown as her gaze traveled from the stranger's feet to his face. Disbelief washed over her as recognition dawned on her. Her body trembled, and she took a step back, blinking rapidly to assure herself that her eyes weren't playing tricks. It couldn’t be him. She could hardly fathom that the person holding her son was who she thought it was.

For a moment, she questioned her sanity until the handsome young man spoke, his familiar teasing tone further shattering Octavia's skepticism.

"Hello, baby," He greeted, a glint of mischief dancing in his eyes as he added. "I’ve been searching all over the world for you. Finally found you."

Octavia’s heart raced. She couldn't believe it.

"C-Carl?!"