Chapter 6

Nicole's POV

I stared at the sky from my porch, feeling the breeze with my eyes closed. It had been eight years since the most horrific event of my life, but I was still alive.

My life felt more peaceful, especially with the various good things that started coming my way after something else arrived at me and accompanied me all this time. All the hardships I had experienced before felt like a dream, but they never really went away in this life that I thought of as my second time around.

I still vividly remember the terrifying incident I experienced, just like yesterday. I felt goosebumps, not believing how I could get out of those times of suffering, but here I am now. Still breathing and looking at the sky above my head.

Suddenly, I could hear the voice of a boy whispering in my ear with his cute voice. "Mom, what are you thinking about?" I immediately held my chest as a reflex.

"Richard... you surprised mom." I turned my head, looking at the boy I gave birth to already standing next to me. He looked curious and sat down on the steps leading to the veranda. He held my hand, smiling sweetly in apology.

He played with my fingers lightly while looking at me. "Mom has been quiet since earlier. I called you, but mom didn't answer until I whispered in you ear."

"Really? I didn't hear you at all, Richard. I'm sorry...."

I touched my son's cheek, remembering the horrific incident that was still present in my nightmares.

Many people were chasing me, intending to kill me in those dark moments. I ran away and kept running away until I got into an accident with a tough collision. I was in pain and confusion, but somehow, I managed to survive the horrific incident and, a few months later, gave birth to my baby into the world.

Various hardships were ahead of me, but in the end, I got through them all with my son. So did the presence of other people who were exceptionally meritorious and volunteered to be our guardians. If I had been alone, I might not have survived this long.

"I can't wait to carry out our plan, Richard." I smiled, pinching his still, slightly chubby cheeks somewhat anxiously, but the boy's expression was not sullen like children teased by parents usually are.

Richard was a mature child despite being only seven years old. He's a genius and can calm me down just by his presence. I felt that he even had a higher maturity level than me.

 "Everything will be fine, Mom. I'm sure." My son smiled confidently, giving me reassurance from his hand pressed against mine on his cheek.

"I know. I believe that we can also go through this plan together like we have been doing." I returned the boy's smile, holding both his hands, which felt soft and warm. "I will be the ghost that comes back from the dead to avenge them."

I was determined. I had already devised a plan to avenge the people who hurt me to be on this path. It took a lot of struggle for me to get here. There were countless misfortunes I had to go through, as well as the fear and despair I felt.

I suffered terror as long as they were after me and were able to get out safely, but I can't forgive the actions of those people who almost took my life and the boy who was still in my womb at the time. I will not forget it until our vengeance is finally avenged.

My son smiled, beaming at the plan I spoke of. I missed the gruesome details because he was still young, but in outline, he knew the plan that had been laid out long ago.

"That's a perfect plan, Mom. I will also come with you to inflict punishment on those who are mean to us."

He looked excited.

"Thank you for supporting me all these years, Richard." I swung his hand gently in my grasp, feeling grateful, but my son suddenly shook his head.

He had a severe frown that should have looked scary, but instead, it made me smile. His mouth drew closer to show the seriousness of his words. "You can't thank me now. Wait until our plan actually goes through and succeeds before you do, okay?"

My son held out his pinky, which I immediately greeted with my pinky. "All right, my son."

We sealed the pinky promise. After we finished, the door of the house suddenly opened, and an old man greeted us. His hair had turned white, and his face showed wrinkles on both sides of his eyes and mouth, but it didn't mask the good looks that remained in his prime, nor did his body still look sturdy.

"What are you guys doing chatting outside? It's getting cold." He said, watching me and my son, who had stood up and was about to approach him.

The boy had already arrived in front of the man and hugged him tightly. He seemed to cheer up whenever the man was around. "Grandpa! I just followed Mom out for a while. I was looking for Mom in the house, but I just found her now, hehe."

"That's right, Dad. I was looking for a breeze because I was bored in the house, but Richard came to keep me company." I explained, coming over to the man who held out two sweaters of different sizes.

He put one of them on my son after giving him a brief hug while I accepted my own thick-knitted sweater. The man gave me a glance and then spoke softly in front of my son and me, who were next to him.

"Still, you shouldn't forget to wear an extra layer of clothing in this weather. I don't want you to get sick." He smoothed Richard's sweater before standing straight again and smiling. The boy asked to be carried, and the man promptly obliged.

I smiled at his treatment of my son, hearing the tone of his words that also sounded stern but contained the care that I only found in him. This man, whom I had considered a father during my second life, was our saviour.

Eight years ago, he reached out to me, who had nothing but my body and a small bag containing a few personal belongings. I was in a hurry and was then involved in an accident. Richard was able to be born safely with his unexpected help.

Edwin Duncan, that man's name. A famous and wealthy businessman who came to me like a miracle. I dropped the Martinez surname from my life and changed it to Duncan, as did my son.

We are now Nicole Duncan and Richard Duncan. Edwin's adopted daughter and grandchildren gave us protection and care for life after the horrific events we experienced, and we were the biggest supporters of our plans.