Mysterious man

Chapter 2:

Susan's POV

"Aaah!" I woke up with a start, my heart racing, and a cold sweat trickling down my neck. For a moment, I thought I was still at the airport, watching Emily and John walk away. But as I blinked, I realized I was in my bed, safe and sound.

"Mommy?" my daughter stirred beside me, her tiny voice filled with concern.

"I'm okay, sweetie," I whispered, trying to calm my racing heart. "Just a bad dream."

My daughter sat up, rubbing her eyes. "What happened, Mommy?"

I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "Just memories from a long time ago," I said finally.

My daughter looked at me with big, curious eyes. "What memories?"

I took a deep breath, trying to summarize the pain and betrayal I had felt. "People I trusted hurt me, sweetie. They said and did things that made me feel small and alone."

My daughter's face scrunched up in concern. "But why, Mommy?"

I sighed, feeling a lump form in my throat. "Sometimes people do bad things because they're hurt or scared themselves. But that's no excuse for what they did to me."

My daughter nodded, seeming to understand. "But you're not alone now, Mommy. I'm here."

I smiled, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over me. "You're right, sweetie. I'm not alone. I have you, and that makes all the difference."

As we hugged, the memories from that day six years ago flooded back. The pain, the betrayal, the humiliation—all of it still felt so raw, like an open wound that refused to heal. But having my daughter gave me the strength to keep moving forward, to build a new life away from the people who had tried to destroy me.

"We're a team, right, Mommy?" my daughter asked, looking up at me with a smile.

I nodded, feeling a sense of determination. "We're a team, sweetie. And nothing can ever break us apart again."

As I got ready for our trip to America, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. What would await us there? Would I finally find closure?

---

Few hours later,

A sudden jolt woke me up. The plane had hit some turbulence. I sat up, careful not to wake my daughter, and glanced out the window. The view of the sprawling city below signaled that we were preparing to land in America. My stomach churned with nerves, a mix of anticipation and dread filling me.

“Mommy, are we almost there?” My daughter’s sleepy voice broke the silence. 

I smiled down at her, brushing my fingers through her soft hair. “Yes, sweetie. We’ll be landing soon.”

She yawned and snuggled closer to me, her tiny arms wrapping around my waist. I held her close, drawing comfort from her warmth. Despite everything, I was grateful for these quiet moments with her, moments that reminded me why I had to be strong.

As the plane continued its descent, I decided to freshen up before we landed. Carefully sliding out of my seat, I tucked the blanket around my daughter and headed to the small bathroom. The narrow aisle felt even tighter as I squeezed past other passengers. 

When I reached the bathroom, I closed the door behind me and leaned against it for a moment, trying to calm the sudden rush of anxiety. I took a deep breath, splashing cold water on my face. As I looked up, my reflection stared back at me—pale, with dark circles under my eyes. I barely recognized myself. 

A loud knock startled me, and I jumped, nearly dropping the towel. “Just a moment!” I called out, quickly drying my face. 

But the door swung open before I could react, and a man barged in, his eyes cold and calculating. Panic seized me as I stumbled back, my heart hammering in my chest.

“Who the hell are you?” he demanded, his voice low and menacing. He held up a crumpled photo—one that looked all too familiar. My blood ran cold. It was the same photo Emily had shown me all those years ago.

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I stammered, trying to edge past him, but he blocked my path. 

“Don’t play dumb,” he growled, his grip tightening on my arm. “I know who you are, and I want answers.”

I could feel my pulse pounding in my ears, my mind racing to find a way out. “Let me go!” I pleaded, trying to twist out of his grasp, but he held on tighter. 

“You’re not going anywhere until you tell me the truth,” he hissed, his eyes narrowing. 

Desperation surged through me. I couldn’t let him corner me like this. With a burst of adrenaline, I shoved him hard, catching him off guard. He stumbled back, and I seized the opportunity, slipping past him and bolting out of the bathroom.

My heart was in my throat as I ran down the aisle, ignoring the startled looks from other passengers. I didn’t stop until I reached my seat, where my daughter was still sleeping soundly. I quickly gathered our things, my hands trembling as I fumbled with the straps of her backpack.

I glanced back, but the man was nowhere in sight. Relief washed over me, but it was fleeting. Who was he, and why did he have that photo? The questions swirled in my mind, making it hard to think straight.

“Mommy, what’s wrong?” My daughter’s voice pulled me back to reality. She was awake now, her big eyes filled with concern. 

“Nothing, sweetie,” I lied, forcing a smile. “We’re just getting ready to leave the plane.”

She looked at me for a moment, as if sensing something was off, but she didn’t press. Instead, she helped me gather our things, her small hands working quickly and efficiently. 

When we finally disembarked, the warm air of Los Angeles hit me like a wave. I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering fear. We made our way through the bustling airport, my eyes constantly scanning the crowd for any sign of the man. 

As we stepped outside, I was greeted by a familiar face. Sarah, my best friend from college, and her daughter Lily, were waiting for us, a wide smile on her face. “Susan! It’s so good to see you!” she exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug.

“Sarah,” I breathed, feeling some of the tension leave my body. “It’s been too long.”

Sarah knelt down to hug my daughter, her face lighting up with joy. “And look at you, little one! You’ve grown so much, Mia!”

My daughter, Mia giggled, hugging her back. “Auntie Sarah!”

After a few moments of catching up, Sarah’s expression turned serious. “Susan, there’s something you need to know,” she said, her voice low. 

My heart sank at the tone in her voice. “What is it?”

“The Davidson Corporation is holding a press conference today,” Sarah explained. “In less than two hours. They’re announcing the next successor.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I knew what that meant—my stepmother and stepsister were making their move. I clenched my fists, anger bubbling up inside me. 

“I need to be there,” I said, determination hardening in my voice. “I’m not letting them get away with this.”

Sarah nodded, understanding. “We’ll make it, but we need to hurry. Traffic is going to be a nightmare.”

Just then, my daughter piped up, her eyes bright with excitement. “Mommy, I know a shortcut! We can take the back roads, and it’ll be faster.”

I blinked in surprise. “Are you sure, sweetie?”

She nodded confidently, already pulling out a map from her backpack. “I’ve been studying the routes. We can make it if we leave now.”

I exchanged a look with Sarah, who raised an impressed eyebrow. “Looks like you’ve got a little navigator on your hands,” she said with a smile.

Pride swelled in my chest as I looked at my daughter. “Alright then, lead the way,” I said, determination setting in. 

We quickly loaded into the car, and as we sped through the city, my mind raced with thoughts of what I would do when I got to the Davidson Corporation. I wasn’t the same naive girl they had betrayed all those years ago. I was stronger now, and I was ready to fight back.