Chapter 6: Change of Plans

Seeing the stubborn look on his face, she gave up, "Then do you have a place in mind?" She gestures Lee to open her bag in his hand, allowing her to pull out an untouched face towel resting inside one of her favorite vounché bags which she did not hesitate to spend her funds over a single material in an auction.

She rubs off the sweat emerging from her son's forehead. Her face twist in displeasure. Does he feel uncomfortable because of the weather?

Kieran stayed silent and stared at her while she dries his face. He simply rest his head on her shoulder, snuggling closer to her, and rubbing his cheek against her warm chest when she placed her open palm on top of head, protecting him from bumping his head against the roof of the car as they hop back inside the Bentley. His arms lock around her without giving her the chance to oppose. At last, he felt relieved with contentment. He could stay like this the whole day if his mother agrees.

The young boy was celebrating internally for the victorious battle he had won while the flustered chauffeur silently lift his head, thanking the heavens as he closes the car door after the heiress stepped in.

"Does the Crown Cinema sound good to you?" Hillary rubs his back. Was he upset? She tries to peek down at him, but she couldn’t see his face through his thick hair.

He stared at her pale white neck, lost in thoughts. Cinema? Watching movies seems boring, but it’s still worth to try. He nods his head back at her. Cinema theaters are heavily guarded, it should be safer than elsewhere.

"Drive straight to the Crown Cinema." Hillary said to her chauffeur, who just opened the door from the driver's seat. As surprising as it is, she felt her heart sank. This was not the plan she had in mind and next time she will take note to prepare everything beforehand if she doesn’t want this little devil of hers to outsmart her.

The chauffeur made himself comfortable in the driver's seat and he immediately nod his head at her command. He drove the Bentley away quickly from the crowded place, afraid that the heiress will change her mind.

What a shame. Hillary stared outside the window with disappointed eyes. As the car spree away the large area became smaller in the side mirror until it disappear behind the pine trees, leaving the tall Ferris wheel on sight.

Lee peeks at the rear-view mirror one last time, checking the young boy and he didn't miss the clear sight of the boy’s victorious grin. He truly acknowledges the boy as his savior. This will be the first life time debt he can never repay back enough to his young master.

. . .

In the quiet ride while the Bentley was stuck in traffic Hillary’s mind drove back to the hazy memories buried deep within her head and the inevitable longing instantly resurface back.

Whenever she closes her eyes, her dark sight will soon be painted with tangerine orange and golden yellow. The beautiful sunset reflecting against the sea horizon would greet her. It was beautiful.

She felt it, the cold breeze brushing her skin, the soft sand against her bare feet, and the tranquil beat of her heart dancing with the calm waves.

Two strong arms wrap around her from behind, giving her the sense of security. Warm and wet lips press against the skin of her neck up to the back of her ear, his hostile kisses were ever so gentle.

The wind blew her and she rests the back of her head against his shoulder. Her anxiety of the thought any brief happiness would always put to an end always disperses into thin air as his arms promised to stayed around her. She was beyond happy to be treasured, to receive this much attention from someone.  

As she turns around, two solemn eyes would look at her with deep affection and contentment.

It was all thanks to him.

His imaginative patience and care erased her doubt and fears. There was not a single day where he wouldn’t overflow her chest with mixed emotions by just seeing the wide universe inside his globes.

There was always fulfillment in his green eyes whenever he spoke to her. It was breathtaking . . . he was breathtaking.

Every detail. Every sensation. Every beat of her weightless heart was clear as glass to remember. Every time she brings herself to fantasize that vivid memory, her mind would shut itself down in bliss, but once she opens her eyes. It’s gone. . .

It’s long gone, but the warm feeling of his touch stayed. She can only taste nothing but regret at the tip of her tongue as she tries to hide her remorse of the past. No matter how many times she thinks about it over her head, it’s too late to turn back.

She should have chosen happiness over pride and love against desperation. If she had stayed and believed in his words than the lies inside her head would she be happier? Would they be?

It was not heartbreak that broke her, but the blissful memories had pained her . . . it’s too late, she’s five years late.

Her watered eyes survey the tall buildings, distracting herself by looking at the people passing each other by the sidewalk of the large four lane road. She breathes. The sky was clear blue and the clouds were hiding making way for the bright sun to shine.

Her eyes caught the sight of a couple with their child standing in between them. The smiles on their faces were evident whilst bitterness spread across her chest.  

She rests the side of head against the window. Her mood turning sour. She wished the memories she engraved inside her head were painful enough to make her forget rather than finding herself yearning for it.

A soft voice broke the silence reigning inside the car, causing her head to snap at her child in her lap. Throughout the ride she carried him with care, afraid he might bump his head on hard surfaces when he chose to sit on her rather than the big space beside her, his tiny back was now pressing against her front.  

"Are you upset?” Kieran lifts his chin to look at her face and the sight of his saddened upside down eyes instantly melts her sullen mood.

But she’s not alone now. She has this little man she can shower her love with. His little presence alone completed her, enough to make her sane from depression. "I'm not, sweetheart."

The chauffeur's eyes shift towards the rear-view mirror again, then back at the road when the cars ahead resumed moving.

She leans forward and brush his hair away to place a soft kiss on his forehead. She was in awe, he looked like he would break into tears any moment from now. Her hand went up to cup his small face.

"You should refrain offending others before you. Simply respecting them is as easy as breathing." This little man has a long way to go.

His brows met, “But what if they’re the bad guys?”

“And what if they’re not?” She caress his crease forehead.

His upset eyes roared back at her, “How can you be so sure mother?”

She shrugs her shoulders. “Even bad guys has goodness in them.” A particular man does.

Kieran’s shoulders fell. Unbelievable. It doesn’t make sense at all. He kept his mouth sealed to avoid further argument with his mother, but that doesn’t mean he agreed to what she said.

Innocent? His lips thinned in displeasure, heavily diverting his head away from his mother, not giving her the tiniest opportunity to notice how his sight turned menacingly dark.

Hillary purse her lips, turning his head back to face her, "Promise me you wouldn’t do it again Kieran or else. . ."

“Or else?”

She smiles, tapping the tip of his nose, “No. Kisses.” She emphasize every word.

She can already see the hesitation in his expressive eyes, "I . . . promise." He half-heartedly declared.

Kieran knew better than his mother that people are greedy and vicious. His mother is just too kind hearted to care for other's welfare, who would only take advantage of her kindness. What insane person would think there’s goodness in evil?

He grits his teeth beneath the smile on his face, or perhaps there is. It would be him. He bluffs, he’s been good these days, but he would never forget what happened this day when his anger towards others had risen, already overflowing pass its limit.

After enduring half an hour ride, the car finally move towards the main entrance gate with a verified plate number, the chauffeur held out a black card as the officer in charge swipe the card to their machine, hearing the loud beep and seeing the company's name in bold letters on the screen of his monitor made him sweat bullets. He was careful enough to sanitize the black keycard before returning it to the chauffeur with care.

The officer ponder inside his head why the car had waited in the main entrance gate when the theatre offers private gates for VIP guest at the left side of the road with an automatic keycard scanner.

The chauffeur resumes driving, giving a quick nod to the officer as the car continues to move forward. In less than a minute the car arrives two meters away from the grand entrance of the largest cinema theatre in Yuro. Her chauffeur gets off the car, standing outside the Bentley, waiting as usual.

His broad figure and threatening gaze over the place captured the attention of everyone passing by the opened door entrance. Five staffs hurried to lay out another layer of groomed carpet and waited for their valuable guest to step out as they stood in the side lanes.

The lower socialites who had a perfect view of what's happening spared a minute to pause from taking a step. They were thrilled to know who from one of the renowned families was occupying the back seat when no one except the 'big five' were guaranteed to have special treatment from the exquisite place when the families holds fair shares of stocks except the company reigned by the 'shouldn't-be-mentioned-man' as they do not want to seek the grim ripper so soon.  

Thinking thoroughly that the place wasn't reserve beforehand, they should be safe for now.

Their eyes tried to bore right through the tinted windows. They couldn’t care less of whoever was inside, it’s still a big shot after all.