Chapter 4.

Five Years Later

As I drain the last of my coffee and set the cup down, I pull my phone from my pocket. The moment I see the time, my heart skips a beat. It’s already past eleven!

“Mummy, we’re ready! Let’s go!” a tiny, excited voice squeals. I glance up to see Asher, my adorable little boy, beaming at me with boundless enthusiasm. I can’t help but smile back at him.

“Come here, baby Ash,” I call out, holding out my arms. He bolts toward me, and I ruffle his messy hair affectionately. “Where’s Anna?”

“I’m right here!” Anna’s sweet voice chimes as she runs into the room, her bag slung tightly over her shoulder. Her long brunette hair frames her round hazel eyes—a striking contrast to her brother’s short hair and vivid forest-green gaze.

Five years have passed in what feels like the blink of an eye. I’d been expecting just one baby, but life had other plans. I ended up with two.

Kneeling down to their level, I gently pat their backs and plant a kiss on each of their cheeks. “Let’s go, you two. We don’t want to miss our flight.”

With our bags in hand, we head to the airport. Before long, we’re soaring through the sky, bound for New York City.

Returning to NYC after four long years feels surreal. Those years of motherhood have transformed me. I’m no longer the Selene Norman I once was.

As I’m now seated in the back of the car taking us home, I glance at my kids. They’re completely absorbed in their games.

Merely looking at them makes me remember their father. Well, He’s nothing but a ghost of the past. A scumbag I’ve vowed they’ll never meet. As far as I’m concerned, he doesn’t exist anymore.

The chauffeur’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. “We’re here, ma’am,” he says with a polite smile.

We unload our luggage and make our way into the house. Angela greets us with a beaming smile, and the kids lit up with joy at seeing her again.

Having lived in Georgia for four years, Angela decided it was time for us to come back home. She visited often during those years, and the kids adored her. Her presence was a blessing, distracting them from questions about their absent father.

"I'm proud of you, Selene. Welcome back," Angela says as she pulls me into a tight hug. I can feel my heart swell with immense joy. It’s so incredible how a once dire situation had turned out so well.

Angela has helped me achieve more than I ever thought possible. With her unwavering support, I didn’t just become a doctor—I became a recognized and respected one. My dream is no longer just a dream; it’s my reality, and it’s all because of her belief in me.

“Thank you, Mother,” I say softly as I pull back from her warm embrace, leaning in to kiss her cheek. She giggles, and then turn towards the children, opening her arms wide.

“Did you both miss me??”

"Yes, we missed you so much!" Asher and Anna squeal in unison. Their faces glow with excitement as they dart into her open arms. She kneels to meet them, and wraps them in a tight hug.

Soon, night falls, and I lead Asher and Anna to their room, helping them settle in.

“Sleep tight, my loves,” I whisper, kissing them both on the forehead and tucking the blankets snugly around them. Yet, as I step back to leave, I catch the faint shadow of sadness on their little faces. My heart clenches. Did I miss do something wrong ? Or Were they not happy to be back in NYC?

“What’s wrong, babies?” I ask gently, as I sit on the bed. They exchange a glance before Anna sits up and her big hazel eyes bore into mine.

"You told us we’re going to meet Daddy soon. How soon is it?"

At her words, I forget how to breathe. Even though her question feels like a dagger to my heart, I force a soft chuckle to mask the pain.

Every time they bring up their father, it feels like reopening an old wound. Maximus doesn’t deserve them, and they deserve better than the truth.

"Yes, Mom! Our friends have papas that hug them and tell them how much they love them. Where is ours?" Asher adds. My smile only grows wider as I lock my gaze with theirs.

"Babies, you’ll meet your father soon," I say softly, brushing a strand of hair from Anna’s face. "Don’t you trust Mama?"

"We do," they chorus and then settle back into their pillows without another word. Each time they asked about their father, I crafted a lie to soothe them, but as weeks passed, their questions grew more insistent.

I walk to my room with a heavy heart, knowing that no matter how many lies I tell, the truth will eventually have to come out.

***

The next morning, I was greeted by the sight of someone I had never seen before. She stood at my doorstep, looking a bit out of place but insistent.

I'm Nelly," she says, holding out her hand. I hesitate and then my gaze flickers between her and the bags of what appear to be homemade goodies. My pulse spikes. How does she know I have children?

I lean against the door, confusion knotting in my stomach.

"I don’t know you, Nelly. You must have the wrong house," I reply as I can my feel voice tight with unease.

Before she can respond, Grandma’s voice rings out from behind me. "Nelly, is that you?" I turn, surprised to see Grandma walking briskly towards us. "Nelly, welcome. Come on in!"

I freeze and my heart pounds. I’ve never heard of this woman, and Grandma has never mentioned her. But before I can ask, Asher and Anna dash forward and practically launch themselves into her arms, their faces lighting up with joy. My confusion deepens.

"Aunty Nelly, we missed youuu!" Asher and Anna’s voices fill the room.

Grandma turns to me with a warm smile on her face. “Selene, this is Nelly, my helper.”

I nod but remain unsatisfied. There’s still a nagging question at the back of my mind—how does she know my kids?

Seeing the look of curiosity on my face, Grandma continues. “She knew Asher and Anna through the video calls when I babysat them in Georgia. You were busy at the hospital, so you probably never met her.”

I process the information. It makes sense, but something doesn’t sit right. I hum in response, surprised that Asher, so chatty about everything, never mentioned her. Still, I turn to Nelly and force a smile.

Despite the uneasy feeling that’s been growing in me, I push it away. What really matters now is that Anna and Asher seem to like her. That might finally put an end to their endless questions about their father, and that thought brings a sense of relief.

“Nelly, it’s nice to meet you,” I say, pulling her into a brief hug. She smiles warmly and immediately hands each child a bag of goodies.

“Thank you, Aunty Nelly!” Asher and Anna squeal, tearing into their bags. I can't help but chuckle as I watch them twirl around.

Days pass, and calling Nelly a godsend barely scratches the surface. She's more than that—she effortlessly fills the gaps I didn’t realize were there. Of course, I still spend time with my kids, but Nelly handles everything else with ease. She even reassures them about their father, something I can’t bring myself to do without that aching in my chest.

*****

“Dr. Andrea, we have an emergency!” I hear my secretary’s voice through the intercom, sharp and urgent. It's 6 AM, and I was supposed to be enjoying a much-needed break.

“Dessie, I’m on leave,” I mutter, rolling out of bed and stretching my tired limbs. “I only came in yesterday for the inspection, and you know that. There are plenty of other doctors who can handle it.”

Grandma had insisted I take a two-week break to rest. As the head of the hospital, I had more than enough qualified staff to cover things while I was away.

“Dr. Andrea, the patient’s family insists that you handle it.” Dessie's voice is steady but pleading.

I can’t help but smile. I’d changed my name years ago to keep a low profile, to avoid being recognized, but hearing her say my name still feels strange.

“Fine, I’m on my way,” I say, cutting Dessie off before hanging up.

A few minutes later, I’m dressed and rushing to the hospital. As I enter, the staff step aside, bowing slightly in respect. Dessie quickly leads me to the patient’s room.

Room 302. I fling the door open and step inside, only to freeze when I see a man pacing anxiously in circles, his head bowed. I step forward, trying to soothe him.

“It’s okay, Mr. We’ll get this done,” I say with my calm and reassuring tone. But as soon as he hears me, he whips around, his eyes wide in disbelief.

“Y-you’re Dr. Andrea?”

The moment our eyes lock, my bag slips from my hand and falls to the floor with a soft thud. Time seems to stop as my heart skips a beat.