7

**Cherry's POV**  

The moment we landed, Selena's excitement was palpable, her tiny fingers gripping mine as her eyes darted around, taking in the busy airport. Kiva, her nanny, walked quietly beside us, holding Selena’s backpack. I could feel exhaustion tugging at me, but I pushed it aside. There was too much to do.  

Once we arrived at the hotel, I arranged for two separate rooms—one for Selena and Kiva and the other for myself. I handed Kiva the key to their room. "Make sure Selena gets settled and rests a bit," I instructed, a faint smile touching my lips.  

“Yes, ma’am,” Kiva replied with her usual calm efficiency, guiding Selena down the hall.  

The moment my room door clicked shut behind me, I sighed in relief. Dropping my bags, I sat at the desk, pulling out the stack of documents I needed to review. Being an interior designer came with its perks, but the workload was relentless. I dove into the files, analyzing layouts and sketches, making mental notes to adjust some designs.  

Minutes turned into nearly half an hour. My eyes burned from staring at the screen, and my fingers ached from jotting down notes. Setting my pen aside, I stretched and grabbed my phone, scrolling aimlessly for a distraction.  

When a W******p notification pinged, I opened it out of habit. My breath caught when I saw the photo—a man I knew all too well. My ex-husband. He was smiling alongside another woman. Her arms were draped over his shoulder, their postures intimate, their happiness radiating from the image.

I stared at the picture for what felt like forever, my chest tightening. The caption said it all: *Married two months ago.*  

Two months? A bitter pang of disbelief clawed at me. So soon after everything we’d been through. I tried to suppress the ache building inside me, but the sting of rejection was fresh, raw. He had moved on. *And to someone he truly loves, no doubt,* I thought, trying to muster indifference.  

Shaking my head, I exited the app and pushed the phone aside. “Enough, Cherry,” I muttered under my breath. There was no point dwelling on it.  

A knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts.  

“Ma’am, dinner is ready,” Kiva said softly from the other side.  

I rose, brushing off the lingering melancholy, and joined them downstairs. Selena’s eyes lit up when she saw me, her excitement lifting my spirits.  

As we ate, Selena turned to me, her small fingers nervously toying with her napkin. “Mommy, can I tell you something?”  

I set my fork down and gave her my full attention. “Of course, sweetheart. What’s on your mind?”  

She glanced at Kiva, who nodded encouragingly. Selena’s lips twitched as she fought a nervous smile. “Last week, I saw this online competition for kids who want to be AI programmers. You know how I’ve always wanted to build robots and cool things?”  

I chuckled softly, my heart swelling with pride. “Yes, my little genius. I remember.”  

“Well,” she continued, her voice gaining confidence, “I applied for it. The competition is tonight, Mommy. It’s happening here in the UK.”  

Her words hit me like a gentle breeze, and I couldn’t help but smile at her boldness. “You applied all by yourself?”  

Selena nodded eagerly, her face lighting up. “Yes! I didn’t tell you because I wanted it to be a surprise. Mommy, will you come with me? Please?”  

I hesitated, a tangle of emotions tightening my chest. My daughter had taken such a brave step, and her eyes were filled with hope, waiting for my answer. How could I deny her?  

“Of course, I’ll come with you,” I said finally, and her squeal of joy melted my heart.  

“Thank you, Mommy! Thank you!” She threw her arms around me, her tiny frame trembling with excitement.  

“But,” I added, holding her at arm’s length, “we won’t stay long. After the competition, we’re going straight back. Deal?”  

“Deal!” she exclaimed, her grin brighter than the stars.  

The hours before the event flew by. Selena and I went shopping to find the perfect outfit for her. She beamed when we picked out a crisp white blouse and a smart black skirt. Her confidence was contagious, and for a while, I forgot about everything else.  

When evening came, we dressed quickly and made our way to the venue. As we approached, I couldn’t help but marvel at the grandeur of the event. Lights twinkled like stars, and the air buzzed with excitement.  

“Wow, Mommy, it’s so beautiful!” Selena whispered, her eyes wide with awe.  

“It really is,” I agreed, holding her hand tightly as we stepped inside.  

The competition began, and my pride swelled as I watched Selena work. She was the youngest participant by far, but her confidence and skill outshone everyone else. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, her focus unwavering.  

People whispered in awe, their eyes glued to my daughter. I heard murmurs of admiration, and my chest puffed with pride.  

"She’s amazing," someone said nearby.  

I smiled softly. “She really is.”  

Curious about the event’s organizer, I approached one of the staff members. “Who’s in charge of this competition?” I asked.  

The man shook his head. “No one knows. The organizer has remained anonymous since the event’s inception. This is the first edition, and they’ve never shown up in person.”  

I frowned, the mystery intriguing me. But before I could dwell on it, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Glancing at the screen, I saw the name of an important client flashing.  

“Excuse me,” I said, stepping away from the crowd.  

As I hurried toward the exit, my focus entirely on my phone, I accidentally bumped into someone.  

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” I blurted, my eyes still glued to the screen. I quickly stepped aside, barely registering the other person before continuing toward the door.  

Outside, the cold air hit me as I answered the call. “Hello?” I said, my voice steady despite the chaos in my mind.  

The client launched into a long list of questions about a design project, but my thoughts were elsewhere. A strange feeling nagged at the back of my mind—a sense that the person I’d bumped into wasn’t just anyone.  

Shaking the thought away, I focused on the conversation, pushing aside the unease creeping into my chest. Little did I know, the encounter I had brushed off would soon resurface in ways I could never have anticipated.