2. He's back

Twenty minutes later. Cora drove out of her Manhattan townhouse. She would first drop Isabella at school before going to pick Lisa up at her house. She briefly looked towards her daughter who had her face pressed to the window looking at the passing scenery

"Isa..." She calls softly and Isabella turned her head looking at her mom, waiting with a smile to know what her mother wanted to say. Cora just smiled back and pat her lovingly on the head. What she was about to say was at the moments forgotten when she saw the joy that radiated from her daughter's bright smile.

Even though there are days that she felt like running away when the pressure of motherhood, coupled with taking care of the family business becomes too much for her to shoulder, Cora was still glad and proud of her eighteen years old self that decided to keep her child, even when her boyfriend had just ended their relationship and the pressure from friends to get an abortion was too much

Now each time she looked at her child and Isabella smiled up at her, there's this indescribable joy that would grip her heart during those times. She couldn't just imagine her life without her daughter in it.

  

Apart from being vivacious, mother and daughter looked nothing like each other. Cora was a beautiful woman with straight raven dark hair and grey eyes while Isabella was the complete opposite. She has striking features of blond hair and green eyes which was exactly like her father's

Someone once told Cora she and her daughter looked like day and night. People who don't really know them but have been seeing them together on different occasions sometimes wonder about their relationship with each other until they couldn't hold their curiosity in any longer and ask if they're truly mother and child. But when their questions were answered, they would still find it difficult to believe

"Mommy?" Isabella called after she has waited for quite some time and her mother was only smiling without saying anything

"Yes, sorry!" Cora's smile grew wider when her daughter's voice brought her out of her reverie. "I've arranged for the school bus to drop you at your aunty Lisa's house after school. Would you like to go with Ana to the park later after you are done with your homework?" 

"Okay..." Isabella cheerfully agreed before going back to looking at the passing traffic outside the car window

After dropping Isabella off at school. Cora drove to Lisa's house to pick her up and found her already waiting outside her house. 

"Hope you've not been waiting long? I'm so sorry for being late again." She said as soon as she got out of the car working towards where her cousin was standing. "Four months already in New York City and I'm barely used to the hustle and bustle of the city," Cora said apologetically to her cousin

"You will get used to it the way I did, don't worry about it," Lisa said before hugging Cora while saying good morning to each other

"Do you mind driving, please?" Cora pleadingly held her car keys out. 

"Oh, alright! But you don't have to act like a cute puppy you know" Lisa said and they both laughed, as they got inside the car

The two girls sat in the car. Lisa was about to start the car when Cora's voice stopped her... "He's back!"

Lisa leaned back in the driver's seat, looking towards where Cora was seated massaging her temple with her eyes closed. 

"Yeah, I saw it on the news the previous night. Are you okay though? You look worn out!" She asked, concern for Cora apparent on her face

"No!... No, I'm not okay!" Cora replied with a shake of her head. "But hopefully he won't stay long. Maybe he just came to visit his parents and would leave soon right? When he leaves then I can move on with my life without the fear of us running into each other?" She asked with a false smile 

Lisa scoffed and looked at Cora as if she was talking nonsense. "What are you talking about? Did you even listen to the news or did you just listen to the one that suits you and zoned out afterward?" She asked Cora with a frown 

Lisa was right. She didn't actually listen to the news. She just saw a video of him coming out of JFK airport while the newscaster was reporting... 'Heir to the Platinum & Silver Conglomerate was spotted in JFK'..." That was when she switched off the TV. She didn't wish to see his face, neither did she want to know any details about him.

"No!... I mean yes. He flew back into the country yesterday. There was a video of him coming out of JFK, so I just assumed he came for a visit since his whole life, I mean his company and family are in England. What else could there still be that I need to listen to?" Cora asked Lisa suspiciously like Lisa was deliberately withholding some vital information away from her

"Cora..." Lisa called softly closing her eyes for some seconds before opening them. "His whole life as you put it is no longer in England. It's here now." Lisa added and Cora immediately sat up straight, her eyes grew wider

"What do you mean?... I-I don't understand what you mean by... No longer in England... It's here now!?" Cora stammered "I'm afraid I wasn't really listening..." 

Lisa sighed. It's not fun being the bearer of bad news she thought as she explained further to Cora

"According to the news the previous night. His wife had a long battle with some disease that I can't pronounce and finally gave up the ghost a month ago... To cut a long story short, he's back in America with his daughter to take his place at the head of the table since his dad is now retiring..."

Cora turned pale. "He's back in America to take his place because his father is retiring?" She repeated stupendously and slumped back in her seat suddenly feeling exhausted

"What am I going to do then?... I mean I can't just leave everything I planned and have achieved so far here and go back to Spain?"

"And why would you abandon everything and go back? He's living his life so why couldn't you live yours in peace. I never figured you as a coward Cora!" Lisa said in annoyance. She loved Isabella as if she was her own but couldn't help but despised her father for what he did to her Cora. 

They all tried to warn her back then that, a man like him falling in love with a nobody was too good to be true but she wouldn't listen until be broke her heart. Even though Cora did her best to put on a brave face for everyone and pretended as if all was well, Lisa knew about the muffled cries every night. Now whether they are in the same city or not, he has no right to push her into hiding.

"Coward!? Really!?..." Cora said and rolled her eyes upward

"Then what is it? Why are you so afraid of him because this isn't the Corazon I know? You're seriously thinking of abandoning everything you've planned and worked for!? Really!?..." Lisa asked looking deeply into Cora's eyes like they were having a staring match of who would blink first. It was Cora who lowered her gaze first, at looked out of the window.

A thought suddenly occurred to Lisa and she narrowed her eyes towards Cora's back. "It's been seven years Corazone, tell me are you still pining after him!?" Lisa asked stiffly. 

Cora sharply turned her head away from the window and looked at her cousin and best friend... 

"What nonsense are you saying from your mouth, huh!? As you said, it's been seven fucking years! Do you think I've forgotten he dumped me for another woman!? Is it possible for me to still be in love with such an asshole!?" Cora shouted furiously before leaning back into her chair. 

Then she said softly staring ahead at nothing in particular. "I'm scared! I'm scared because of Isabella! What if they meet somehow? They looked so much alike, even a dumb person would know he's her father. How would I explain him to her after I already told her, her father died!? 

She might hate me! What if he wants to be in her life? I don't want him near me and my child but he's her father! Will I be able to prevent him from seeing her?" Cora asked, her eyes that were flashing with anger had tears in them at the same time. Those are my fears, Lisa! What do you suggest I do!?"

Lisa was the first to look away this time, staring out the window. God! This is so messed up!" She murmured