10

Jasmine's POV

I am still shaking long after the door bangs shut and I hear Nico's car speeding away from the driveway.

Finally, after what seems like eternity, I manage to get out of my daze.

"Mommy?" Michael's voice cuts through my thoughts. I turn to his direction immediately.

"Oh, I'm so sorry for that, baby. It must have given you a fright," I say, rushing to his side immediately and hugging him close to me.

"Who's that?" He whines as he pushes me away. The small frown on his baby face breaks my heart.

I realize that I might have traumatized him for life. What was a 3-year-old supposed to do after seeing such a scene and being unable to make sense of it?

"Don't worry, honey. He won't come here again," I reply, then repeat it a few more times as though it was going to solidify my stance. Maybe saying it long enough would make it real. I definitely did hope that Nico wouldn't show face here again.

An alarm goes off in the distance, and I quickly reach for my phone in my back pocket