-Chapter Three-

I fix the collar of Roy's shirt as he scampers towards the school bus.

He stops abruptly and scuffles back to me and smiles sweetly.

"I think i forgot something."

What did he forget? I wonder.

I have packed his lunch and an apple, not to forget a bottle of water. So, I wonder what he really forgot.

"Bend!"

That is suspicious.

Why does he want me to bend, I wonder? And what does this have to do with what he forgot?

I bend quickly and he pecks me on the cheek. He touches the left cheek with his soft little hand.

"I love you mommy..."

My face breaks into a happy smile.

I peck his brow.

"I love you more, My love."

The driver honks at us.

I hear Renny yell at my son.

"Dude! It is getting late..."

He groans and runs backwards, blowing me kisses.

When the bus leaves, I stand there waiting for it to vanish completely.

When I spin around to go back to my house, I see the back of a man from a distance. He is dumping a cigarette in a bin.

He walks away and I can not see his face clearly.

He looks like...

I freeze at the thought.

No! God it can't be him.

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hopelessromantic♥️

I really love your books. Especially sweet stranger. I don't know why people are hating on the ending of the book. I am a strong believer in, everyone deserves a second chance. We are all flawed in one way or another. Just like Ramsey you know...

Me

Thank you so much for the support. It really warms my heart.

hopelessromantic❤️

I am looking forward to reading more of your books. You are really talented.

Me

Thanks.

I have not even thought of the next book I will be writing. But I will have to come up with a plot or an idea within the course of the week.

A knock on the door startles me.

I leave the writing site and put the laptop aside.

I wonder who that could be.

When I peep through the door, my heart literally sinks.

Riana???

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Riana is sitting across me, sipping the warm coffee, the mug clutched up in her hands.

"How did you know where I live?" I ask sharply.

"It is such a coincidence! See... Warren had come to see his parents here and I accompanied him. That same night when I was at the supermarket, I bumped into you. You do NOT know how relieved I was to see you..." she says. "I missed you."

We sit, cocooned in silence.

She narrows her eyes at me and breaks the silence.

"You just cut us off, Mila... Like we meant COMPLETELY nothing..."

That makes me feel terrible. Like I am a horrible person.

She sets the cup of coffee on the table and reaches for my hand. She scans me thoroughly.

"You look beautiful. That blonde dye and cropped haircut looks chic on you."

When I came to this new town, I dyed my hair blonde. I wanted to completely change my look and that is exactly what I did.

"And, do you even eat? How the fuck do you have such a great body! It is so unfair!"

I chuckle. "Well, because I am not pregnant..."

I say looking at her baby bump.

She starts to caress her bump affectionately.

"This is our second baby by the way..."

I gasp. "You have a kid?"

"Yeah... My first born is a girl. Her name is Claire," she says. "The little angel is the cutest thing..."

She stands up with struggle.

She paces around the living room and starts to go through the photos placed on the wall. Most of them of Roy, playing soccer. Roy, kissing my cheek. Roy, laughing vibrantly. Roy, receiving a medal for being the best in sports at school. Roy, playing with sand at the beach. Roy, biting a huge piece of pizza.

Riana glances at me with her smiling eyes.

"He is a happy kid."

I smile.

"You have no idea... He is just so full of life."

She turns to a framed photo of my son posing seriously for a studio photo.

She turns to look at me again. This time, with a stern look on her face.

"He looks exactly like Ramon... Especially his eyes..."

I ignore that statement blatantly and clear my throat.

"When are you going back to Kingswood?"

Believe me, I would love to sit with her the whole day. Ask her about Warren and Claire and the baby that is about to pop anytime soon.

I would like to ask her how the five years have been for her. And about her law career. And how she's balancing family and work.

But No! That would be opening one door from the past. And if that happens, more and more doors will be opened. And I do NOT want that to happen.

"You are kicking me out already?" she scoffs bitterly. "Ouch!"

"I am just asking..."

"Tonight."

Thank God!

"When you do, please do not tell Karla or anyone that you saw me or worse, about where I live. Please keep it a secret."

She frowns. "Karla misses you, you know..."

"I miss her too..."

She wends towards me and sits beside me.

"Then, come back to Kingswood. Let us start over and go back to the way we used to be. Late night coffees and crushing at your house for sleepovers!"

I take her hand.

"Believe me Riana, I miss all of those moments... I do. But I can not return to Kingswood. It is more quiet and peaceful here. And I can protect my son from all the demons of that God-forsaken town!"

"Are you protecting him from Kingswood or from Ramon?"

I freeze at the question.

But I clear my throat and say, "Both."

"I heard he Is free now..."

"I know."

"Roy is his son too, you know."

"So?" I ask in pure irritation.

She takes the mug of coffee from the table and sips it.

"So he will look for you two and I can bet on my life that he will find the both of you..."

I grab the mug from her hand and storm to the door.

I swing it open and glare at her.

"I think you have overstayed, Riana."

She looks at me, startled.

"Are you kicking-"

"Yes!" I cut her off impatiently. "I would really appreciate it if you never came back."

She struggles to stand from the couch and heads towards the door. She stops to look at me with a sad frown.

"No matter how much you try to run away from the past," she mutters. "It will catch up with you eventually, Camilla."

The second she steps out, I slam the door angrily.

Tears choke my throat.

I sit on the floor with my back against the door, whimpering.

The past has returned!

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That late afternoon, I hear the shuffling of feet from a distance.

The door flies open.

Roy and Renny.

My son seems angry about something.

He plonks on the couch and glares at the floor, not even hopping on top of me and showering me with kisses like he always does when he comes back from school.

Renny pecks me on the cheek and I notice my little boy glaring at him.

His friend greets and sits beside me.

Roy scowls at him. "Get away from my mom!"

Renny looks at him with a sorry frown.

"Roy, I said I am sorry..."

He crosses his arms across his chest and sneers at him. "Traitor!"

Renny frowns. "Dude, I didn't think you-"

He blocks his ears and yells at him. "Traitor!"

I look at Renny and take his little hand.

"What happened, Renny?," I ask in concern.

My son scowls at Renny and gives him that dangerous dare-you-tell-her look. He is scared to tell me but I lift his chin and tell him,

"If you tell me, I will make you two cups of chocolate milk..."

"Promise!!" he shrieks.

"I promise, Renny!"

He spills the beans right that moment!

"Today at the bus, I sat next to Lumia. Roy got angry and jealous about it!"

I chuckle at how ridiculous that sounds.

Roy crosses his arms on his chest angrily. He glares at me, then at his friend and snaps.

"Liar! You knew Lumia wanted to sit next to me but you had to go ahead and sit next to her first! And correction! I am not jealous!"

It is clear that my son really likes this "Lumia" whoever she is.

"Renny, why did you sit next to Lumia if you knew Roy would get angry about it?," I ask.

He fixes his glare at Renny. "Yes. Tell us!"

"Because Lumia's face goes all red when she sees Roy and she starts getting these butterflies in her stomach, and then her legs suddenly become weak," he explains, looking horrified.

My son is startled to hear about this.

He gasps in disbelief. "So, I make Lumia sick!"

"I think so, dude... You make her really really sick..."

Roy frowns and turns to me.

"Mom, what can I do to stop this? Should I stay away from her? I do not want to stay away from her mom! Is there anything I can do to stop this?" he asks in worry and so much concern.

I chuckle.

"It is not funny, Mom!" he hisses.

I clear my throat. "I think you should start playing with her. You can even invite her here and play with her and Renny."

"You think so?"

"I know so..."

"What if she gets even more sick, mommy?"

"She will not, Son... Trust me."

Roy turns to his friend and narrows his eyes at him suspiciously.

"Did Lumia tell you all these?"

"Yes, Roy," he nods. "She was afraid to tell you herself. But because we are best friends, she thought she could tell me to tell you."

"I will make it right. For her, I promise."

My little is angel is acting all grown up like a man and it is so funny to watch.

I wish I could tell him that "Lumia" likes him and that is why she feels that way around him. But I can't. He won't even understand because he does not even understand his own feelings.

"Boys! Time for some milk!" I announce.

Renny shrieks in delight. "Two cups for me!"

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The boys are done with their chocolate milk.

They are now upstairs, playing with Roy's toys. I can hear them giggling and running around the room. I know when I go up there, I will find the room in a total mess.

I am washing the utencils when I hear the doorbell ring. I wipe my hands dry with the table cloth and dash to the door.

It is Eric.

He looks dashing in a black tuxedo, his hair all made up. He looks a bit different than the usual him.

"Hey!"

A dazzling smile lights up his face. "Hey."

I call out loudly.

"Renny! Daddy is here to pick you up!"

"No. I am here for you, actually..." 

That catches me off guard.

"What?"

"Uh... Uh... Mila, I have known you for quite some time now... Ugh! What the fuck am I doing now?" he laughs nervously.

I cross my fingers behind my back, hoping he does not say what I dread most.

"I realllyyyyyy like you Mila."

He pauses, looking at me with those gorgeous green eyes.

"Please go on a date with me."

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We are at a lavish restaurant.

I am seated directly opposite from him, eating the scrumptious meal in front of me.

I am trying my level best to enjoy this date but it has been a long time since I did this with someone. And I have a son now.

I am just thinking about Roy and if he is really okay.

I left him and Renny with Eric's parents, whom I met today. They are actually sweet but my Roy can be a handful and quite stubborn at times. And I am afraid that they can mistake him for a mannerless kid, which he is not.

"You look lost," says Eric with a small smile. "Are you okay?"

I plaster a grin and sigh.

"I am fine, Eric... Look, I did not want to say No to you because I think you are a great guy. But, I don't think I am the right woman for you. And I do not want to lead you on. I think you deserve the best and I do not think I am that."

I just can't bring myself to be with a man or trust a man again after... Ramon.

A waiter sets two drinks on our table and I look up to thank him when I notice a man in a denim jacket and dark glasses from a distance.

He is staring at me.

When he sees I am looking back at him, he swiftly stands from the seat and rushes towards the exit door with a phone pressed on his ear.

I shoot up from the seat and follow him fast.

I pull him backwards, grabbing him by the collar of his jacket.

"Ramon?"

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