CHAPTER 2: The Man in Her Past

“Good morning, everyone! Welcome to ‘A Morning with Lisa Show’! I'm your host, Lisa Reyes, and we have an incredible show lined up for you today. Our first guest is none other than the country’s hottest bachelor of 2022, Mr. Braxton Guttierrez!”

Braxton Guttierrez - the name I avoid hearing for so long makes my heart twitch. But then that twitch turns into palpitation when the camera shifts to show him, sitting on the white couch next to the host. 

Braxton exudes an air of magnetic charm and undeniable allure. His physical appearance is striking, characterized by well-defined features that blend harmoniously to create a captivating presence. His face, sculpted with precision, showcases a strong jawline that adds a touch of masculinity to his overall appeal. His gold eyes, deep and penetrating, hold a spark of confidence and intelligence. His dark hair, meticulously styled, frames his face in a manner that perfectly complements his features. 

“I hope you’re doing great today, Mr. Guttierrez,” says the host as she tucks the strands of her short, blonde-dyed hair behind her ear.

“I’m doing amazing actually, not just today, but everyday,” he responds.

Well, good for him if that’s the case. On the other hand, my life is a relentless onslaught of obstacles. 

“It's such a pleasure to have you here tonight. You've been a busy man, haven't you?”

“Thank you, Lisa! It's great to be here. Yes, it's been a whirlwind, but I love what I do, so it's all worth it.”

“Well, we certainly appreciate you taking the time to be with us. Now, let's talk about the Children in Need Foundation, which you founded about ten years ago when you were just eighteen,” says the host, before folding her bare leg on top of the other without even attempting to yank down her mini, fitted skirt to hide some of her skin.

“That’s right,” Braxton replies, with eyes almost fixated on the camera screen and only barely glancing at the host's face just to probably show her some respect.

“So what can we expect for the tenth year anniversary of the Children in Need Foundation? Is this year’s anniversary gonna be different from the previous ones?” 

“To be honest, my team and I have decided not to spoil anything yet to the public about it. But I can assure you that I’ll make this year’s celebration big and grand. The children and the staff and the volunteers are gonna love and enjoy it.”

Braxton’s posture and voice exude self-assurance, a testament to the strength of his character. His gaze, steady and unwavering, conveys a quiet power that draws viewers in, as if they are magnetized by him, for he is a man who knows his worth and is ready to do what he thinks is right with unshakable determination.

“I’m so excited, Mr. Guttierrez. I hope you’ll invite me to celebrate with you!” the host giggles, then laughs.

Braxton responds to her with just a grin, which means - it’s a ‘NO’, he won’t invite her.

I remember attending his foundations’ anniversary a few years back. Only the ones who showed genuine care for the orphans got a personal invitation from him. Not even his father or other pack members, who were disinterested in charitable works, were there.

Even though the host notices a slight awkwardness, her facial expression doesn’t mirror her unrelaxed state. Her brow looks untroubled, free from any signs of strain or worry. Apart from appearing unaffected by Braxton’s unworded refusal, she’s also able to veer off the conversation into another topic effortlessly.

She says, “Let’s talk about your personal life instead.”

Her eyes sparkle with a mischievous glint. The corners of her lipstick-stained lips curve into a playful smirk, amplifying the intrigue of her gaze.

“A source tells us that your fiancée will be coming back to the country after a long stay abroad. Does that mean your supporters could expect a wedding soon?”

Fiancée?! Braxton has a fiancée?!

My body rigidifies and my arms loosely hug it, creating a protective barrier. My gaze falls to my rugged shoes, averting my attention from the TV screen. And my lips part, letting out a heavy sigh.

So what if he’s about to get wed? So what if he’s in love with someone else? And so what if he has finally found a Luna whom his pack will accept and support? My head is already brimming with problems, and his love life adding to those is silly and unnecessary. 

I turn around and just after taking the first step away from the lobby, Braxton’s response glues me in place. 

“I don’t have a fiancée.”

That’s only the first line of his answer and I find myself staring back on the TV screen again.

Though the host looks genuinely surprised, a triumphant glint in her eyes betrays her inner thoughts.

“I’m not even dating anyone. So me having a fiancée is nothing but a rumor,” Braxton repeats. “Right now, my obligations demand so much of my time and energy that I can barely take care of myself, let alone someone else. Outside of my pack’s corporate business, I also have other things I’m devotedly supervising. Therefore, my romantic life will have to wait a little longer.”

“How much longer are you gonna stay single?”

The host’s question sounds more of a personal one than a professional one. 

Without waiting for Braxton’s response, she adds, “But don't you think there might be someone out there who would understand your busy lifestyle and be willing to work with you?” 

“Maybe, but finding that person feels like searching for a needle in a haystack. Besides, I've seen friends and colleagues struggle to balance their personal and professional lives, and I don't want to go through that," Braxton replies.

Well, him having no time for romance is better than him already enjoying romance - I immediately shake my head and clench my jaw.

Eloise! Stop it!

Like me, the host maintains her nosiness and insensitivity about the topic. She asks, “It's not normal for someone your age to be single for so long. Don't you ever get lonely?”

Braxton stares at the host for a few seconds, before bluntly responding, “Ask me about something else instead.”

There’s a palpable sharpness in his voice, which everyone, even the viewers in the lobby, takes notice of.

“He shouldn’t be that rude to the lady. She’s only doing her job,” an old man, who’s sitting on the sofa near me, whispers.

“But the lady should also have a sense of sensitivity when asking her questions,” the old woman, probably his wife, who’s sitting next to him, replies.

The host can’t fight back her disjointed gestures. She now lacks the natural fluidity she once portrayed. She takes on an awkward tone, filled with stilted pauses and forced laughter. Unexplained silences punctuate her dialogue, making the atmosphere increasingly uncomfortable. She also stumbles over her words or uses inappropriate humor in an attempt to break the tension, only to find herself sinking further into the awkwardness.

I’m not sure if I should feel bad for her or not. But what I’m sure of after seeing Braxton again is that a huge chunk of my anxiety has been lifted out of me. He may get angry at me once he finds out that he’s unknowingly deprived of a son for years. Still, I’m confident that after what happened between us in the past, his compassion and kindness will prevail. He may not care about me anymore, but I know he will do anything for his son - his dying son that badly needs him.

I leave the lobby and head back to my Maddox’s room. Maddox is awake when I enter his room, which sends guilt through me. So I rush towards his bedside.

“How long have you been awake?” I ask, caressing his forehead.

He tilts his head slightly from the pillow to look at me. Then he shrugs his little and weak shoulders. Instead of answering my question, he throws a question of his own. 

“Where you, mama?”

“I headed out to look for…uhm… a certain hospital’s department. Sorry I took too long.”

“Why?”

“Mama wanted to talk to people with good hearts to help Maddox become strong again. Mama wasn’t able to find the department, but was able to find someone with a good heart.”

Despite my Maddox’s physical discomfort, his face lights up with a radiant smile. His eyes sparkle with a genuine sense of joy and enthusiasm, reflecting his positive outlook. His smile is contagious, spreading warmth and happiness to my hopeful heart.

“Who?” he asks.

That one-word question sends a determination to hold back sudden strong emotions in my chest. My facial expression reveals a struggle to maintain composure. My brows are furrowed, as if trying to suppress the welling tears. Soon, my vision appears blurry, indicating the effort to hold back the emotions threatening to spill over. 

My voice quivers ever so slightly when I answer, “Your papa.”

My Maddox narrows his eyes, probably still trying to understand if what he heard is right or just his imagination. But when I repeat my answer to clarify that he didn’t misheard it the first time, his face undergoes a delightful transformation, a much stronger one than earlier. His gold eyes twinkle in excitement, and the skin around them crinkles. When his eyes become teary, my own tears become helpless and fall down faster than his.

As I wipe his happy tears, he murmurs softly, “Thank you, mama.”

Those innocent words elicit more tears in my eyes. He’s been nagging me about his father, but I always try to dodge it and divert his attention somewhere else.

Who would’ve thought that in order to save my son, I have to show myself to Braxton again - the man whom I left and hid from to save myself and my still unborn Maddox about five years ago.

“Since you still need to rest, I’ll ask Dr. Tiu to take care and look after you while mama talks to your papa. Is that okay?”

“Yes,” he says with a smile that doesn’t falter one bit.

Exactly as I said, I ask Dr. Tiu to stay with my Maddox. But she has other patients to attend to, so she gets my Maddox a nurse, who seems younger than me. She has a gentle demeanor and a warm smile, which creates an atmosphere of comfort and reassurance. 

“Please take care of my Maddox. I’ll do my best to return very quickly,” I say.

“No worries,” she replies.

I dangle my cheap-looking sling bag across my shoulder. Then I give my Maddox a kiss on the forehead and a flying kiss before stepping out of the door. Before the door shuts, my Maddox’s giggleness echoes.

He obviously is excited. I can’t disappoint him. I must bring Braxton to him. I understand that meeting Braxton again and letting him know about his son will be very dangerous, but I’m running out of options and time. I need to stop hesitating and start taking necessary but cautious actions.

With adrenaline coursing through my veins, I stand at the precipice of this dangerous decision, which has the potential to shatter my world, unleashing a cascade of consequences that will test my resolve and challenge the very core of my being. Even so, I’m ready to take a step forward, willingly plunging into the abyss of the unknown, ready to face the consequences of my audacious and probably best choice.