Chapter 1

"Are you done there yet?" Steven asked me rudely and he is sitting on the sofa while busy on his phone.

"I-I’m done, sir," I replied then stood up and shook off the dirt on my clothes.

"Good. Now leave," I hurriedly left out of his sight, carrying the cleaning materials I used.

"Are you okay Ria?" Lourdes asked me when she saw the sadness in my eyes. I smiled and kept from being upset about what had happened earlier. I've only been here for two weeks, but I felt like I want to give up.

"Are you going home now?"

"Yes, Lourdes. My son is already waiting for me," I said sadly and then went to the maid's quarters and take off the uniform I’m wearing.

Before I left, I looked at Steven who was now drinking while talking someone on his phone.

When I got home, there was no one. I just sighed when I realized that my son had not yet returned home with his godmother, Divine.

I sat on the sofa and leaned my head back to it. I’m so tired.

"Mama," I opened my eyes because of the voice of the angel calling me. It's no other than, my baby angel.

"Yes, baby?" I said then kissed him on the cheek which made him laugh. I fell asleep. What time is it?

"Where's Divine?" I asked my son noticing that there was no Divine’s shadow around.

"I'm here," I looked at the kitchen when I heard her voice coming from there.

“Thank you Vine,” I said for watching my son today.

"Don't mention it Ri. We're best of friends, right?" We both laughed at what she said.

"I'll go first. I still have works to do, Ri." she said goodbye then left.

"Mom, are we going home?" I frowned because I didn’t get what my son meant.

"We are home baby," I said confused because we are at home now.

"In Canada mama, I want to meet papa." My eyes widened. I know he has been looking for his father for a long time but even I, I don’t know if his father will accept him. Based on my observation of his father for two weeks, I'm not sure if he's a good guy.

He didn't even know that we had a one-night stand. He also did not know that he had a child who needed his care.

"Baby, we're going to Canada but not to look for papa. We're going to Canada to visit Aunt Agatha and Oceanie." I said and I saw in my son's eyes the sadness that I cannot bare to see. I don’t want to lie to him so even if it hurts, he should know our intention in going to Canada.

All he knew was that his father was in Canada. Even I, I thought Steven lived in Canada because that’s where we met. It was a one-night stand and he was drunk at that time. Stupid of me, because I gave in easily even though I wasn't drunk at all.

I was in Canada at that time because I visited Agatha. After all, it was her birthday.

That’s where Steven and I met.

It's been 6 years since I left Canada to return to the Philippines and my son is five years old now. The fruit of one night I was with Steven. I understand that he's looking for his dad because he's longing for his father's love that no matter what I do, I cannot fulfil.

"Mama you always telling me that papa is busy. I haven't met him even once. I just want to meet him even if it's only for one minute ." My son said crying. I don’t know what to tell him.

I am trying my best to approach Steven. I came to his house as his maid to get to know him. I want my son to know him. But I'm afraid that his dad won't like him. I don't want to hurt my son because of that.

"Okay, so like this, when we arrive in Canada, mama will look for papa and I'll tell him to meet you. Is that good?" He nodded, hoping what I said would happen. I'm sorry baby. Mama needs to lie.

I remembered the time before I disguise as Steven's maid.

We were in the living room with my friends Angie, Divine, and Lia. Only Agatha is missing because she's in Canada.

"We'll show you something Ri," it was Angie and she approached me with a magazine. I put down the juice that I currently drinking and looked at her.

"What is it?" I asked.

Instead of answering me, she handed me the magazine she was holding.

I looked at it confusedly and my eyes widened to see the face of the man I was with in a one night in Canada.

When I looked up, the three of them were looking at me seriously.

"He's the man, right?" Lia asked in her stoic face.

"How did you know?" I asked them in disbelief.

"Hunch! You said Hivo's father is Canadian but are you sure he's a Canadian? Maybe you said that because you both were in Canada at that time." Angie explained.

"That was our first clue that Hivo’s father may not be Canadian or live in Canada. It was just your assumption that he is from Canada since that's where you first met him. The second is, you don’t need a solid proof to know that he’s the father. Why? Because, your son exactly looks like his father. He just came from your vagin* but his appearance, he got that from the man who entered your flower.” Angie laughed after she said those nasty things.

"I heard she's looking for a new maid right now," Lia added ignoring Angie's joke.

"Yeah. He's Steven Marcus Alvante. One of the well-known rich bachelors in the country. You caught a big fish, Ri." Divine said making everyone laughed.

Everything I learned from them won't sink in. I've been looking for him for a long time because Hivo wants to meet him. I thought he was in Canada, but wait- what if he’s a bad man? What should I do?

“I want to apply as his maid,” I said and they stop laughing.

"We know. We see that coming and don't worry Ri, you will be sent as his new maid." Angie said confidently. Perks of having connections.

I sighed when I remembered that.

"Where are we going to s-stay mama?" my son asked me while I am pre-occupied of that thought. We’re heading to Canada now.

"At the hotel first son before we go to your Aunt Agatha's house,"

If my child is excited, I am nervous. I wish we could step in to Canada without a problem.

I ihold my son when our name was called. It's Hivo's first time riding on a plane but he seemed fine. He’s not scared or asking me about stuff. He's observing his surroundings.

"Hi," I looked at the person next to us. He was talking to my son who was busy looking around.

The guy looks like in his thirties. Handsome and educated, I think?

"Hello, mister," my son replied, and turned to look at me.

"Mama, can I talk to him? You're here anyway so I'm safe to talk to strangers, right?" I couldn’t help but laughed. I nodded and I kissed both of his cheeks.

"Of course son," I said and the man who heard what Hivo said laughed too.

"How old are you kid?" I heard the man asked. Why is he asking?

"I'm five years old mister," Hivo replied.

"I see. You look familiar," when he said that I got immediately nervous. Does he know Steven? Sh*t! Whoever knew Steven, will immediately know that Hivo is his son because the child's physical appearance is a carbon copy of the father.

"Baby, go to sleep. Stop talking with that stranger son," I said. He leaned his back on the chair and yawned.

When I looked at the man, he was looking intently at me and to my son. It looked like he's observing us.

"Don't you mind if I ask you miss about your name?" He asked.

"I'm not giving information to someone we didn’t know sir. If you mind please mind your own business." I couldn't help but to rolled my eyes because I didn't feel well with him anymore. He's a bad news to me.

"I see,"

He kept quiet so we arrived in Canada without hindrance.

When we got off, my son excitedly leaving the airport.

"Bro, I saw a kid. Yeah. He looks exactly like you," said the man we talked to earlier. He was talking on the phone and gladly, he’s looking at the opposite direction where we headed so he didn’t see us.

Is a he friend with Steven? Sh*t we need to get out of here. This is not yet the right time for Steven to know everything. I'm still not sure about him. I’m not sure if he’s a good person. I don't want to endanger my son even if he is still his father.

I took Hivo's hand and quickly grab a taxi. The driver got out of the car and helped us get our luggage into the compartment.

As we were about to enter, Hivo called the man he talked to on the plane earlier.

"Mister"

My eyes widened especially when I heard some of its curses. ‘Bad timing son, that's your dad's friend.’

"Sh*t they are leaving bro," I heard him said to the one he was talking on the phone then I closed the taxi's door.

"Faster mister, drive us to this address." I said while showing the address I wrote in my mini notebook while worrying that it might be Steven's friend.

Thank God we were safe when we got to the hotel. This is a five-star hotel and I no longer check who owns it. We only stay one night here so I'm not worried at all

I already booked our hotel room when we were still in the Philippines online so it wouldn’t take long to accommodate us. The facilities are good and the hotel is secure. Hivo seemed enjoying it.

"I like it in here mama," he said. We were near the counter, waiting for a staff to lead us to our room.

"Oh my God," the woman said while looking at my son. The woman looked like just my age. There are many bodyguards behind her so she's probably an important person.

" (Iwan niyo na’ko. Ligtas naman ako dito.) Leave me alone. I'm safe here," said the woman in the language I am familiar with.

I was surprised when I heard her. Why is she going to our direction? Does she knows Steven? If yes we are dead.

"I'm sorry miss. But your child looks so familiar."

It was as if my whole body had lost blood when she told me that.

"I know you're a Filipino too. I heard this cute kiddo talking ealier. Am I right kiddo? You came from the Philippines?" she asked my son, smiling.

"Yes, po," she just smiled again at my son and she looked at me.

"Do you know Steven Alvante?" she asked. I didn’t answer and I felt like I was going to faint because of nervousness.

"Based on your reaction, it's a yes," she said looking at me seriously.

I couldn’t find the right words to answer. Then the staff interrupted us because he's going to accompany us to our room.

The woman followed us.

"Thank you," I said to the staff as we entered to our room.

"I am harmless. Can I go inside? No worry I can guarantee you that I am not a bad person. By the way, I am Hannah Alvante and yes, I am the sister of Steven Marcus Alvante."

Oh my God! His sister?

No way..... I'm doomed!