Chapter 0004

SIX YEARS LATER

(Allison's POV)

As I stepped out of the airport, a rush of memories flooded back, bringing with them everything I left behind in California six years ago. The sights, sounds, even the scent in the air—it all felt just like yesterday. Nothing had truly changed, yet everything had. California had been my home, a place of both pain and love, and while it was a difficult decision to leave, I knew it had been the right one. Moving away allowed me to heal, to shed old wounds, and to reinvent myself in a way I didn’t think was possible. Now, I was here again, but this time as a successful businesswoman who had risen from the ashes of her past.

My journey to success hadn’t been the glamorous kind you see in the movies. It was real, gritty, filled with obstacles that felt insurmountable at times. I had to fight, to push myself harder than I ever thought I could.

A small voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Mummy!" My son’s voice, clear and filled with excitement, brought me back to the present. His small feet raced toward me, his face lit up with joy, and in that moment, I saw a reflection of Scott in his blue eyes. My secretary, Bonnie, followed him closely, smiling as she approached us, having just returned from the restroom where Liam insisted on going.

"Liam!" I grinned, my heart swelling with happiness. As he reached me, I scooped him up, tickling him gently, and his laughter filled the air, bright and contagious.

He was my source of strength, the light in my life that kept me going through the toughest times. Moving to New York all those years ago had been challenging—there were moments when I was consumed by doubts, wondering if I had made the right decision. But each time I thought of the baby growing inside me, I found the resolve to move forward. I wanted to give him a world filled with love and possibilities. Today, that tiny life inside me was now a five-year-old boy with his own thoughts and dreams, a little person with a heart so pure and a spirit so strong.

"Mummy, is our new house ready?" Liam asked, his eyes wide with curiosity as he looked up at me. I nodded, ruffling his soft hair with affection.

"Yes, it’s all ready for us, and guess what? Aunty Hilda and Uncle Alex are so excited to see you," I replied with a warm smile, watching his face light up.

"Yay! Let’s go, Mummy. I want to see Uncle Alex so we can play a game together!" he exclaimed eagerly, referring to my younger brother, whom he adored.

During my years in New York, Alex and my Aunt Hilda had been a lifeline for us. They visited often, bringing a piece of home with them every time, and Liam had quickly bonded with Alex. They were inseparable, always finding new games and adventures to share.

"Why do I feel like you love Uncle Alex more than me?" I teased, pretending to be hurt, watching as Liam’s face turned serious.

"That's not true, Mummy. You’ll always be my favorite person," he replied earnestly, leaning forward to kiss my cheek, his sweetness melting my heart.

"And you’ll always be Mummy’s favorite person too," I murmured, kissing his cheek in return. His giggle filled the car as Bonnie helped us load our luggage into the trunk. Soon, we were on our way to the new home I had purchased before coming back to California—a fresh start, in a place that felt familiar and yet different.

"Uncle Alex!" Liam shouted the moment we arrived, running into Alex’s open arms. "Let’s play a game! I’m going to win this time!"

"Are you sure you don’t want to rest first?" Alex chuckled, his eyes warm as he looked at my son. Alex was in his final year of engineering school, nearly ready to graduate and take on the world himself.

"No! I want to play, and I’m going to win this time!" Liam insisted, his face filled with determination. Watching them together brought a smile to my face—Liam, so full of life, and Alex, who had always been a calming presence in our lives.

While they discussed their games, Aunt Hilda and I unpacked and started settling into the new house. Bonnie had already left to see her family—she too was originally from California, so this return was a reunion of sorts for her as well.

"Are you sure you don’t want to live here with me? I have plenty of rooms," I asked Aunt Hilda, hoping she’d consider it.

She gave me a gentle smile, shaking her head. "We’ve been through this, Allison. I can’t leave my home. It’s filled with memories of my late husband," she replied softly.

I nodded, understanding her perspective. Aunt Hilda was more than an aunt; she was the mother figure who had taken Alex and me in after our parents passed away. She raised us as her own, filling our lives with love and stability even as she carried her own sorrows.

"Don’t worry, dear. I’ll be here all the time to help you settle in," she assured me, and we shared a warm hug.

Days passed quickly as we settled back into California life. I enrolled Liam in one of the best schools, and I threw myself into preparing for the official launch of my company. It had always been my dream to own a clothing line, a company that stood for creativity, confidence, and empowerment. To see that dream take form was thrilling.

"Everything is ready for the launch, Allison," Bonnie informed me, passing over a few documents for me to sign. Her excitement was contagious, and I knew we were onto something incredible.

Later, when it was time to pick Liam up from school, I decided to surprise him with some of his favorite chocolates. I made a quick stop at the store and was browsing through the candy aisle, trying to pick out Liam's chocolate when a familiar voice startled me.

"A box of chocolates"

I froze. That voice—it was unmistakable, one that had once meant the world to me and later shattered it. I took a step forward, but my feet faltered when I saw Scott paying for a box of chocolates that had just been handed to him.

He had a smile on his face, one that reminded me of Liam's whenever I gave him a box of chocolates. Before I could turn on my heels and leave, Scott's eyes met mine, and his smile vanished, replaced by an expression of shock at seeing me again after six long years.

The box of chocolates slipped from his hands as he stared at me. "A--Allie?" he muttered under his breath.