Chapter 39
As the view of Drelar City faded into the distance, Grace closed her eyes, feeling no attachment left behind. In the blink of an eye, another summer had arrived,
It had been six years since she’d left, and now Grace was back, holding hands with a cute little boy. Colin Floyd gazed at the vast airport of Drelar City, his little head filled with curiosity.
“Mom, who are you here to treat in Drelar City?” Colin asked.
In the six years since she’d been gone, Grace had married and now had a four–year–old son.
She pinched Colin’s chubby cheeks and smiled, “An old friend of mine…” Colin, a bit confused, held Grace’s hand tightly. His eyes. were filled with curiosity at everything he saw.
As they walked, Colin suddenly pointed at someone in surprise, “Mom, that boy looks just like you!” Grace paused, and she heard two voices, familiar yet strange, calling out.
“Grace!”
“Mom!”
Grace’s heart skipped a beat, and she turned her head around to see Antonio walking toward her with a teenager. It had been six years, and Antonio seemed to have lost his piety, no beaded bracelet in hand.
Omar had grown into an eleven–year–old boy, almost
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unrecognizable to her. Everything seemed to have changed, yet it also remained the same.
Colin tugged at Grace’s hand, looking puzzled. “Mom, what’s wrong?”
Grace stared at them, briefly lost in a daze, and then shook herself back to the present. She looked down at Colin, and the discomfort in her chest faded. “Colin, it’s nothing. Let’s go.”
Colin’s spirits lifted, and he looked up with a grin. “Mom, are you hungry? My tummy is telling me it’s hungry.”
Grace’s heart melted at Colin’s cute stunts. She picked him up and playfully scratched his nose. I’ll get you a nice meal.”
“Hold on!”
Just as they were about to leave, Omar’s frowning face popped up. With a frown, Grace took a step back, keeping Colin close to her.
“What are you doing?”
Omar’s eyes bulged, pointing an accusing finger at Colin. “Who’s this little troublemaker?”
Colin hugged Grace, making faces at Omar. “You bad guy! You can’t talk to my mom that way!”
Grace quickly comforted Colin with a kiss on the cheek. “It’s alright, Colin.”
Colin’s smile came back, but he shot a defiant look at Omar. Omar was seething, unaccustomed to such treatment from Grace. Antonio’s voice, laced with restrained fury, cut through
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the tension.
“Grace, who is this child?” he grilled her.
Grace was caught off guard, second–guessing her decision to return today. But Colin piped up, defending Grace, “I’m Mommy’s boy. Who are you? You’re not as cool as my dad.” Grace was taken aback by Colin’s articulate defense.
Then, in an instant, Colin’s tears started flowing.
Omar had Colin’s arm in a pinch, his teeth clenched as he spoke through gritted teeth, “Listen up, boy. She’s my mom, not yours!”
Grace’s heart ached. She pushed Omar away and snapped, “Don’t hurt my son!”
Omar reeled from the push, his eyes brimming with shock and tears. He’d never expected Grace, who’d always been so affectionate, to act like this.
But Grace was focused on Colin, lifting his sleeve to show a bruised arm. “Colin, it’s going to be okay,” she comforted, her voice soft. “I’ll get you out of here.”
Colin hugged Grace’s neck tightly, crying his heart out. “Mommy, they’re bad guys. Let’s wait for Daddy to show them who’s boss!”
Grace rubbed Colin’s back gently. “Daddy will be here soon, Colin. Just a few more days. Don’t worry.”
Antonio, who had been keeping his cool, lost it at last. He grabbed Grace’s wrist, saying, “How long are you going to keep this up? Did you have any idea how hard I searched for you?”
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Grace, repulsed by his grasp, yanked her arm free. “Back off. We’re through, and you’re well aware of that,” she said, her voice icy.
Antonio looked at her, like he was seeing her for the first time. “It’s been long enough. Your games should have ended by now!”
With Colin in her arms, Grace looked at Antonio and Omar, a touch of sarcasm in her eyes.
“I’m not playing games with you. Why don’t you guys leave me alone and go to Kendra? She’s right over there, watching everything.” No sooner had Grace spoken than Kendra, her anger barely in check, stormed over.
Kendra quickly dashed away the envy from her eyes and latched onto Antonio’s arm. “Grace, it’s been ages. I’m surprised to see you back in Drelar City. Did things not go well for you abroad?”
Grace remained unfazed by Kendra’s taunts, responding with a mere, calm smile, “Sorry to let you down. I’ve been great, and I’ve got this cute little son here.”
Kendra’s smile faltered, but she continued, “Grace, may I know who your husband is?”
“Enough!” Antonio’s expression was grim as he yanked Kendra with a firm grip.
Omar stepped up, his voice barely above a whisper..“Kendra…”
It was the first time Kendra had been shut down like that by Antonio, and she was left dumbfounded, nibbling her lip in annoyance. Grace, not wanting to be in their presence any longer, made to leave with Colin in her arms.
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Yet again, Omar stood in her path, his face all twisted up as he blurted out, “You can’t go. Dad and I searched high and low for you.”
Antonio’s face was a mask of sternness. “You can’t just
disappear from our lives. You need to return to the Kaufman’s place. Omar needs his mom.”
Grace gave them a look, a touch of sarcasm in her eyes. “That’s not what you said back then. You made it clear I wasn’t fit to be Omar’s mom, that we were through.”
Then she turned to Omar, whose face was a mix of confusion and sadness. “You’ve cut me out, and now Kendra is your mom. I’ve only got Colin.”
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