11

Rachel’s POV

I could feel the cold breeze brush against my face as soon as I stepped off the plane. A kind of familiar feeling, the one that brought back to me, the memories I’d long buried within me. But I wasn’t the same Rachel in the past, who had left this country in tears, pain, and humiliation. I had returned different, with a purpose, and nothing could sway me now.

It's already been five long years since I ran away from everything that tore me apart, but now I was back, to return to every one of them, the things they had done to ruin me, even if it was just the weight of an atom, I am here to reclaim the honor I had always deserved.

The airport was alive, with various people, I remained focused as I walked past them,  heading straight for the car that was waiting to pick me up outside. It was a sleek black SUV. Sophia stood there with a bright smile plastered on her face. "Welcome Rachel, how was the trip" she left the door open to let me in. My fashion company had taken off in ways I never imagined, and all this was made possible with Sophia, who'd been by my side, managing it all flawlessly, she came back a few months earlier than me to finalize the setup of my new branch.

As I slid into the backseat, I took a deep breath. This was it. The day I had long, wait for.

Just as the car began to move, my phone buzzed. A familiar number flashed across the screen, and a smile tugged at my lips.

“Mummy! Can you see how perfectly I had timed your arrival?” Arielle’s voice, soft and sounding like a melody, chirped through the phone, her giggles, melting away the tension I still had from the long flight.

I couldn’t help but laugh softly while replying to her. “Yes, little cupcake, you’re right on time.”

I knew she wouldn't take that, ever since she turned 5, she'd warned me sternly not to call her 'little cupcake any longer, saying she was now a young lady. Who turns a young lady at 5, the little one never ceases to amaze me. "Oh, mummy...I had warned you several times, that you're violating my rules, I could get you arrested " she said chuckling. "I'm sorry princess I do not want to be arrested.

"Mummy, I got my dress earlier from the designer, it's so... beautiful," she said, mouthing the beautiful part. Arielle can be dramatic, as I was about to reply to her, I could hear from the background, Rayna’s voice, gentle but firm. “Arielle, give back the phone and go to bed. Stop disturbing Aunt Rachel with your chatter, you never get tired but I'm sure Auntie is."

Rayna was always looking out for me, even now, she's just as sweet as ever, her maturity over the years has surprised me, and I must say, I am proud of the young woman she is becoming.

“Mummy, make sure you eat well and grow fat!” Arielle said in her usual playful tone, her little voice making my heart swell with love. “I love you, mama!”

“I love you too, sweetie,” I replied, but before I could say anything more I heard the line beeped off.  They couldn’t come back with me as Rayna had to stay back because she would be graduating from high school, and she needed to finish up. They would be joining in, in a week.

Arielle’s energy was so infectious and unmatched, that I'm always in awe of her, even after all these years.  She was my everything—the reason I was determined to become who I am now. And now that I was back, I’d do anything to protect both of us.

I had to start my life in full.

I sat back and closed my eyes for a moment, allowing myself to enjoy the brief silence in the car.

While we drove through the city, I pulled out my phone again,  calling my secretary. I need her to keep me updated on the most important matters for the period of my absence, and she was good are what she does, always giving me exactly what I needed to know.

“The Grande Empire deal is now confirmed, ma'am,” she told me. “We’ll be collaborating with them on the upcoming fashion show next month.”

My heart skipped a beat as I  familiar name 'The Grande Empire'  My heartbeat quickened, and I clenched my phone tighter again my heart.

Noah.

I thought I was ready for this. I had spent the last five years preparing for this moment, rebuilding my life and gathering all the strength I needed to face anything—but just hearing his name again made something inside me shake.

Inhaling deeply, I reminded myself of who I was now. This time, I would be the one in control.

“Thank you,” I plied her keeping my voice as steady as possible. “Forward the details to me, so we can move forward .”

I hung up the phone and stared out of the window once again, sighting the familiar city streets, and I must say It was surreal being back here, in the place where everything had happened.

Noah might have thought he had won all those years ago, but he had no idea what was about to become of him.

I closed my eyes, gently massaging my temple, a habit I had developed to cope and to be able to think straight. My thoughts went back to my backbones, Sophia, Rayna, Juliet, my secretary, and most especially Arielle who had been a major source of motivation to be the best version of myself no matter how hard life tried to break me. She was the main reason to keep going when everything else seemed unsure.  

As we approached my new house, a magnificent mansion, standing tall and praising the wealth that was spent on it, I shook off my nerves, came out of the car, my head held straight, and the staff stood around on their notification of my arrival. I now one of the most influential fashion brands in the world. And nothing could ever challenge me now.