Chapter 6

Clara’s POV

I straightened in my seat as the flight attendant's voice echoed across the first-class session.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we’ll be arriving in New York in twenty minutes. Please fasten your seatbelts as we would soon begin our descent.”

I huffed softly, after six years, I was returning to New York. I’d come back to the same place that offered me nothing but pain and sorrow.

Finally, I would be meeting Damon Adams again. I couldn’t tell whether I would feel sad to see him or happy that I was finally going to put him in his place.

Maurice slowly shifted his head on my lap, snapping me out of my daze. I looked down at him, my fingers buried in his hair.

He was the only reason I had fought so hard to get to where I was. Every decision I made was aimed at giving him a better life.

A life where he wouldn’t have to depend on a scumbag like his father. I made sure he lacked nothing and never felt the void of fatherly love.

I smiled as I listened to his slow rhythmic breathing. Then I lowered my lips, closed to his ear, and tapped his shoulder.

“Wake up, honey. We’re here.”

He wriggled and continued with his sleep. I wasn’t ready to give up either, so I shook him gently until he got up.

His hands folded into a soft fist, which he used to rub the remaining sleep off his eyes. “Are we there yet?” He asked in his little voice.

“Very soon, my boy,” I replied, helping him sit up…..then fasten his seat belt.

When the plane finally touched down in New York. I held onto Maurice's arm, and together, we filed out alongside the other passengers.

I got our luggage from the airport before we moved to the curb searching for the private car that was meant to take us to the hotel.

“I’m starving, Mom,” Maurice whispered, his hand slowly circling his tummy. He looked up to me, his eyes carrying lots of concern. “When is the driver coming?”

“Uhhhhm,” I murmured, trying to form the right excuse but ended up getting nothing.

“Don’t worry, baby, the driver will soon be here,” I said and glanced at my wristwatch—just to see how cooked I was.

It was 7:45 p.m., and I was still yet to get to the hotel. I had an important meeting the next morning, and I needed to prepare for it.

I paused and turned a glance toward the drivers holding up boards with their passenger’s name written boldly on them.

None bore my name, and it was pathetic.

I left the luggage handle and dug a hand into my bag for my phone.

The screen came alive at a single tap, and I immediately dialled the driver’s number, pressing the phone against my ear afterwards.

A frown surfaced on my face as I got no response. I was about to call the agency when Maurice tapped my arm.

“Look over there,” he said firmly, and my eyes immediately strayed to where he pointed. It was a man holding up a board with my name boldly written on it—I wondered why I didn’t see him earlier.

I bent over and ruffled Maurice’s hair. “You have got a wonderful sight, my boy.”

“Come on, let’s go, Mom,” he spat without even caring about what I had just stated.

He then ran toward the man while my voice trailed off behind him, asking him to wait.

He didn’t listen – he actually never listens, and that was a character, I believed he got from Damon.

Even though I hated him so much, I couldn’t deny the fact that he was Maurice's father, and it was only normal for them to have similar traits.

I grabbed the luggage and rolled it toward them, the tyres making a weird sound against the asphalt.

The driver rushed over and got the luggage from me. “I’m so sorry, Ma’am. I had a flat tyre on my way here,” he explained politely.

His voice carried a hint of sincerity, so I had to let it slide off even though I’d earlier intended to complain to the agency about poor service.

Maurice seemed to be on cloud nine. Immediately the luggage was placed at the back of the car, he bolted into the backseat with so much energy.

The drive to the hotel was so quiet and peaceful at first, and that was only because Maurice had fallen asleep.

That boy could bring down a building with his trouble and noise if he actually wanted to be naughty.

I was happy he was asleep, just like on the plane. At least I had time to lean against the window and watch the city lights fade past us.

New York hadn’t changed much, like I expected. The buildings were still the same, no major difference from what I knew six years ago.

It all got interesting as we drove into familiar streets. The memories flashed across my mind—memories of me and Damon having fun during our dating phase.

I shut my eyes at some point and exhaled a shaky breath I didn’t realise I had held for so long.

I could only pray that New York would have something amazing for me. This time I hope it will compensate for the pains I faced years ago.

After an hour's drive, the chauffeur finally pulled over in the parking lot of The Aurelia Grand Hotel.

The driver stepped out and quickly turned to get my door. “Thank you,” I mumbled as I stepped out and turned to scoop Maurice into my arms.

The air was refreshing, feeling like a gentle caress against my skin as I walked toward the main entrance.

It felt like the universe wanted to punish me. I reached the door and was about to walk in when I bumped into someone coming from inside.

“Are you crazy or high on something?” she spat aggressively, bending over to carry the document which had fallen to the floor.

I froze on the spot. My chest tightened, and goosebumps crawled across my skin. I never expected to see her, at least not the same day I came back. What was she doing here?