Chapter 4:

“She’s with us, bro!”

Patrisha’s heart pounded with fear and anxiety when the three men who had been bothering her finally caught up with her. Without thinking, she tightened her grip on the shirt of the man she had bumped into again, the same man who had helped steady her.

As if he immediately sensed her fear, he quietly asked, “Do you know them, Miss?”

Patrisha couldn’t utter a single word at that moment because of the fear and anxiety she was feeling. All she could do was shake her head in response to the stranger standing so close to her.

Compared to the three men who had been harassing her, the man she had bumped into seemed far more trustworthy. He was also the same man she had encountered inside the bar earlier.

“Okay. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you,” the man said softly before gently pulling her behind him and facing the three men.

“I think you’re mistaken because she’s with me—”

He couldn’t finish what he was saying because Patrisha suddenly vomited on his back.

The dizziness hit her again, accompanied by a sickening twist in her stomach.

The three men grimaced and took a small step back when they saw the mess and smelled Patrisha’s vomit on the man’s back.

The stranger defending Patrisha squeezed his eyes shut before taking a deep breath. Within moments, the three men finally disappeared from their sight.

“I’m sorry!” Patrisha said apologetically, still dizzy and embarrassed after throwing up on his back.

The man turned to face her. There wasn’t even a trace of irritation or anger on his face despite what she had done to him. Instead, he calmly took off the leather jacket she had vomited on.

“It’s okay, Miss. Are you all right? Are you still feeling dizzy? Who are you here with?”

Patrisha could only stare at the man in front of her, her mouth slightly open. Instead of getting angry, he was actually worried about her.

“Miss?”

“Huh?”

“Okay, how about this? Just tell me where you’re staying, and I’ll get you into a taxi and tell the driver where to take you.”

Instead of answering, she suddenly hiccupped while still staring at the strange man standing in front of her. At the same time, her heart began pounding strangely for a reason she couldn't explain. She couldn't even tell whether it was still because of how drunk she was.

She had to admit that the stranger was handsome. He had a well-built physique that complemented his sun-kissed skin. His chest and shoulders were broad, and he had a perfectly pointed nose. She had met and encountered plenty of handsome men throughout her life, but she didn't know why there was something different about this man standing in front of her now—something that seemed to captivate her.

“Miss?”

“Huh?” She couldn't help but stare into his beautiful, deep chocolate-colored eyes as he looked at her.

“Where do you live?” the stranger asked again.

“With you.”

“Huh?” The man frowned in confusion.

“I-I mean... far away,” she quickly said, trying to cover up her embarrassment. “You don't have to take me there anymore. I can manage on my own. Thank you, and I'm sorry.”

“Are you sure, Miss?”

Patrisha quickly nodded and immediately answered, “Of course!”

A moment later, her eyes fell on the leather jacket he was holding—the one she had just vomited on. Although she couldn't bring herself to say anything, the embarrassment and guilt on her face clearly showed how sorry she was for the trouble she had caused him. The man immediately understood.

He gave her a small smile before hiding the leather jacket behind his back. “It's okay. Don't worry about it anymore,” he said kindly.

“S-Sorry, I really—” She couldn't finish what she was saying because she was caught off guard when the man suddenly hailed a taxi for her.

When the taxi stopped in front of them, the man gently took her hand and guided her into the back seat. The strange pounding in her chest grew even stronger because of his touch, leaving her unable to say another word.

Before the stranger closed the taxi door, she saw him take out his phone and snap a photo of the taxi's license plate. Once he was done, he immediately spoke to the driver.

“Please take her to…” The man turned to look at her, his eyes silently asking where she wanted to be taken.

“City Terra Condo,” she quickly answered, staring at the stranger who was making her heart pound in such a strange way.

The man gave her a sweet smile, as though he was relieved that he finally knew where she was staying. At least, that was how his smile seemed to her.

“Okay,” the taxi driver replied.

“Take care, Miss,” the man said before handing her a small piece of paper.

She looked at it in confusion, and the man quickly explained, “I just want to make sure you get back safely to where you're staying.”

He smiled at her once more before finally closing the taxi door. The taxi soon pulled away, leaving him behind.

Patrisha slowly looked down at the piece of paper he had given her and saw a phone number written on it.

Was this his number? Did he want her to message him once she got home safely?

She felt both of her cheeks grow warm.

Because of that man, her drunken haze had completely disappeared, and she had finally returned to her senses.

THE FRESH, cool breeze brushed against Patrisha and gently wrapped around her as she took in her surroundings. It had been a long time since she had last set foot in this place, her favorite vacation spot when she was a child.

So many happy memories with her grandmother lived on in this place. That was also the reason she had never returned after her grandmother passed away. Even though several years had already passed since Lola Prima's death, the memory of what happened was still painful for her.

She didn't want to remember that painful chapter of her life, but there was nothing she could do now. She had to follow her parents' wishes and live here with her child.

Patrisha gave a bitter smile as she held her five-year-old son's hand tightly.

“Are we going to live here, Mommy?” her son innocently asked after a moment.

“Yes, Baby! This is where we will live from now on.”

“Great! I think I will like it here, Mommy!”

“That’s good then, Baby,” she replied with a smile.

Her phone suddenly began ringing, announcing an incoming call.

Without letting go of her son’s hand, she pulled her phone out of her sling bag with her free hand. She let out a heavy sigh when she saw her father’s name on the screen. It took her another two seconds before she finally answered the call.

“Are you both there already?” her father asked as soon as she answered.

“Yeah.”

“Your grandfather will have his driver pick you both up there.”

“Okay.”

“Let me know once you’re on the island.”

“All right.”

“Now I can finally be at ease knowing that it will be better for you and your son to stay there,” her father added, causing her to fall silent for a moment.

Patrisha knew that, ever since then, her parents had seen her as nothing more than a rebellious daughter because of the way she had chosen to live her life. But even now, she couldn't deny that the way they treated her still hurt, even though she was already a mother herself.

It seemed that they still didn't trust her. As if, at any moment, she would do something reckless again and give them another reason to worry.

Eventually, the call ended without her saying anything more to her father. She didn't want to let her resentment toward her parents grow, but she couldn't help feeling hurt by them.

Especially since they hadn't even come to see them—not even their grandson, who had been so excited to see them.

“Who was on the phone with you, Mommy?”

Patrisha turned to her son.

“Was it Lola? Or Lolo?”

She gave him a bitter smile. “It was your Lolo.”

“What did he say? Is he going to meet us here?”

Her son’s question caused a painful ache in her heart. She knew the truth. Her parents didn't exactly adore her son because, in their eyes, he was simply the result of her stubbornness and rebellion against them.

“Yes, Baby. He'll visit us here once he’s no longer busy,” she lied with a smile.

“Yay!” her son exclaimed excitedly.

She bit her lower lip as the ache in her chest grew stronger. She felt sorry for her son. At his young age, it was already difficult for him to understand the complicated life they shared as mother and son.

Despite that, he always listened to and believed everything she told him, including the reason why his Papa Ethan had another partner and other children.

Patrisha’s pity for her son was interrupted when two men approached them.

“Good day, Miss. We're sorry we're only getting here now.”

“Are you the ones who came to pick us up?” she asked.

The two men exchanged glances before one of them answered.

“Yes, Miss. Come on. We still have a long journey ahead of us to the island.”

One of the men immediately picked up their luggage while the other guided them toward a red vehicle.

However, just before she and her son could get into the vehicle, Patrisha began to feel uneasy about the two men. They seemed restless, constantly glancing around as if they were worried someone might be watching them.

One of the men was about to open the car door when she suddenly stopped him.

“Wait!”

“Why, Miss?”

“Which island are we going to again?”

She noticed the man swallow hard at her question, as though he didn't know how to answer her. Patrisha immediately stepped back, pulling her son closer.

“Who are you?”

The two men’s expressions slowly hardened as they stared at her.

“Just come with us, Miss. We'll take you wherever you're supposed to go.”

“You're not the people my grandfather sent, so why should we go with you?” she demanded bravely.

She quickly scooped up her son and grabbed their belongings.

But before she could get away, one of the men grabbed her tightly by the arm.

“Just come with us if you don't want to get hurt.”