Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

 Escape

 “Lucy’s POV”

 I know running away isn’t the perfect choice for us, pero wala na talaga akong ibang maisip na paraan para takasan ang lahat ng nangyayari. I know this looks cowardly, but I don’t have any other choice.

 Habang papalayo kami sa art gallery at sa kanya ay siya namang paghinto ng malakas na ulan. Tila ba naiintindihan ng langit ang nararamdaman ko. My heart tore into pieces again. But this isn't just about my feelings for Felix. Oo, aaminin ko, I still love him. Pero mas takot ako ngayon sa ideyang mawala ang anak ko—my one and only son.

 On our way to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, I quickly called my cousin, Trixie.

 “Hey, Trix… Umm… can you do me a favor?” I asked hesitantly.

 “Wait! What happened? Where are you, Lu—” naputol ang sasabihin niya nang may kumatok sa pinto nila.

 “Teka lang, Lucy. I need to check who's knocking,” sabi niya.

 “Umm… if someone’s looking for me, tell them I’m not here, okay?” I told her. She put the phone down as she slowly peeked through the door. Nang binuksan niya ito, I could tell from her voice that she was surprised.

 “Hmm… Oops, do I know you? Ahh… you’re Felix Creed, right? Anong kailangan mo?”

 I froze. Hearing his name from the other line made my stomach turn. He's at Trixie’s house.

 “Where is Lucy?” he demanded.

 “Wait a second. Calm down! If you’re looking for Lucy, she’s not here! Last time I heard, she and her son Max were at her art gallery launch. Sa—asan nga ba ’yon… L’Aurore Art Gallery? So please, leave. Don’t bother me. Or better yet, if Lucy ever comes back, get the hell out of her life,” Trixie said firmly.

 “Okay, fine. I’ll leave,” he said. “But tell her this, she can’t run forever. I’ll track her down, and I’ll get her and our son back.”

 Trixie let out a sarcastic laugh. “What? You think Lucy’s son is yours? The nerve! After everything you did to her, now you’re pretending you care?”

 “I don’t believe you,” Felix snapped. “I know that boy is mine. He is mine.”

 “Believe me or not, I don’t care,” Trixie replied sharply. “Lucy and my nephew Max are living happily with his real father. And you wouldn’t know, would you? Because you’re a coward hiding under your mother’s skirt.”

 I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Since the day they thrown me out of the Creed mansion while carrying their heir, Trixie has been my hero. She took care of me and my baby. Because of her, I survived—we survived.

 “Fuck!” Felix cursed. “Remember this, Ms. Beatrix Eillana Daine, and tell Lucy, she may have escaped today, but I will find her. Especially my son.” Then he left. I could still hear his footsteps leaving Trixie’s house.

 “The nerve of that man,” Trixie snapped over the phone. “After three years of abandoning you, now he has the guts to show up and claim rights over you and your son? Fuck that asshole, Lucy!”

 “Trix, calm down. I know… and please lower your voice. Your nephew might hear you cursing,” I replied, laughing a little.

 She chuckled too. “Anyway, back to your favor—ano ba ‘yon, Lucy? You got me nervous.”

 “That’s it. If Felix comes back, please keep him away. And about my clients, just tell them I’m on a business trip abroad,” I told her.

 “Wait—where are you going? And what business trip? I’m your personal secretary and there’s nothing like that on your schedule!” she asked, confused.

 “That’s the favor, Trix. I don’t want to go home yet—Felix knows where to find us. That can’t happen. Max and I are going to Hong Kong to meet a friend. Do you remember Mr. Huang?”

 “Mr. Huang? You mean Akihiro Huang? The heir of the Huang Group of Companies?! The infamous tycoon—aside from the Creeds?” she gasped.

 “Yes, Aki and I have been best friends since high school. He’s now the CEO of HGC, and he offered me a job—as head of their Creative Department.”

 “Kidding aside, this field isn’t new to me, Trix. You know I graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, di ba?” I added.

 “I know that, Lucy. But what I’m saying is… you hooked a big fish! You’re not just joining one of the biggest companies—you’re leading a department! The girl they once treated like trash is now gold. I’m proud of you. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of things here,” she assured me.

 “I know, Trix. Thank you for being my hero… my best friend. I wouldn’t have made it this far without you. This time, I’ll fight back. I won’t let my son go through what I did at the hands of the Creeds,” I said, tearing up.

 “Alright, Lucy. Just take care of my cute and handsome nephew, okay? Bye!” she said before ending the call.

 “Bye, Trix.” I sighed deeply. We had just arrived at Terminal 3 of NAIA. I glanced at Max, who was still fast asleep. Twenty minutes ago, I booked our flight. Boarding was just minutes away.

 I gently woke him. “Max, sweetheart, wake up. We’re at the airport now,” I said softly, stroking his cheek.

 He opened his eyes, confused. “Mommy, where are we going? Where’s Tita Trixie?”

 “Hmm… baby, Tita Trixie won’t come with us. She’s busy with work. We’re going to Hong Kong to visit Disneyland—and Mommy will work there too,” I explained calmly.

 “Yay! Disneyland! I want to go there, Mommy! I want to see Olaf, Mickey Mouse, and are there Avengers too, Mommy?” he asked excitedly.

 His innocent joy made my fear fade, even just for a moment. In his smile, I found my strength. At ang takot ko na baka bukas ay wala na sa aking kanlungan ang anak ko ay napalitan ng pag-asa that we’ll be okay.

 “Yes, baby. Disneyland has Mickey Mouse and Olaf too! And if we go to the right one, like in Hong Kong or California, we can even see the Avengers. One day, we’ll take lots of pictures with them. Would you like that?” I answered, smiling.

 He beamed and nodded. “Yes, Mommy! I want to hug Olaf. And I want to fly with Iron Man!”

 I laughed softly and kissed the top of his head. “Then you better be a good boy on the plane, okay? Because Iron Man only visits little boys who behave.”

 He gasped in excitement. “Okay po! I’ll be super good!”

 We reached our boarding gate just in time. I showed the agent our tickets while holding Max’s small hand tightly. He looked around, eyes wide with wonder at the people, the blinking lights, and the sound of airplanes taking off.

 “Mommy, is this the airplane that will fly like a bird?” he whispered, clinging to me.

 “Yes, sweetheart. This one will take us to Hong Kong,” I said, crouching to his level. “Are you ready?”

 He nodded, though his tiny fingers still gripped mine. “I’m a little scared, but I’ll be brave like Spider-Man.”

 I smiled. “That’s my boy.”

 As we settled into our seats, I helped Max buckle up and arranged his small backpack on his lap. He looked out the window, his breath fogging the glass.

 “Mommy, the clouds are so close,” he said in awe. “Are we going to sleep up there?”

 “Not really sleep in the clouds, but we’ll fly through them. It’ll feel like we’re floating.”

 Max leaned back and pulled his stuffed bear from his bag. “Mr. Paw wants to see the clouds too.”

 I chuckled and adjusted the bear so he could “see” out the window beside Max.

 The plane slowly began to taxi, and Max grabbed my hand. His eyes widened as the engines roared louder.

 “Mommy! Mommy, it’s going fast! Are we flying now?” he shouted over the noise.

 “Almost, baby. Just hold my hand.”

 As the plane lifted off, he squeezed tighter but didn't cry. He just looked amazed.

 “We’re really flying,” he whispered.

 As the seatbelt sign turned off and the cabin lights dimmed, Max eventually drifted off to sleep with his head on my lap. I ran my fingers gently through his hair, my heart both heavy and hopeful.

 I looked out the window at the dark sky, stars faintly twinkling in the distance. Beneath that vast sky, I was no longer the scared girl begging for freedom—I was a mother protecting her son.

 “Please, Lord,” I whispered, “Let this be the start of a new life. Let me be strong—for Max.”

 I leaned back, resting my head and closing my eyes, letting the quiet hum of the airplane drown out the noise of my past.