Chapter Four: Ghosts of the Past

Five years later.

The wind was soft on Ivory's skin. Blurry figures moved around her, and for a second, she was almost sucked into the memories of her past.

When she was still a secretary, of when she was still vulnerable.

"Mom! Mom!!"

A little girl of no younger than four years old ran through the crowds, her two ponytails swinging. Behind her, another girl ran.

It was when they got closer that Ivory noticed the first girl had a bright smile on her face, and her maroon strands fell behind her in waves.

"Don't run." A concerned voice sounded behind them, as a woman with grey hair tried to catch up.

Ivory's heart leaped in her chest, and she quickly let go of her traveling bag and bent down to hug them.

The moment they crashed into her arms, she tightened her hold, eyes closed as she breathed in their scent. "I missed you," she cooed, pulling away from the hug.

Esme flashed her a bright smile, while Elona held her hand shyly. "We missed you too, Mum," Esme exclaimed, her voice loud despite the chatter.

"Oh my, you two run too fast." Helen was breathing harshly, her hand on her chest.

Ivory smiled. "Helen, you look as lovely as ever."

"Thank you, Miss."

Her kind smile regarded Ivory with warmth.

The airport smelled like different perfumes. There were all kinds of smells and people going in twos or ones, each carrying traveling bags, some holding children.

A soft voice announced a flight and more people walked in. As always, everywhere was crowded. This was it. She was back in Los Angeles.

She straightened, still holding her two children. "Let's go." Helen nodded and helped her with her bags.

"Mum, Elona and I got you a present. Do you want to see it?" Esme's soft grey eyes regarded her with childish excitement, and Ivory's heart softened.

Elona, ever the quiet one, nodded.

"What did you get me?"

"It's a secret." Esme's pink lips pulled together as she placed her index finger on her lips. "Shh." She shushed and giggled.

Esme and Elona were the best thing that ever happened to Ivory. After that night, five years ago.

She thought she would die after falling off the cliff, but she was lucky enough to be saved by a ship that had seen her fall.

When she woke up in the hospital, she was disfigured. Her body was weak and she had slept for three months. They had to induce her into a coma.

If she hadn't been saved by Mrs. Smith, she would have lost her life. She swore to never endanger her children again. Her gaze shifted to Elona. She was frail, shorter and thinner than her sister.

She was usually quiet and Ivory felt sorry for her. Elona was the one who bore the brunt of her near-death experience.

The thought of the past made a bitter feeling rise within her. She shook her head to rid herself of the thoughts.

"Grandma misses you a lot. Why did you travel without telling us?" Esme continued rambling.

"Stop nagging your mother. It's meant to be the other way round," Helen frowned, but Esme only rolled her eyes, and Ivory couldn't stop the laugh that left her mouth.

They stopped in front of a sleek black car. The driver, Daniel, came out and opened the door for them. Esme climbed in first, then she helped Elona. Helen went to the other side.

Ivory was also about to enter the car when she caught a whiff of a familiar scent. Her gaze shifted across the streets. There was a tall man entering a white car, but she couldn't make out his face.

Though she was able to get a new look with plastic surgery, her eyes were affected. She could barely see past a few feet away.

"Mom, what are you looking at?" Esme whined, while Elona tugged at her cloth.

"Mummy." Her voice was barely above a whisper. Ivory's heart melted like two years ago when she spoke her first word.

She had called "Mummy" shyly, tears rolling down her almond-shaped eyes.

She shook her head. "Sorry, baby." Then she entered the car, still frowning in the direction of the streets.

The car ride took longer than two hours, and she spent the time catching up with the twins.

She had been gone for a whole year, despite not wanting to leave them alone. It was her last resort.

The Sahara desert was hot, and if it weren't for the huge profit they would have made, she wouldn't have gone on the business trip.

Now she missed her babies' first step into kindergarten. Esme had made lots of friends but Elona didn't seem to be getting along with her classmates.

Her chest felt stuffy.

She hoped she wasn't being bullied by her classmates or she swore she would tear that school down.

Soon, they arrived in front of a familiar mansion. The huge building loomed above them like a formidable fortress. They stepped out, Elona still clinging to her like she was her life source.

She held her just as tight.

She remembered the first time she was brought here. She could barely see and her mind was in disarray.

"Grandma, Grandpa!" Esme exclaimed, rushing towards two blurry figures. Ivory chuckled.

After giving birth to her babies, she felt too burdened to stay with Miss Smith, so she chose to leave, but the woman made her stay back.

Mrs. Smith was still in her fifties but she had grown weak and her business was going down the rabbit hole. She needed an heir. And when Ivory mistakenly found a project and advised her to take it, things got better.

Despite her refusal, Mrs. Smith adopted her and the kids as her own. Ivory had been managing her company since then.

"My precious, welcome back." Her blue eyes came into vision. She left the arms of the man holding her and pulled Ivory into a deep hug.

"Mother, I am here." Ivory's eyes glistened with tears. It felt almost strange that a complete stranger became her family.

Just when she thought she had no one, Mrs. Smith appeared like a savior. "Grandma, you forgot us," Esme pouted, and Mrs. Smith—no, Mother—chuckled at her cuteness.

"Sorry, my pearl. Grandma did forget you." Her smiling eyes crinkled, flawless white hair packed in a bun. "And you, my little diamond." She tickled Elona, who giggled and continued clinging to Ivory.

"Ah, I almost forgot." She exclaimed, turning her attention to the man who had been standing beside her. At first Ivory thought he was a business partner, but those sharp eyes were softly looking at Mother. "This is Gabriel, my fiancé."

Ivory's eyes widened. "You were serious." She exclaimed.

"Of course." Mother gazed at him tenderly.

"You must be Ivory. I am Gabriel Riggs, your mother's fiancé." She froze.

Riggs?

He's a Riggs?

Her body was trembling now, and she took a step back.

"Are you okay?" Mother asked, eyes laden with concern. Ivory swallowed the lump in her throat, tightening her hold on Elona.

"I-I am okay, I just—" She shook away the thoughts in her head and quickly forced a smile. "Hi, I am Ivory Smith." Her voice came out more confident than she was feeling.

Gabriel smiled, his face wrinkled like Mother's, but he had a look of pure confusion on his face. The familiar look only unsettled her.

"We should all go inside. Gabriel's son will be here soon," Mother announced and another wave of shock rattled through Ivory.

Her heart made a thumping sound and her vision blurred for a second.

"Mummy, are you... o-okay?" Elona's panicked voice brought her to her senses.

"I-I am fine," she forced a smile. "We should go in."

Gabriel's son couldn't be him, right?