Chapter 1

Five Years Later

"Mommy! Hurry up!"

Serena Valencia smiled while watching the five-year-old boy who was almost running out of the airport arrival hall.

"Eli, don't run," she told her son while laughing.

The boy stopped and looked back at her. He was wearing a white polo shirt, khaki shorts, and small sneakers. In one hand, he was pulling a dinosaur-shaped luggage, while his other hand was waving at her.

"But we're finally here!"

Serena just shook her head. She could not help but laugh.

Wherever they go, her son never runs out of energy.

She fixed the strap of her Hermes handbag on her shoulder before she walked again. Some people immediately looked when they saw her.

She was beautiful.

She was wearing nice cream-colored trousers, a silk blouse, and a thin trench coat that made her look very classy. Her long curly hair was down, and her designer sunglasses slightly covered her face.

If someone knew her five years ago, they would surely not recognize the woman in front of them now.

The simple event planner who used to cry every night is gone. The woman who left Isla Verde with a broken heart is gone.

The one facing the world now is Serena Valencia, Founder and CEO of Vera Luxe International, one of the biggest luxury resort developers in Asia.

A self-made billionaire.

"Mommy!"

She woke up from her thoughts when Eli pulled her hand.

"Can we go now?"

She smiled and gently messed up her son's hair.

"My baby is very excited, huh?"

"Super, Mommy! I'm super excited now! I really can't wait!"

"Why?"

"Because we're finally going to Isla Verde!"

Serena stopped for a moment.

Isla Verde.

She avoided that name for five years. She forced herself to forget every memory there for five years. But here she is now, going back to the exact place that once broke her.

Not because she wants to, but because she wants to give a vacation to the most important person in her life. And she has no plan to let the past control her present.

She kneeled in front of her son and gently held both of his cheeks.

"So, Mr. Eli Valencia, are you ready for your first vacation in the Philippines?"

He nodded quickly.

"Yes, Mommy!"

"What do you want to do when we get there?"

"Hmm..." The boy thought first. "I want to swim!"

"Okay."

"I want to build a sandcastle, as well."

"Okay."

"I want ice cream."

"Okay, noted."

"I want pizza."

"Copied, baby."

"I want pancakes."

Serena laughed. Her son is really cute, he wants to do so many things.

"Eli..."

"What?"

"We're going on vacation, not on a food trip."

The boy pouted. "But vacations are more fun with food, Mommy."

She couldn't argue with that.

"You sound exactly like your Uncle Noah."

"I know!"

The mother and son laughed.

While walking out of the airport, no one among the people they passed by could say that the boy beside her has no father.

Because in every smile of his, in every stare, in every confident step, there is a person who seems so alive in him. A man that Serena forgot a long time ago.

Or she forced herself to forget.

"Welcome back, Ms. Valencia."

She stopped when a man wearing a black suit approached them. He bowed politely before taking their luggage.

"The convoy is ready. We will bring you to the private yacht now."

Serena nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Reyes."

Eli's mouth fell open.

"Private yacht?"

"Yes."

"Mommy..." he whispered while his eyes were shining. "We're riding a yacht?"

"Of course, baby."

"Can I drive it?"

"No. Not today."

"Please?"

"No."

"I'll be careful."

"You're only five."

"I know."

"So, no."

The boy sighed like he was very disappointed.

"Fine..."

Serena could not help but laugh. She felt so light while watching her son. He is the reason why she got back up. He is the reason why she did not give up five years ago.

And he is also the reason why she is ready to go back.

While going out of the airport, Serena slightly looked at the wide ocean seen from outside the building. At the other end of the sea, Isla Verde is waiting.

The island she once ran away from. And the island that does not know that the boy walking happily beside her is the true heir of one of the most powerful families there.

~

A few minutes passed, the convoy finally left the airport.

Serena was just quiet while looking out the window of the luxury SUV. On both sides of the road, you can see thick trees, expensive resorts, and the crystal-like sea which is the reason why the richest people in the world visit Isla Verde.

Nothing changed. It is still beautiful and still quiet. And it still hurts whenever she remembers the past.

"Mommy!"

She looked at Eli whose face was currently pressed against the window.

"Look! There are so many yachts!"

She smiled. "Beautiful, isn't it?"

"Can we buy one, Mommy?"

She shook her head while laughing. "One day, baby. One day."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

The boy's face lit up. He did not notice his mother briefly looking away from the window.

One day...

When there are no more ghosts from the past chasing them.

When they arrived at the private marina of Isla Verde, the resort manager immediately met them.

"Welcome back, Ms. Valencia." He bowed politely. "Everything has been prepared according to your request. The Presidential Cliff Villa is exclusively reserved for your stay."

"Thank you."

"Your luggage will be delivered immediately."

Serena just nodded before holding Eli's small hand.

"Come on."

The boy jumped happily as they walked on the long wooden boardwalk.

"Mommy! Fish! It looks so pretty! Can we feed them?"

"Later."

"Can we swim?"

"Later, baby."

"Can we ride the yacht?"

"Later." Serena just laughed. "You really can't wait, huh?"

Eli flashed his adorable grin. "Nope!"

While the mother and son were busy, just a few meters away from them, a convoy of black luxury SUVs stopped one after another at the VIP entrance of the marina.

The employees immediately stood straight. The security personnel hurried to bow.

"The Chairman is here. The CEO has arrived."

The doors of the cars opened at the same time. Some bodyguards stepped down first. Followed by the executive assistants and from the very last car, the man Serena had not seen for five years slowly stepped down.

He is over six feet tall. He was wearing a charcoal gray suit that perfectly fit his strong body. The lines of his face became sharper. His expression became colder.

And the presence he brought became more powerful.

Kael Villafuerte. The CEO of Villafuerte Group. The man who ruled Isla Verde.

He did not even look around. He walked straight while his men followed him.

"Sir, your meeting with the investors will begin in thirty minutes."

"Move it to one hour."

"Yes, sir."

At the same time, Serena exactly turned in the other direction. She did not notice that she would bump into someone. Her shoulder slightly hit the hard chest of a man.

"Oh, I'm so—"

What she was about to say was cut off and she slowly looked up. And the man did the same.

Serena's eyes grew wide. She did not expect that on the very day of their arrival, she and Kael would meet again.

The man's face remained without emotion while staring at her, as if he was trying to remember where he saw the woman in front of him.

A few seconds passed and he was still quiet. The silence covering the two of them was very heavy.

"Are you alright, Miss?" he asked coldly.

Serena swallowed. His voice is very different now. Lower and more serious. And there was no tiny bit of recognition of her.

She nodded gently.

"I'm fine." She stepped back. "Excuse me."

She did not wait for any answer. She quickly walked away while forcing herself to calm down. She cannot panic. Not now and especially not on this island!

Meanwhile, Kael remained standing. He could not explain why but a strange feeling crossed his chest while watching the walking woman.

It was like he had been looking for something for a long time.

"Sir?"

He looked at his assistant.

"Your meeting."

"Let's go."

The man nodded and walked again. Serena had only taken a few steps when a small voice suddenly echoed across the island.

"Mommy!"

Kael looked back along with almost all the people there.

From the fountain on the side of the boardwalk, a cute five-year-old boy was happily running towards Serena, holding a small stuffed sea turtle.

"Mommy! Look what I found!"

The boy stopped in front of Serena and he immediately hugged the woman's waist. Kael looked up slightly.

He did not know why but he could not take his eyes off that boy. There was something familiar in his eyes that he could not explain.

And on the other hand, Serena tightly held her son's shoulder. She silently prayed that...

Hopefully... the man she once loved would not recognize her.