CHAPTER 4

KAYLA’S POV

Saturday comprised me going to Target to get a few food items for Estelle and I, a new vase for the pretty Daffodil flowers my old witty neighbor, Mrs. Winfield, gifted me in the wee hours of the day, and a few clothes for Estelle with the money her great-grandma sent on Monday - money that was forced into my hands. 

I then used the same money to pay a guy I met on the street who fixed the leaking ceiling in the bathroom and also the heater, I had given the scrawny-looking guy, who reeked of a mixture of weed and something pungent, a funny look and he gave me a crooked smile, show-casing stained brown teeth.

"You're in safe hands, don't worry." He had said when he noticed my stare.

And with how perfectly everything worked now, he did a pretty splendid job for a low cost.

Life in this part of the town had its perks if you thought about it.

After that, I got us both ready for the day, I dressed Estelle up in a green cottage swing dress and a sweater for the chilly evening while I put on a hip-length coat over a long-sleeved cardigan and straight-leg ankle pants before meeting my grandma for brunch at one of her favorite fancy restaurant at the city center.

And at brunch, Nana had looked at my frame with worry in her eyes as she complained about how much weight I had lost, and how I wasn't getting enough sleep before pressing me to drop everything and move back into her house just like the old times.

"You're getting thinner and paler by the day, KayKay." Her lips were pursed as she stared at me from across the table. "You need to eat more vegetables and fruits. You're not getting any younger. Don't you think you should move back in? You know how well Francesca loves to feed you both. Think about it, KayKay."

I sighed, rubbing my forehead to get rid of the imminent headache. "I don't think so, Nana. I only just moved out a year ago." I looked into her blue eyes, which reminded me of the mother I once had, and I shook my head. "You promised to give me space and time, Nana. It's not up to three years yet. You said three years."

I was so sick of this topic, I loved my Nana but she could be very pressing whenever she wanted anything.

She took a sip of her mimosa and dropped the glass before grabbing my hands laying atop the table. "I know what I said, but I am worried about the most important girls in my life right now. Give me a break, okay?" 

I exhaled. "Let's talk about this some other time." I glanced at Estelle, who had a small piece of tomato in her little hands, and I smiled softly. "We're here to have a peaceful brunch, remember? Not talkKayla'searoff brunch."

She huffed out a laugh at my words before nodding. "You're right. " She turned to face Estelle, whose attention was still fixed on her small plate. "How has my favorite girl been? Have you been giving mama any trouble lately? Huh?" Realizing the attention was now on her, Estelle giggled and babbled right back at her great nana.

The air shifted from tense to airy and bubbly once Estelle became the center of attention.

My grandma was the only person who stood by my side when Aidan left me and took everything I owned with him. She lived in a town called Micellion, which had a population of over five thousand people and was peaceful to the core. I had lived with her for two years and grandma was of great help to me when Estelle would decide to cry throughout the night, leaving me helpless and in tears, she was a shoulder to cry on when the postpartum depression hit me a few months after Estelle's birth.

And she also stood by me when I decided to leave the house to start up my life from base a year ago, although she did put up a fight after finding out where I intended to live but after one deep conversation with her, she agreed and gave me a large sum of money, which I split into two and gave her the other half before using the other half to get an apartment and other necessities. It was after a few months that I got a job at the bar and dinner.

Although grandma made it a must for Estelle to spend the weekends with her and I knew she cherished those moments with her great-granddaughter.

We were halfway through our brunch when the air around the restaurant changed. I looked around to find people looking at the entrance of the restaurant, I was backing the door so I had no idea who came in but I knew someone powerful just walked in and with how the females kept staring, the person was a male, one that commanded the attention of everyone.

I turned around to sneak in a look only to be met with the backs of three men in perfectly tailored suits.

My heart sped up when I saw the side view of the first man as they turned to enter the VIP room of the restaurant. It was the same side view that taunted me throughout the night; clenched jaw, a strong crooked nose with thick eyebrows. And as I looked properly I realized that he had a man bun tied perfectly at his nape. I looked down at his big hands, wondering if it was them that did that perfect job or if he had someone; someone with delicate and soft hands, a wife or girlfriend maybe, did that for him.

As if sensing my gaze, he paused and our eyes clashed almost immediately causing all the air to leave my lungs.

"Such a handsome young man, that one." I barely heard my grandma's hushed words.

"Huh?" I responded distractedly.

My sole attention was on my sexy stranger and I watched his lips slowly curl into a sexy smile as his eyes made their way over my body as his mouth moved, I caught something along the lines of a, "hello," before he walked into the VIP room.

I blew out a breath and prayed my cheeks weren't as red as they felt before turning to face my grandma and daughter, who were both staring at me.

I could feel the questions behind those pairs of eyes. "What?" I whispered, placing my elbows on the table and covering my flaming cheeks with my palms.

My grandma looked at Estelle with a secretive grin and Estelle giggled. It almost felt like they knew something I didn't know.

"Oh, nothinggggg!" My grandma sang out, she looked back at the door. "I didn't realize you went for rich billionaires now. Your niche a few years ago was rebellious bad boys with a truckload of trauma behind them."

I laughed, still ruffled from the encounter I had a few minutes ago.

Grandma started ticking her fingers. "Mommy issues, daddy issues." She grinned. "You name it. You're an expert at this."

My grandma could be funny when she wanted to be.

"He has a kid, a daughter, and he lives in the wealthiest part of the town. I hear he's a billionaire. I mean, he owns multiple chains of hotels and restaurants and he just bought this restaurant from Mr. Wang."

"That's really awesome, Nana." I breathed out, knowing where this conversation was heading to.

"I think you both would be such a perfect fit." My Nana gushed out, clapping her hands in excitement.

I scoffed, looking down at myself and then at the door he walked into. "I would like a pig standing next to him and you know it, Nana."

"Self-worth has nothing to do with your physical appearance and everything to do with what's in here," She pointed at her chest. "The earlier you accept that you're worth more than you think you are, the better. You need someone who loves you."

"And you think he's what I need?" I asked, frowning.

She gave me a coy smile. "We'll see."

And I spent the next few minutes hoping and praying that I don't run into my sexy stranger again.

After brunch we went home with Nana, she lived at one of those mansions at the upper end of the city. The ones where the snobby rich people lived, the ones who condescendingly looked at you just for looking at their homes in awe. 

~~~~~~

The next day was a typical Sunday with grandma, she dragged Estelle and I to church, where she chewed my ear off while pointing out multiple perspective Christian gentlemen who came from reputable families and wouldn't put me through any form of heartbreak because they loved God way too much, unlike Aidan.

My grandma made it a mission to remind me of Aidan and how much he shattered my heart with little to no pieces to pick up while telling me how much of a strong woman I was for bringing Estelle into this world alone.

And as she spoke I wished I could tell her the number of times I had wanted to give up.

But I didn't.

Her thinking I was a strong woman was only wishful thinking on her part.