7

Chapter 7

SEVEN YEARS LATER

BRYCE WINSTON 

“What should I tell the Chairman, Mr Winston?" Lewis asked the moment I stepped into my car at the restaurant’s parking lot. 

"This is your twenty-fifth blind date in four years. Your grandfather is going to be mad if he finds out that this one didn't work out like others.”

"Twenty-sixth.” I said, and he turned to look at me, his brows furrowed. "It's the twenty-sixth blind date in four years.” I exhaled, fastening my seatbelt.

He slowly nodded.

"So, what should I tell your grandfather?”

I stared outside the car at nothing while resting my head on the headrest.

It's been seven years. Seven years of torture. Of walking into every room, hoping I would find Nora there. Of tracing every woman that smelt like her, hoping it was her, and I always got disappointed every single time.

I'd searched almost every country in the world, paid people to look for her, but for seven years, not even a single person could give me positive feedback. 

It was like Nora never existed.

"Mr. Winston…” Lewis's voice drew my attention back to himself, and I looked at him.

"Can you give up now, please?” He said. "You've been torturing yourself for seven years. Can you give yourself some peace now and—" 

“Tell grandpa that it didn't work out." I cut him off, and he stared at me for a moment, and sighed.

“Avoiding the topic again…" he muttered, starting the car.

He suddenly paused and turned to me.

“What is it now, Lewis?" I exhaled, rubbing my temple. “Just drive." 

“I have something to tell you, Mr Winston." 

“What?" 

“It's about the new owner of unit 505 of building 10 in the apartment complex.” He said. "She's moving in today, so the resident President called to ask if you would like to meet her.”

“She's moving in alone?" I lifted a brow.

I don't know what's with the old-fashioned strict rule, but grandpa set it there and made sure that it's never violated.

We must never accommodate a single person, unless they have a family. Preferably married. I had been the only resident with an exception, and lately, he's been pressuring me to get married or leave the penthouse.

Ugh! That annoying old man. I'm his grandson for heaven's sake, yet he's always out to hurt my feelings.

"Not alone, Sir…" Lewis said. “She moved in with her husband and kids." 

I nodded.

“I don't think there's any need to meet them then. Just sort things out with the President." I said casually, and he nodded.

Winston’s group had grown in the last seven years, expanding its wings to construction and estate business, building an apartment complex with over a hundred buildings and thousands of residential units.

My phone buzzed, and I reached for it.

Speak of the devil. It's my grandfather. I bet he's calling to ask if the blind date went well.

I ignored the call, and just as it ended, a text popped on the screen.

‘Are you deliberately ignoring my call? Come over to the villa later for dinner. We have something to talk about. Don't even think about standing me up. I'll show up at the penthouse if you don't come here’

My eyes lingered on the text for a moment, then sighed. 

Coming over to my place is the last thing I would risk. The last time he did, he ended up staying for a whole month, and it was hell for me.

I'd rather go to him.

“Where should we go?" Lewis started the car. “Office—" 

“To the apartment complex." I sighed. "I need to prepare to visit the Chairman.” 

Lewis drove out of the restaurant. 

We arrived at the complex, and took the private elevator to the penthouse.

We'd just stepped out of the elevator when a kid bumped right into me and stumbled back, holding his forehead.

I froze, my eyes narrowing.

He lifted his gaze to me and paused, his eyes already glistening with tears.

My stomach fluttered strangely as our eyes locked, my breath catching in my throat.

He was about six years old. Handsome with a kind of unique face I hadn't seen on any kid before.

My eyes were still glued to him when Lewis stepped forward and held the kid.

“Hey, kiddo. How did you get here? Where is your mom?”

He stepped back fearfully, his lips trembling before he burst into tears. 

"Mommy…" he cried out, and I quickly stepped forward.

“Let me handle this." I told Lewis, and he stared at me for a second before stepping away.

I knelt on one knee in front of the boy and smiled deeply.

“Hey, kid. It's okay. We're not bad people…" I reached over and stroked his dark silky hair gently. “How did you get here?" 

He looked between me and Lewis, then wiped his tears with the back of his palm.

“Let me…" I brought out a handkerchief from my pocket and gently wiped his tears.

“Come on, kid. Tell me where your mom is, and I'll take you to her." I said persuasively.

“I was playing with my sister in the elevator, and when it opened, I found myself here…" he burst into tears again. “My mommy is going to be worried. Please take me to her." 

“It's okay, boy. I'll take you to her." 

“What unit and building is your mom?" Lewis asked, and I scoffed.

“He's a kid. How is he supposed to know that?" 

“We just moved here." The boy said, and I looked at Lewis.

“That must be the woman that just moved here." He said. “I'll take him there." He reached for the boy as I stood up.

“I'll take him there." I said. “I’ll be back.”

Then I took the elevator to the basement, and the moment I stepped out of the building, a tiny voice suddenly came on.

"Finn!”

My eyes flicked in the direction, and found a cute little girl of about the same age running up to us. 

"Where have you been? Mommy and I have been looking for you.” Her eyes were already searching her brother's body worriedly.

"This man helped me. I got lost.” He said, and the girl finally looked at me.

She had a slight resemblance with the boy. I was sure I hadn't seen her before, but somehow, her face looked familiar. 

"This is Finley. My sister.” Finn said, then turned to his sister. “Say hi, Finley." 

“Thank you for helping my brother, Sir." She dipped her head respectfully with a smile on her face that melted my heart. 

"You're welcome.” I smiled. "Where is your mom? I should take you to…”

I hadn't even finished speaking when Finley suddenly called out.

"Mommy! I found Finn.”

I traced her gaze to where she was looking, and froze.

I blinked as she rushed over to us, her eyes fixed on her son with tears in her eyes.

I'm mistaken, right? There's no way it's her. I've got to be hallucinating.

“Oh, God!” She crouched down in front of Finn, her hands shaking as she cupped his cheeks in her palms, her eyes glistening with tears.

"What happened, baby? I thought something happened to you. I…” she paused and pulled him into her arms tightly.

I stared at her. Her face hadn't changed to someone else’s. She hadn't faded into nothing like she always does over the past seven years.

Is she real?

My eyes slowly swept over her. Her brown eyes were still as charming as years ago. Her scent… it was still the same. And her voice…

That was unmistakably her.

“Nora?" My voice came out shakily, and she paused.

“Is that really you, Nora?" 

She lifted her gaze to me, and paused, colors draining from her face.

My stomach dropped.

It's her. It's really Nora…