Three Years Later.

Three years later~

"Mummy, I want to stay here." She whined, pouting her small red lips. Her deep blue eyes shimmered with rising tears and her head bowed in sadness.

I sighed, looking down at the little girl next to me. Crouching down to meet her gaze, I cupped her chubby cheeks in my hands and smiled. "Honey, I know and I understand how you feel."

Yet another sigh drew from my mouth as my eyes looked over our mansion. Looking back at her, I reached for her tiny hands and held them in mine. "Honestly I feel the same way too, I don't want to leave."

Returning to New York after three years made me feel so anxious. My heart tightened whenever I thought about it but I just had to do it for the sake of business.

My past, my fears, everything was still there, waiting for me.

"Then let's stay!" She insisted, staring pleadingly into my eyes.

"My princess, we have to go. You know I already told you that mummy has work to do there but I promise you this, it won't take long at all. We'll be back before you even know it. Trust me."

She nodded her head, reluctantly though, finally giving in. We had had this conversation so many times that I could not remember the number. I pulled her into my arms and hugged her.

Bringing myself to my feet, I held out my hand for her. "Come on, we have a flight to catch."

She wrapped her small hands around my fingers. We walked over to my car and I strapped her in her baby seat.

"We need to get to the airport quickly." I ordered my driver, fastening my own seatbelt.

He nodded his head in response and put the car in ignition.

The screen of my phone lit up with a call and a smile spread across my face as I saw the name. "Hey Jessy,"

"Girl! I am so sorry I couldn't see you off to the airport. I know you must be feeling so anxious right now but you have nothing to worry about! Oh I am so excited! I have only read about comebacks like this in novels!" She squealed.

I couldn't hold back a chuckle. "Calm down and breathe Jessy, besides, this isn't a comeback, it's just... Business."

"Business? Pff! Oh please! It is a comeback alright! You are returning to the city you escaped from as a big shot stylist! Your designs rule the world! Do you not know that?"

I rolled my eyes. "You are too much."

She broke out in a chuckle. "By the way... I just want you to be careful, our past always sneaks up on us when we least expect it."

My eyes turned to look at Gemma, my daughter, she had her eyes on the screen of her tab. I had always lived with a fragment of my past, it never left me, but she was the only thing that kept me going, that made me struggle and helped me reach where I was today.

"I'll be fine."

***

The hall was lit up with beautiful fluorescent lights, servers dressed nearly in white and black swayed around with trays in their hands. Everything was just to perfection, the way I had wanted it to be.

New York was decided to host my flagship store even though I wanted to avoid returning here. But since it could not be helped, I would make it into the best it could be.

I had never felt prettier, a white shimmering dress hugged my curves tightly, barely holding on to my shoulders. The bust revealed just about enough skin and the slit on the right side, reaching all the way to my thigh, made it easier to walk.

My brunette hair, always trapped in a bun, was finally free to fall over my shoulders and I adorned my face with just about enough make up. It was my night and I planned to own it.

Diamonds had always interested me, no other reason for having a diamond purse, jewelry and shoes.

No one knew who I was, though I got a few stares from other guests, but they all assumed I was just another flamboyantly dressed guest.

I decided to get some fresh air before the main event would begin, but the sound of a familiar voice kept me hooked to the spot.

Turning my head to the side, there she was, none other than Ella, dressed flamboyantly in a body hugging dress. Then our eyes met.

She stood frozen for a few seconds, eyes widened like she had just seen a ghost. But a smile relaxed her face as she walked towards me. "Well who do we have here? What the hell do you think you are doing here? Dressed like that..." Her eyes assessed my body. "Where did you even get such clothes? Did you steal them to pretend like you fit in here?

"A security guard obviously needs to be fired for letting such a filthy thing inside here." She raised her voice, calling the attention of the other guests.

I felt my chest tighten in anger but I refused to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. Especially not now that the crowd had silenced down.

"Not so good to see you too, Ella." I responded, a calm smile resting on my face.

She scoffed. "Three fucking years! You disappeared like dust and now you crawl back here? What? Do you need money? Are you here to beg?"

I stared at her in silence, holding back myself.

She felt so belittled and pissed off by my silence, especially since I had a smile on my face. She scoffed a laugh. "I always knew you were a filthy thing. A used product thinking she can make herself look pretty again, you're nothing but a useless ex wife!"

Murmurs of people filled my ears, some snickered while some laughed.

I stood there, refusing to let her get the best of me. But then a voice boomed from behind the crowd, making us all turn our heads. "What exactly is going on here?!"