Chapter 3 MY LOVE

[After 6 years]

"Mommy...." she was pouting and going to cry while looking at me on screen.

I called Trina through a video call to see and talk to my daughter. After a year, I was able to come back to the Philippines, but I was not with her yet, she was left with Trina in the U.S. I want to make sure if it's okay for us to come back before I make them follow me here. I don't want Avriell to be attached with whatever issue I had before. And I noticed that I don't want to worry anymore, it's like no one knows me, I can't blame them on that because my body has increased, not that big but it changed when I got pregnant with Avriell and maybe it's been a long time already. They already forget it? How I wish.

Maybe if I introduce myself to them they can recognize me but that's so impossible. I don't know how to go back to the industry again. I don't know how to start or did I need something to start. I was still scared.

"Don't cry..." I was so hurt looking at her like that. "We will be together again very soon, I promise you."

She didn't talk and just hugged the teddy bear that I gave to her, obviously still sulking at me. I didn't wait for her to wake up because I knew it would be harder for me to leave if I saw her sad, that's why I didn't say goodbye to her.

Avriell was an unexpected blessing that came in my life that I never regret. Maybe it feels downcast because I have her in a situation where I lose everything but my love for her is bigger than that. I thought my life was already miserable but she changed it. She gave me a reason why I need to be strong and move forward, not just for me, for us.

"Don't be sad, we'll follow your mommy." Trina was trying to make my daughter smile. "She was just doing something that it was for you too before we went too. Then we'll be together again, do you want that?"

"Now? I want now aunt please...." She asked and gave her aunt an innocent look.

Trina looked at me pleased that it was like she wanted to beg me for my child.

"Can you still bear it?" Trina asked me before pointing out to herself that if I can still manage well then she can't take it anymore.

I just want to make sure of everything, I can't forgive myself if Avriell will be involved in my past issues. I breathe away and smile at her before calling the name of my daughter and so she will look at me.

"Avriell..." I was saying her name but she didn't look at me, she was refusing my stare. "You don't love me anymore?"

"Avriell Love you of course," She immediately looked at me and suddenly pouted. "Just Avriell miss you mommy..."

She hugs the bear harder than it looks like she was thinking that it was me.

"Then tell aunt Trina to pack your things because tomorrow you will have a flight. You like that?" I announced that made her slowly smile. "Because mommy already misses Avriell too, so much."

She started to giggle, obviously excited.

"I will ride in an airplane again mommy? And then we go to you?" She was so excited asking for it.

"Yes. Are you happy?" I was so happy seeing her like that.

She nodded and immediately went down in Trina's lap to get her toys and packed it by herself. I couldn't help but be happy because she was as excited as I was.

"I'm so proud of you, I always was." Trina was getting emotional that made me chuckle.

She loved Avriell so much, she was not just my best friend, she became a father to my daughter too. She was always at my side, especially when Avriell came into my life. And so I was so blessed to have her, I can't ask for more.

"Do you miss me too? Don't worry we can see each other again my daughter," I said to her jokingly.

She rolled her eyes then put the phone on the table and so I can see them packing the things they will get. My heart was so full looking at my daughter laughing with her aunt Trina, enjoying packing things. But on the other hand I feel jealous while looking at them. Trina envied me even more when she saw how I looked at them.

"Avriell..." I pouted.

She smiled so cute and came towards the phone and kissed me through the screen. I looked at Trina and gave her a win look that just made her laugh and continue what she was doing.

I ended the call after that because I need to fix the apartment where the three of us will live for a while. I can't afford a house yet because some of my savings I have was almost all I used on Avriell when I gave birth to her. I decided to go after this to the grocery, to buy food for us. Mostly that the three of us love to eat so much, that's how we bond.

As I said, after doing the housework, I took a shower and went straight to the nearest supermarket. I only bought what we needed and some snacks that Avriell liked. After that, I went to the mall to look for clothes for my daughter. She loved having new clothes. New outfits. She is still very young but she is already good at choosing outfits and where to fit them.

I can't blame that, her mother was a model back then. She has the blood of a supermodel.

I saw a store that was obviously a new brand, that's why I went in and looked around. I was busy looking for some clothes when some people shouted and screamed. The other people in the store also came out to look at it. Out of curiosity I came out too and looked at it to see what was happening.

[It was Gezel!]

[Oh my god! Gezel was here!]

[Let's get closer! She is so pretty!]

[She was my idol, let's take a picture of her!]

[I love you Gezel!]

"What a coincidence?" I started with a bad expression on my face.

People approached and immediately crowded him. I came closer too but only at the very back because I was scared that people would notice me and she might recognize me. I think she doesn't have any important work here because if she came here for work then the media was the first to come here before her but there wasn't, it was like she just wanted to go shopping or she just wanted to feel her fame. I was hearing a lot about her but I didn't pay attention at all.

All my anger came back while looking at her. I can't see any regret on her face, she was so happy with her fame right now. If I hadn't thought as a mother to Avriell, thinking how my actions affect her, maybe something bad would have happened here. That's why I turned my back and was about to go back to the store when I bumped into someone. She was wearing a hat and shades, even a scarf like she was hiding herself on someone.

"Maureen?" She took her shade off and even I looked shocked when I recognized her.

It was Freza, my personal assistant before. I don't know why she was wearing that but I made her wear the shade again and pulled her to go away from the crowd. We entered a coffee shop that had a small customer and so we couldn't talk normally.

"You came back!" She still couldn't believe but I gestured to her to lower her voice. "After a year, you came back. You disappeared suddenly, the media said you went to the U.S. but they didn't see you. No one knows where you went, even your mother doesn't have any clue."

"It was true, I went to the U.S, I lived there for 6 years to hide from the media. I know how they work so I escape them easily." I explained to her. "You, what are you doing? Why are you wearing such clothes? Are you already a thief?"

She laughed and shook her head.

"Since you left, Gezel has become famous, that's why I'm investigating what I can release to the media so that they know what kind of person she really is. The kind of person they support are." She started to talk and a pinch of irritation came up on her face when she said her name. "You know how faithful I am to you, I was always defending you to her, that's why she fired me. She wants everyone around her to be on her side only, I can't do that. I'm still with you until now, Maureen."

"I know and thank you for that," I smiled and nodded to her for appreciating her faithfulness to me. "And I am sorry too, you shouldn't have been involved with me. You can go with her, it's not a big deal for me, work is work."

"That's fine, I don't want to go work with her either. I don't have patience for her." She looked around and moved her face closer. "Mostly that you are here now, you can beat her again."

I was shaken by what she said. "After what happened do you think I can still go back? And I don't think people will accept me again."

"Maybe in the beginning, but after a few days, weeks, or months, I don't think so your name won't come up again." The way she talked she was so sure that I can make Gezel down again. "You defeated her before, you can do it again. Acceptance of the people from the start is not important anymore, it was the progress making people like you again. You are talented Maureen, that wasn't impossible to happen."

"All you need is someone who will lift you up again in the industry, a big company." she added.

"But no one," I answered, which made her think hard.

I genuinely smiled and stood up to say goodbye to her. I can't stay long, I need to go back to the apartment. I still have a lot to fix.

"Don't worry I will think about that but for now I want to focus on my daughter, she is my priority." I said that made her expression change so quickly. "I was happy to see you again."

The way she looked, she was like not sure of what she heard from me. She couldn't believe it again, she looked confused. Her eyes are about to spill out because of the shock.

"D-daughter?" She asked buckled.

I nodded before giving her a sign that I will go now. I left without waiting for him to speak, it's going dark and I need to go home.

It was late when I got back to the apartment and I was about to open the door to enter when I realized that it was open. I lock it before I go out! I slowly come in and put the things I bought and so I can move out easily if ever.

When I got to the living room I saw a figure of a man standing so right, he was wearing a normal black shirt and denim pants while holding a car keys in his right hand that he was continuing playing. I couldn't see his face because he was facing somewhere.

"Who are you?" I was startled and got something that I could throw. "How did you get in? Who are you?! What do you want? Face me!"

"Stop shouting, you are irritating me." A cold voice from him makes me more nervous.

"Then look at me! Or you want me to call the police? You are trespassing!" I was making myself stronger even if my foot was already shaking.

"You don't need to do that, I am not here to harm you." The way he talked, he was so calm like this was a normal situation to him.

After he said it he slowly turned. That made me step back because while looking at his face I remember everything happened to me back then. How my career was lost, my dream wedding and being in a spotlight. He was one of the destroyers, the reason why I lost everything I worked hard for. I can't be wrong, he is the man I slept with for a whole night a year ago.

The father of Avriell.

"I was here to welcome you, for coming back my love." He smirked.