Chapter 3 THE UNWANTED ENCOUNTER

As the golden rays of early morning sun spilled over the city, Kathleen hustled her daughter Lana out of the door, adjusting her backpack and tying her tiny shoes. It was a routine they both knew well a brisk walk to the nearby school, often peppered with Lana's gleeful chatter and the anticipation of new adventures that awaited them.

On this particular day, the air hummed with an unusual frevor, and Kathleen couldn't help but tinge of foreboding. As they approached the school gates, a voice from behind her, shielding her from David's inquisitive gaze.

David", she managed to say, her voice betraying none of the unease that had seized her.

"Kathleen, is that you?" David brow furrowed in confusion, recognizing the woman he had once met during a chance encounter with Charles. "What a surprise to see you here".

Kathleen offered a polite smile, desperately hoping to conclude the conversation quickly and fade into the background. However, her efforts were in vain, as David's eyes shifted to Lana, who peered out from behind her mother.

"And who might this little one bee?" David's eyes sparkled with curious, and Kathleen's grip on Lana tightened instinctively.

"Oh, this is Lana" Kathleen replied, her tone cautious, "she's my daughter".

The truth hung heavily in the air, and Kathleen feared the implications of this chance meeting. As much as she had strived to keep Lana's existence hidden from Charles and anyone related or connected to him, she now found herself trapped in the web in which her daughter was the unsuspecting center.

David's eyes widened, realization dawning upon him.

"Your daughter? How lovely", he exclaimed the pieces falling into place before Kathleen's disbelieving eyes.

In that instant, she realized that her carefully constructed world of privacy and protection had been shattered. The fear of Charles discovering the existence of his daughter had become an alarming reality, and Kathleen braced herself for the repercussions of this revelation.

As the gravity of the situation settled upon her, Kathleen fought to maintain her composure. She plastered on a reassuring smile for Lana, who remained oblivious to the tension that seeped into the air around them. Determined to protect her daughter from the turmoil that loomed, she summoned a sense of calm and prayed that David's encounter with would end without further repercussions.

David's eyes lingered on Kathleen and Lana, and though he held his silence, Kathleen sensed the unspoken questions buzzing at the tip of his tongue. What had transpired in the years since Charles and Kathleen had parted ways? And most pressing of all, how would Charles react upon learning of Lana's existence?.

Nevertheless, as the tension painted ominous shadows over their exchange, David gathered his composure and bid Kathleen and Lana a polite farewell. As he departed, Kathleen was left alone with her thoughts, grappling with the unexpected turn of events and fear that now gnawed at the edges of her consciousness.

As Kathleen watched Lana's small figure disappear into the school, she was left thinking about this encounter with David hoping it won't affect the lives of her and Lana.