Chapter 3 THE MYSTERIOUS LETTER.

The afternoon sun streamed through the kitchen window as Kamala hummed softly, her hands busy kneading dough for the apple cinnamon pie Kaidan loved so much. It had been a long-standing tradition-every Saturday, she would bake something special, filling the house with the warm, sweet scent of cinnamon and apples. Today was no different. Kaidan had gone for a walk, and she wanted to have his favorite dessert ready for him when he returned. The rhythmic motion of her hands and the comforting aroma eased her mind.

The years hadn't been kind to Kamala, but her love for Kaidan had been her saving grace. She had worked tirelessly to provide for him, to give him a semblance of normalcy despite the lingering absence of his father. Now, as she rolled the dough and sprinkled sugar on top, her mind wandered to her son. He was growing into such a fine young man-strong, kind, and thoughtful. But she knew there was a part of him that ached with the unanswered questions about his father.

She sighed, wiping her hands on a cloth as she placed the pie in the oven. As much as she tried to shelter Kaidan from the pain of his father's abandonment, she couldn't shield him forever. He was eighteen now, a man in his own right, and the longing for answers was becoming harder for him to ignore.

Kamala glanced at the clock, wondering how long Kaidan would be out. She was about to turn her attention back to preparing the rest of their meal when a sharp knock interrupted her thoughts.

Her heart skipped a beat. *Kaidan must be home earlier than I thought,* she mused, wiping her hands once more before heading to the front door.

"Back already?" she called as she approached, expecting to see her son standing there with his usual easy smile.

But as she opened the door, her breath caught in her throat.

There was no one there.

Kamala stepped outside, scanning the empty street. The warm afternoon breeze ruffled her hair, and the faint sound of children playing in the distance reached her ears, but there was no sign of Kaidan-or anyone else for that matter.

Frowning, she took a step forward, peering around the corners of their small front yard. Her initial thought was that perhaps some neighborhood children had played a prank-a game of knock and run, as kids often did. She couldn't help but smile at the thought.

"Must be some kids having fun," she murmured, shaking her head as she turned to go back inside.

But just as she was about to close the door, something caught her eye.

A letter lay on the doorstep.

Kamala froze, her heart pounding in her chest as she bent down to pick it up. The envelope was plain, with no return address, no postage-just her name, written in a familiar hand.

*To Kamala, my love.*

Her fingers trembled as she clutched the letter, staring at the words in disbelief. She hadn't seen that handwriting in nearly two decades, but she would recognize it anywhere.

*No... it can't be...*

She hurriedly tore the envelope open, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she unfolded the letter inside. Her eyes darted across the words, and with each sentence, her heart clenched tighter in her chest.

*I'm sorry for abandoning you eighteen years ago, and I'm sorry I wasn't part of our son's life. Now I'm back to fill the void I left. I've heard our son wants to know his father. Please meet me under the oak tree in the garden at night. I want a chance to make things right.*

*Sincerely, your love.*

The letter slipped from her fingers, fluttering to the floor as Kamala pressed a hand to her mouth, stifling a sob. Tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision as the weight of the words sank in.

*He's back. After all these years... he's back.*

For eighteen long years, Kamala had clung to the hope that Kaidan's father would return one day. She had prayed, begged for a sign, but as time passed, her hope had faded, replaced by a quiet resignation that she would raise their son alone.

But now, here it was-the sign she had longed for. The man she had loved so deeply, the father of her child, was reaching out to her, asking for forgiveness, asking for a chance to set things right.

Kamala sank to her knees, her body shaking with the force of her emotions. Memories flooded her mind-memories of the brief but intense love affair she had shared with him all those years ago. She had been young, naive, swept away by his charm and mystery. And then, as suddenly as he had entered her life, he was gone, leaving her with nothing but their unborn child and a broken heart.

For years, she had tried to move on, to forget him, but every time she looked at Kaidan-at his emerald green eyes and the striking features that so closely resembled his father-she was reminded of the love she had lost. And now, after all this time, he had returned.

But could she forgive him?

Kamala wiped at her tears, her mind racing. She wanted to see him, to demand answers for why he had left, to make sense of the pain she had endured all these years. But more than that, she wanted to protect Kaidan. Her son had grown up without a father, and she had done everything in her power to shield him from the bitterness of abandonment. What if this was all a cruel trick? What if he disappeared again, leaving both her and Kaidan with even deeper wounds?

No. She wouldn't let that happen.

Kamala rose to her feet, the letter clutched tightly in her hand as she made her way back into the kitchen. Her mind was made up. She would meet him under the oak tree tonight, as the letter had instructed, but she wouldn't tell Kaidan. Not yet. She needed to know the truth first-needed to confront the man who had shattered her heart before she could bring him back into their lives.

As she set the letter down on the kitchen table, Kamala glanced at the clock. It was late afternoon now. Kaidan would be home soon, and she needed to act normal, needed to keep this secret hidden until she had the answers she sought.

With a deep breath, she resumed her work in the kitchen, though her hands shook as she prepared the rest of the meal. The pie was nearly done, and the savory scent filled the air, but Kamala barely noticed. Her mind was consumed with thoughts of the meeting tonight-of the man who had once been her everything, and who now, after so long, was asking for a second chance.

Hours passed in a blur, and before long, the sound of the front door opening signaled Kaidan's return.

"Mom, I'm back!" he called, his voice cheerful as he stepped into the house.

Kamala plastered on a smile, turning to face him as he walked into the kitchen. "Welcome back, sweetheart. I hope you're hungry-I made your favorite."

Kaidan's face lit up as he inhaled the delicious scent of the apple cinnamon pie. "You always know how to make my day, Mom," he said, wrapping her in a quick hug before heading to the table.

Kamala forced herself to smile, to act as though everything was normal, even as her heart raced with anticipation for the night ahead. They ate together, Kaidan chattering about his walk and the people he had seen, but Kamala's mind was elsewhere. She responded when necessary, nodding and smiling at the right moments, but inside, she was counting down the minutes until she could leave.

As the evening wore on and Kaidan eventually retired to his room, Kamala found herself standing at the kitchen window, staring out into the darkening sky. The oak tree in the garden loomed in the distance, its branches swaying gently in the breeze.

*It's time.*

Taking a deep breath, Kamala slipped on a light jacket and quietly made her way outside. The cool night air brushed against her skin as she approached the oak tree, her heart pounding in her chest with every step. She didn't know what she would find, or if she was ready for the emotions that would come rushing back the moment she saw him.

But as she reached the tree, her breath caught in her throat.

There, standing in the shadows beneath the ancient oak, was the man who had haunted her dreams for nearly two decades.

Lucifer. The Demon Lord.

His eyes, sharp and gleaming in the dim light, locked onto hers. And in that moment, Kamala knew-her life, and Kaidan's, was about to change forever.

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