Chapter 7 South Carolina

The busy terminal of South Carolina's airport buzzed with its usual energy-travelers rushing to catch their flights, families reuniting, and the constant hum of announcements overhead. Among the crowd, Emelia stepped off the plane with her twins, Kymora and Treyvon, trailing behind her. They wore hoodies, masks, and sunglasses, their faces carefully obscured to avoid drawing attention. Despite their attempts to blend in, their efforts were futile.

The twins, after all, were mini-celebrities, and it didn't take long before a few sharp-eyed fans noticed them. "FabTwins! FabTwins!" someone shouted, and soon, a group of people began to swarm around them, their phones held high, recording every second.

Emelia's pulse quickened, her eyes darting toward Beatrix and Tyrone, her ever-loyal friends who had accompanied her on this nerve-wracking return to South Carolina.

Tyrone's face was cool and collected, a stark contrast to Beatrix, who looked at the growing crowd with wide eyes. "Who brought the bodyguards?" Emelia whispered, her tone laced with confusion and a bit of panic as she noticed the suited men forming a protective circle around them.

Tyrone grinned smugly, clearly proud of his foresight. "I did."

Beatrix's reaction was instant. She grabbed Tyrone by the ear, pulling him close. "And who's paying them?" she hissed, her voice low but fierce. "You better get ready to settle their bills."

Tyrone chuckled, wincing slightly as Beatrix tugged on his ear. "Already taken care of. But instead of standing here bickering, we should get moving before the crowd becomes too much."

Emelia couldn't argue with that. She glanced around at the growing number of fans trying to push through the guards, their voices rising in excitement. It was overwhelming, and all she wanted was to get her children out of this chaos.

Meanwhile, Across Town.

Far away from the bustling airport, Damian sat at his sleek, modern office, reviewing reports. His sharp, intense eyes skimmed over the paperwork, but his attention was soon drawn away by something entirely unexpected. A live video feed of the airport flashed on one of his screens-a trending topic, as it often did when celebrity sightings occurred.

He usually ignored such trivial things, but this time, something about the scene captured his attention. His gaze locked on a woman stepping out of the plane in a casual brown jumpsuit-a dress that hugged her curves perfectly and revealed a tantalizing hint of her long, slender legs with each step. Her face was obscured by a matching mask, but there was something so familiar about her that Damian felt an unsettling pull in his chest.

He leaned forward, trying to place the memory that teased the edges of his mind. Who was she? Why did he feel like he knew her?

Isabella, lounging next to him in a chair, caught his sudden distraction. She glanced at the screen and saw the woman in red, instantly recognizing how her presence had caught Damian's attention. Her heart prickled with jealousy, and without hesitation, she slapped his chest playfully, her tone laced with bitterness. "What, am I not pretty enough for you anymore?" she pouted.

Damian's lips curled into a charming smile, though his eyes lingered on the screen for a second too long. "No one can ever surpass your beauty," he reassured her smoothly, his hand reaching out to caress her cheek.

Isabella, mollified by the compliment, smiled and leaned in to give him a soft kiss. But as she pulled away, her eyes flicked back to the woman in brown, a simmering malice creeping into her gaze. Who was this woman who had managed to distract her Damian?

Back at the Airport.

Emelia and her group finally made it to the luggage carousel. She stood, scanning the conveyor belt for their bags, trying to maintain her calm despite the lingering anxiety in her chest. The crowd had thinned, thanks to the bodyguards, but Emelia still felt uneasy. Something about being back in South Carolina, with all its painful memories, made her nerves fray.

Kymora, ever the observant one, tugged on her brother's sleeve. "Trey," she whispered, her hazel eyes narrowing. "Do you see those men over there?"

Treyvon, just as sharp, followed her gaze. A group of men stood at a distance, watching them too intently for comfort. "Yeah, I see them," he said quietly, his voice tight with suspicion.

Before Kymora could say anything more, Emelia's voice cut through their thoughts. "Come on, kids. We need to hurry. Let's go," she urged, her voice carrying a slight edge of panic. She hadn't noticed the men, too preoccupied with getting her children safely out of the airport.

They followed her, staying close, but just as they reached the exit, the group of men moved swiftly, surrounding them.

Panic surged through Emelia. Her mind raced to the worst possible scenario-the man from that night had found her. He had come to take her children. Her grip on Treyvon and Kymora tightened as she pulled them close, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Tyrone!" she called out, her voice laced with fear, her eyes wide.

Tyrone, however, seemed unfazed by the men. In fact, he chuckled as he walked over to them, his posture relaxed. "You're worrying too much," he said in a casual tone, waving a hand dismissively. "They're not here to hurt you."

Emelia blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Tyrone grinned, nodding toward the men. "They're guards-sent by my best friend to protect you."

"Your best friend?" Emelia repeated, frowning. "Why would your best friend be interested in my protection? Or my children's?"

Before Tyrone could respond, a deep, familiar voice rang out, cutting through the air like a blade.

"Because I am that best friend."

The words froze Emelia in place. Her heart skipped a beat as her head snapped toward the source of the voice. The moment she saw the figure stepping out of the shadows, recognition hit her like a tidal wave. That voice... that presence... it couldn't be.

Her breath caught in her throat as she stared at the man approaching them. The world around her seemed to blur, and all she could focus on was him.

Tyrone turned to her with a knowing smile. "Emelia, meet my best friend."

The man's face came into view, and as their eyes locked, Emelia's heart dropped.

The past had finally caught up with her.