Chapter 3 Six years later

Chapter 3

Six years later

Location: International airport, Italy

Sunshine Carter POV

The fresh air of Italy welcomed me as soon as I stepped out of the airplane. It always feels good to be here as this now feels like my home.

I couldn't help the smile that formed on my lips on my way home knowing that I would finally be able to see my baby after months of being away on a business trip.

"You have an appointment with Mr..."

"Cancel all my appointments for the week. I need some time alone with my son," I cut my assistant, Peggy off before she could finish her statement, and she nodded.

Even though it has been a few years already, it still felt like months ago. Time flies and I'm glad my happiness never flew with it.

"You have a call, ma'am," Peggy disrupted my thoughts as she handed me my phone, and I checked to see that it was my son's nanny on the phone.

"Ray must've really missed me," I muttered and smiled excitedly. It will only take us less than an hour to arrive home but it felt like years to me as I was desperate to see my son. I swiped the answer button and held the phone to my ear.

"Ray, darling. I know you have missed me, but don't worry, Mommy will be..."

"Ma'am, this is Patty. There is a problem," My heart missed a beat when I heard Patty's worried voice.

"Is my son ok? What happened?" Fear gripped me and I swallowed nothing as my throat suddenly dried up.

"Ray... He...he...he got into an accident," My jaw dropped to the ground and I froze on the spot when she broke the news to me.

"Accident?" My voice barely came out and my heart pounded hard in my chest like it was going to explode.

"M...y son?" My lips trembled and I covered my mouth. I knew I was supposed to ask her which hospital she had taken him to, but my voice failed me.

"I will talk to her," Peggy took the phone from me and held it to her ear.

"This is Peggy. Which hospital are you now?" Peggy asked and waited for a few seconds before she faced the driver.

"Hawthorne Horizon Medical Center," She said to the driver who turned immediately and headed to the hospital.

My body trembled and my heart wrenched painfully as the pain of six years ago flashed through my mind. The pain I've been through during pregnancy, the pain of giving birth through cesarean section and almost losing my life, the pain I went through raising him all alone, those were evidence that I didn't deserve this. Nothing must happen to my son.

"Hurry up, please," The driver was already speeding more than normal but I desperately wanted to get to the hospital as soon as I could. I needed to see my son.

We finally arrived at the hospital two hours later, and I alighted from the car.

"You need to be careful, ma'am..." Peggy uttered as she trailed behind me, but I rushed into the hospital like someone who had lost her sanity.

"Where is my son?" I yelled like a crazy woman as I rushed through the lobby and when I spotted Patty, I rushed over to her.

"Where is my son? How is he? What happened to him? Please show me to my son," I cried out to Patty, unable to control my tears.

"This way, ma'am," She led the way while I followed her. She took me to the ward where I found my little boy lying on the bed and fighting for his life. My mouth fell agape when I saw the bruises all over his body and the bandage wrapped around his head which had bloodstains at the side of his head.

"Ray... Darling..." I rushed to his side and tried to touch him.

"The doctor said he needs to rest, ma'am," Patty quickly held me back.

"What happened to my son? How did this happen?"

"I don't know, ma'am... I really don't know... We were in the living room playing together when he said he wanted juice... I...I..." Patty's lips quivered and tears streamed down her cheeks as she tried to explain to me.

"Where is the doctor? I need to see him," I cut her off, and she bit her lip.

"Uhm... The Doctor donated his blood to Ray and he is currently resting in his office," I gasped sharply and covered my mouth unbelievably. Haven't I failed as a mother? This wouldn't have happened if I had stayed with my son. This would've been avoided if I had not kept him under the care of his Nanny.

"The doctor said that he would be fine," Patty assured me.

"I want to be alone," She bowed slightly and left me inside the ward with Ray.

My hand trembled as I reached for my baby's hand and squeezed it gently as tears streamed down my cheeks.

"I'm sorry, baby... I'm sorry," I whispered then leaned forward and kissed the back of his hand.

"It was all my fault that you got hurt... I'm really sorry," I whimpered.

Raymond had been my only happiness over the years. Seeing him always reminded me of Rayne. I didn't know if it was Rayne I hated or myself for not being able to forget him even after all the pain he had caused me.

For the past six years, I tried not to look him up on the internet, I tried to shut him out of my life completely and although we've never once contacted each other since the incident, my heart still ached and yearned for him.

My phone started to ring and I hesitantly checked to see that it was Mr. Brown. I left the ward to go answer the call outside as I didn't want to disturb my son's sleep.

After I spoke with Mr. Brown on the phone, I went back, and on my way to the ward, Patty told me that the doctor who donated blood to my Raymond was inside. I rushed inside the ward to see the good Samaritan who had saved me from the pain of losing my son but when I walked inside, I found a man towering over Raymond on the bed and examining him.

I paused on my track as I stared at the man. Even though I had not seen his face yet, I could already tell from his backview that he was familiar, and his familiar cologne made me even more convinced.

"It's because you thought about him. It can't possibly be him. You are imagining things," I told myself as I held my phone firmly.

"Uhm... Excuse me?" I finally spoke up after a long silence, demanding his attention which he gave to me as he turned around and faced me, but my jaw dropped to the ground as my nightmare finally came true. I froze on the spot and gazed back at him as his hazel eyes pierced into mine. He still looked the same just as six years ago. His perfect height, the same sparkles in his eyes then, and more importantly, his charm. Everything was still the same way as we separated six years ago. Why did fate play this card on me? Why did I have to meet him again? Yes, I knew this was going to happen sooner or later, I was sure fate was still going to make us meet again, but today of all days? Why did it have to be today?

"Ra... Rayne?" My voice came out weakly. It was so low that I bet he didn't hear me call his name. The pain of that night came flooding my mind, the pain of six years ago came hitting at me with full force. This was a nightmare I never wanted to come true, but then, fate always had its way of playing its card perfectly and I guess I would always be the victim in the end.

"Sunshine?" He finally called with shock written all over his face...