Chapter 2

• Malia’s POV
• “The William Group, announces Shane Williams as successor? I thought you were an only child?” Susan asked me in shock, as she turned around to see me equally surprised.
• “Did your father…” Susan was too scared to ask the question because she knew how I would react but if I didn't know better I would be asking the same question.
• “No… no he didn't, Shane is my cousin, he is orphaned so my parents thought to give him our name and let him stay with us,” I explained, clearing her doubts but confirming mine.
• “Okay but why is he the successor and not you?” She asked, her face turning away from the TV and towards me.
• “I don't know,” I whispered with my head bowed, truthfully I knew but didn't think it was true.
• “That's not fair,” She said with a fierce voice, ready to fight for me.
• “This might be a bluff, I can't confirm anything yet, till after the reading of the will,” I finally said putting myself together.
• This battle might be tougher than I envisaged, and I had to prepare for it.
• “That's our flight,” Susan said, bringing me from my thoughts.
• Ella was already fast asleep so I carried her, Susan carried our bags and we went towards the pre-boarding area to check and confirm our luggage and papers.
• We had already gotten close to the checkpoint when we heard this announcement.
• Attention all passengers, this is an announcement from the airport authorities. Due to adverse weather conditions, American Airlines Flight AA5622, originally scheduled to depart at 8:00 PM, has been delayed…
• “We need twelve hours to get back home in time for the reading, what do we do,” I asked Susan in frustration, I was almost in tears at this point.
• “Let's just wait, hope, and pray for a miracle,” she replied as we went to sit back down.
• I was anything but calm this whole time and I wondered why everything seemed to be upside down for me.
• “I just have horrible luck,” I whispered as yet another hour passed and there was no follow-up announcement.
• Susan had slept by this time and I couldn't help but smile as she and Ella held themselves firmly and slept soundly.
• “What would I do without them,” I thought as I recalled the earlier happenings of the day, if they had not been there who knew what would have happened to me after I heard the news?
• I started to feel sleepy too and adjusted myself in my seat to join them when someone ran by and grabbed one of our bags.
• “Wait, hey, you, stop!!” I screamed as I ran after him, the sleep leaving my eyes and my attention focused on catching the thief.
• “Help, please, stop him,” I pleaded but nobody paid any attention, they just watched as I ran after him, some even taking out their phones to make a video of the incident.
• “Thank you,” I said breathlessly as I stopped running, a good Samaritan had helped me catch the thief, retrieve my bag, and was handing him over to the airport security.
• I crouched down to catch my breath and continued to speak to the stranger.
• “I don't know what I would have done if I lost that bag,” I said as my breathing slowed and evened out.
• At this point the man had turned towards me but wasn't saying anything, thinking that was strange, I lifted up my face to thank him properly.
• “Thank you very much, Sir, I really…” I was stopped dead in my tracks, I couldn't complete the words.
• “Hello Princess,” He said, his deep voice sending chills down my spine.
• Just like that all the memories, I had struggled to forget came rushing back and hitting me like a tornado.
• Closing the gap between us till I could feel his breath, he whispered, “Long time no see Princess.”
• There I stood covered in goosebumps and almost in tears, I couldn't move nor could I speak.
• “Why…why are you here?” I asked when I finally found my voice.
• “That doesn’t matter, what matters is that I get to see you after all this time,” he replied before wrapping me in a tight hug, a soft moan escaped my lips as I melted into his arms.
• It had been so long, too long and only he had this effect on me.
• “I missed you so much princess, he confessed before taking my lips in a sweet kiss.
• As his lips devoured mine, I returned the kiss with the same urgency, all my worries and problems had melted away and I felt so safe.
• Attention, attention, American Airlines Flight AA5622, now boarding at Gate C35. Please proceed to the departure gate for boarding...
• “That's my flight,” I whispered breaking the kiss and dashing in the opposite direction.
• My heart was in my throat, I was trying not to think of what just happened, of who I had just seen.
• “They've called our flight, let's go,” I said breathlessly when I got back to the chair we were sitting on but I didn't see Ella or Susan nor did I see our bags.
• “Wait, hold on,” I muttered as I looked around to confirm if I was in the right place.
• “Susan!!! Ella!!!” I screamed, calling my best friend and daughter, as I ran around the airport aimlessly.
• “Princess,” His voice came from behind and I stopped.
• “What’s wrong princess,” he asked with a concerned tone.
• “Ella…Susan…Our bags…” I stammered as I turned to look at him.
• “Let's ask if they have boarded first,” he said, leading me towards the airport personnel.
• "Why didn't I think of that?” I thought, still very frustrated.
• After about ten minutes and no luck, because they claimed they couldn't give out that information, I finally decided to board the airplane in hopes that they did too.
• “Your passport please,” the lady asked, giving her my passport, I suddenly remembered my bag, the one I had run to retrieve, it wasn't with me.
• “My bag…My bag,” I repeated thinking of where I dropped it.
• “Here,” he handed me my bag, and our eyes locked and it felt like time stood still.
• “We cannot confirm your identity Ma, please come with me,” the lady said, breaking the tension.
• “What does that even mean?” I asked, refusing to go with her
• “Security!!!” She called, alerting the airport security and they rushed towards us.
• “Let me go,” I screamed as they dragged me away.