Chapter 8

• CHAPTER 8
• OLIVIA'S POV.
• FIVE YEARS LATER.
• It's been exactly five years since I walked out of my family home and flew down to Italy with a man I barely knew and a child I knew wasn't his. But look how time flies! It's been five years now, and I can't believe that I'm back in New York with my son, Jaden!
• Five years ago, I didn't just leave home; I left my hometown entirely and everything it had given me over the years. Now, I was going back—not because I had any desire to confront my past or to see my ex-fiancé or my father, but because the time of reckoning is here. I wanted to show Jaden my family. At least he deserves it; he deserves something real since his whole existence has been a lie regarding who he thinks is his father.
• I still can't believe that I spent five years in Italy with Alessandro. Those five years were the best years of my whole life! I was treated so well, even if sometimes I had to fight for myself and defend my child from the psychos in the family. But staying in Italy was the best thing that ever happened to me and my son. He was born into a place where he is loved. They might not be his biological family, but he was treated like a king.
• My eyes wandered around the airport, and images of that day I followed Alessandro onto the jet flashed before me. Scenes from the past five years flickered in my mind: the betrayal of Samantha and Lucas, my sudden departure, the unexpected pregnancy and paternity theft, the vibrancy of a foreign land, and falling in love with the most dangerous man in the city.
• A pang of anger and excitement shot through me as I recalled how my father disowned me without giving me a chance to explain. I wished he had handled that situation five years ago differently, instead of severing ties so abruptly. It still hurt and made me angry each time I thought about it, but what frustrated me even more was that I was back to reclaim everything from them. Thank you, Dad, for cutting the one bond that might have held me back.
• But none of that mattered right now. The only thing that truly mattered was the small king holding onto my hand as if his life depended on it. My little Jaden is the love and joy of my life. The best part of those five years in Italy was being his mother.
• Looking down at Jaden, whose mind seemed to be wandering as he gazed around the airport, I felt my heart swell with happiness. This was his first time here. Just seeing him lit up my face with joy. I ran my fingers through his blonde hair, which I believed he inherited from his real father. While I didn't remember much about that night with the stranger, I knew he had that same striking blonde hair when I woke up the next morning.
• The memories of that night surged back, but I quickly pushed them aside. I didn’t want to think about it—or the stranger who is the father of my bundle of joy. Besides, Jaden now has one of the best fathers in the world.
• I didn’t want to dwell on who that stranger might be, especially since I wasn’t sure I would even recognize him if our paths crossed again.
• As the car drove toward the apartment that Alessandro had bought for us, I gazed out the window, taking in the sights of the things I had left behind years ago. Jaden chattered endlessly, pointing out things and asking me a barrage of questions that tested my patience. But isn’t that what motherhood is all about?
• The driver finally parked in front of our luxurious apartment. “Here we are, little king!” he announced, tickling Jaden playfully.
• Jaden responded with a bright smile. “Mummy, it looks very beautiful but so small,” he remarked.
• “Will it be able to contain us all?” he asked seriously.
• A radiant smile lit up my face as I replied, “Of course, we’re just three, Jaden. It’s enough for us.”
• He nodded, though his eyes remained glued to the apartment, doubt lingering in his expression. After all, he had spent his life in a magnificent mansion filled with luxury.
• Zack, along with Jaden’s nanny, Jane, helped carry our things inside. Once they were done, I thanked Zack and bid him farewell, and he did the same for Jaden. I watched them play together, exchanging a playful mafia handshake before Jaden let him go.
• As he left, I heaved a deep sigh of relief. I was glad Zack was gone. Initially, Alessandro had wanted to assign three men to me for my safety in New York, but after enough arguments, I agreed to go with just a nanny instead. I didn't want to create a fuss walking around with men who looked rugged and dangerous. I didn’t need their help for now—unless I needed them to kick Luca's ass!
• A knot of excitement twisted in my stomach as Jane took Jayden inside, and I followed closely behind.
• I wasn’t sure if I was making the right decision by coming back here, but Alessandro convinced me to go. He wanted me to take my revenge on all those who had hurt me, and I didn’t think that was such a bad idea either.
• As I stepped into the house, I was in awe of how luxurious and glamorous the interior was.
• Taking Jayden’s hand, whose eyes were wide with wonder, I showed him around the apartment. It was cozy yet comfortable, and his father hadn’t forgotten to add a playground for him.
• That was so sweet of him. Meanwhile, Jaden quickly jumped into the playground while Jane followed closely to ensure he didn’t injure himself.
• I settled into a plush loveseat in the sitting room with a serene expression.
• A few minutes later, I was in the kitchen with Jane, trying to make Jaden’s favorite drink when he interrupted us.
• “Mommy! Mommy!” he called out as he walked into the kitchen. I turned to him with a soft smile.
• “What is it, Jayden?”
• “Can you get me this? I love it!” He pointed, holding out his iPad so I could see. I gently crouched down, a radiant smile on my face, eager to see what had caught his attention.
• “I want this!” He pointed at a neckpiece, and my eyes widened in disbelief. A chill ran down my spine as I quickly took the iPad from him to take a closer look, hoping it wasn’t my long-lost neckpiece—the one I had lost the day I was disowned.
• How on earth was it on eBay? I thought, still gazing at it in surprise.
• Who could possibly be selling my neckpiece on eBay? That piece is priceless,it’s the only thing I have that reminds me of my mother.
• “Mommy, would you buy it for me?” Jayden’s voice jolted me from my thoughts.
• I forced a smile and replied, “Of course, baby, I will buy it for you.”