As the view of Drr City faded into the distance, Grace closed her eyes, feeling no attachment left behind. In the blink of an eye, another summer had arrived.


    It had been six years since she''d left, and now Grace was back, holding hands with a cute little boy. Colin Floyd gazed at the vast airport of Prr City, his little head filled with curiosity. "Mom, who are you here to treat in Drr City?" Colin asked.


    In the six years since she''d been gone, Grace had married and now had a four-


    year-old son.


    She pinched Colin''s chubby cheeks and smiled, "An old friend of mine..." Colin, a bit confused, held Grace''s hand tightly. His eyes were filled with curiosity at everything he saw.


    As they walked, Colin suddenly pointed at someone in surprise, "Mom, that boy looks just like you!" Grace paused, and she heard two voices, familiar yet strange, calling out.


    "Grace!"


    "Mom!"


    Grace''s heart skipped a beat, and she turned her head around to see Antonio walking toward her with a teenager. It had been six years, and Antonio seemed to have lost his piety, no beaded bracelet in hand. Omar had grown into an eleven-year-


    old boy, almost unrecognizable to her. Everything seemed to have changed, yet it also remained the same.


    Colin tugged at Grace''s hand, looking puzzled. "Mom, what''s wrong?"


    Grace stared at them, briefly lost in a daze, and then shook herself back to the present. She looked down at Colin, and the difort in her chest faded. "Colin, it''s nothing. Let''s go."


    Colin''s spirits lifted, and he looked up with a grin. "Mom, are you hungry? My tummy is telling me it''s hungry."


    Grace''s heart melted at Colin''s cute stunts. She picked him up and yfully scratched his nose. "I''ll get you a nice meal."


    "Hold on!"


    Just as they were about to leave, Omar''s frowning face popped up. With a frown, Grace took a step back, keeping Colin close to her.


    "What are you doing?"


    Omar''s eyes bulged, pointing an using finger at Colin. "Who''s this little troublemaker?"


    Colin hugged Grace, making faces at Omar. "You bad guy! You can''t talk to my mom that way!"


    Grace quicklyforted Colin with a kiss on the cheek. "It''s alright, Colin."


    Colin''s smile came back, but he shot a defiant look at Omar. Omar was seething, unustomed to such treatment from Grace. Antonio''s voice,ced with restrained fury, cut through the tension. "Grace, who is this child?" he grilled her.


    Grace was caught off guard, ouessing her decision to return today.


    But Colin piped up, defending Grace, "I''m Mommy''s boy. Who are you? You''re not as cool as my dad." Grace was taken aback by Colin''s articte defense.


    Then, in an instant, Colin''s tears started flowing.


    Omar had Colin''s arm in a pinch, his teeth clenched as he spoke through gritted teeth, "Listen up, boy. She''s my mom, not yours!"


    Grace''s heart ached. She pushed Omar away and snapped, "Don''t hurt my son!"


    Omar reeled from the push, his eyes brimming with shock and tears. He''d never expected Grace, who''d always been so affectionate, to act like this.


    But Grace was focused on Colin, lifting his sleeve to show a bruised arm. "Colin, it''s going to be okay," sheforted, her voice soft. "I''ll get you out of here."


    Colin hugged Grace''s neck tightly, crying his heart out. "Mommy, they''re bad guys. Let''s wait for Daddy to show them who''s boss!"


    Grace rubbed Colin''s back gently. "Daddy will be here soon, Colin. Just a few more days. Don''t worry."


    Antonio, who had been keeping his cool, lostat atst. He grabbed Grace''s wrist, saying, "How long are you going to keep this up? Did you have any idea how hard I searched for you?"


    Grace, repulsed by his grasp, yanked her arm free. "Back off. We''re through, and you''re well aware of that," she said, her voice icy.


    Antonio looked at her, like he was seeing her for the first time. "It''s been long


    enough. Your games should have ended by now!"


    With Colin in her arms, Grace looked at Antonio and Omar, a touch of sarcasm in her eyes.


    "I''m not ying games with you. Why don''t you guys leave me alone and


    go to Kendra? She''s right over there, watching everything." No


    sooner had Grace spoken than Kendra, her anger barely in check, stormed over.


    Kendra quickly dashed away the


    envy from her eyes andtched onto


    Antonio''s arm. "Grace, it''s been


    ages I''m surprised to see you back


    in Drr City. Did things not go well


    for you abroad?"


    Grace remained unfazed by Kendra''s taunts, responding with a mere, calm smile, "Sorry to let you down. I''ve been great, and I''ve got this cute little son here."


    Kendra''s smile faltered, but she continued, "Grace, may I know who your husband is?"


    "Enough!" Antonio''s expression was grim as he yanked Kendra with a firm grip.


    Omar stepped up, his voice barely above a whisper. "Kendra..."


    time Kendra had


    It was the first tin


    been shut down like that by Antonio, and she was left dumbfounded, nibbling her lip in annoyance. Grace, not wanting to be in their presence any longer, made to leave with Colin in her arms.


    Yet again, Omar stood in her path, his face all twisted up as he blurted out, "You can''t go. Dad and I searched high and low for you."


    Antonio''s face


    was a mask of sternness. "You can''t just disappear from our lives. You need to return to the Kaufman''s ce. Omar needs his mom."


    Grace gave them a look, a touch of sarcasm in her eyes. "That''s not what you said back then. You made it clear I wasn''t fit to be Omar''s mom, that we were through."


    Then she turned to Omar, whose face was a mix of confusion and sadness. "You''ve cut me out, and now Kendra is your mom. I''ve only got Colin."