The morning is approaching, and baby Heather is just about to go to sleep. I yawned and slowly got out of bed, taming my tousled locks before making my way to the kitchen for aforting cup of coffee.


    I’ll dedicate three hours to my tasks before I can finally rest. Later, I might secure an additional two to four hours of sleep before my daughter wakes up. I never realized how challenging it is, a true struggle, but it’s something I have to endure. How can I discover apanion for this odyssey?


    Tsss! There you go again, M.


    “Good morning…” Rachelle and I stepped into the kitchen simultaneously. She had herptop in hand.


    “Good morning! Is the princess still asleep?”


    “Yup…” I massaged my shoulder, which was sore from carrying Heather’s weight all night.


    I couldn’t help but smile. Time flies by, so I need to savor these moments while she’s still a baby. Before I know it, she’ll be walking, running, and refusing to be carried.


    Even though I’m really tired and need more rest, I’ll keep going. That’s how it is when you’re a single mom. I feel happy because Heather has made my life more colorful.


    ***


    Today marks Heather’s first birthday. It’s as if she was born just yesterday, and now, she’s already one year old, taking her first steps. We’re approaching the stage where we’ll be running after her.


    Our celebration was simple, attended only by the staff here on the ind. We enjoyed a modest feast, and since it was a child’s birthday, there was no alcohol involved.


    The ind staff has be like an extended family to us. Heather is familiar with all of them and easily mingles with them.


    My daughter is a remarkably beautiful and healthy child. Her physical traits are a mix of Ivan and me. She inherited my facial shape and eyebrows, while her eyes and nose are from her dad. Her lips, on the other hand, bear a resemnce to her grandmother, Ivan’s mom.


    I wonder how he’s doing now. Has he started a family with Maureen?


    It’s been over a year. Perhaps they’ve tied the knot, Maureen might be expecting, or they may already have a one-year-old of their own to care for.


    There’s still a lingering ache when I think of him, but I believe it’s a normal feeling, especially considering the deep love I had for the father of my child.


    I know that eventually, our journeys will intersect again, and when that moment arrives, I won’t avoid it. I’ll proudly present Heather to them, and I won’t hide her true identity from anyone. I’mmitted to letting my daughter embrace her real self.


    Rachelle often mentions, “These kinds of situations happen, you know. Sometimes, they don’t even realize they’re siblings.” It does make me a bit anxious.


    ***


    “Bye, baby… Mommy has to go to Man for work, okay?”


    I have a business meeting scheduled, which is the reason for my trip. Because Heather is still quite young, I’ll be leaving her here on the ind temporarily. I’ll ce her in the care of one of Rachelle’s helpers, who has experience in looking after children, so I have full confidence that my daughter will be well taken care of.


    Rachelle is also here to lend her support.


    “We’ll take good care of Heather for now. Take care over there. And who knows, you might meet a charming guy who can be your boyfriend…” Rachelle and Lucinda giggled.


    “I’m not thinking about that.”


    “Don’t speak too soon, M.”


    I haven’t dismissed the possibility of finding love in the future. If the right person enters my life, that’s great! If not, that’s fine as well. However, my current main focus is solely on my daughter. Love will unfold organically, and if it doesn’t, that’s absolutely okay.


    I’ll be in Man for two nights and three days. I’ve made an online reservation for a condotel that’s conveniently situated near the restaurant where I’ll be meeting three individuals.


    The business was thriving, yielding substantial monthly returns, and this had led me to consider expanding into additional ventures. It’s all for Heather’s future and ourfortable life. I aspire to construct a house and perhaps acquire an ind for my daughter and me.


    “Thank you foring, Ma’am…” The young CEO I’m conversing with disys great politeness. It’s three in the afternoon, and I arrived in Man just an hour ago. As soon as we met, we already delved into our agenda.


    As our meeting was drawing to a close, I noticed five men entering the hotel. The partner I was conversing with also directed his attention towards them, prompting me to briefly nce at the men he found intriguing.


    “Sorry, Ma’am… I got distracted by those attractive CEOs.”


    I smiled.


    “Don’t you recognize them, Ma’am?”


    I may not be interested in these men, but I put on a polite smile and shook my head.


    “The one at the back, Mr. Ivan Nicholo Greco…”


    I suddenly tensed in my seat. Ivan? Shit!


    A frigid wave cascaded through my entire being, and I nearly froze in my seat. Miss Lei continued speaking, but I struggled to understand or pay much attention. I cleared my throat to regain myposure.


    “Ah… I don’t know them,” I offered as an excuse to change the topic. Our meeting had concluded, and we only needed to go over minor details. With everything settled, I made a hasty leave, politely declining her repeated invitations to join them at the club with her friends.


    Ivan enjoys going to clubs with his friends, and I didn’t want to further shrink our shared world.


    During my subsequent encounters with fellow entrepreneurs, my thoughts strayed to distant concerns. Anxiety and self-doubt consumed me as I pondered the unexpected possibility of Ivan’s sudden appearance. I didn’t want to encounter him.


    I had asserted, not long ago, that I had moved past any emotional impact, but it had barely been over a year since our separation, since I walked away from him. It wasn’t the right time. Maybe, in another four or five years, I would find the ability to confront him with a serene smile, as if his presence no longer held any significance in my life.


    ***


    I finished what I needed to do in Man, and now I’m back on the ind. Rachelle had lots of questions, but I didn’t answer them. I didn’t share the details because I’m focused on moving on from my ex-husband.


    In the years that followed, when I had business meetings, I made sure to avoid going to Man. Instead, I met my partners in ces like Cebu, Davao, Pwan, and even Boracay. I brought Heather with me so she wouldn’t be without me for too long.


    My daughter is remarkably affectionate and talkative, brimming with questions that often lead me to surrender.


    “When will I meet my daddy, mommy?”


    I stopped typing on myptop to pay attention to my daughter, who had brought up the topic of her father once more.


    She hugged her little pillow with her father’s face printed on it.


    I wasn’t the one who had this pillow made, it’s Rachelle. She mentioned that her godchild was constantly requesting a simr pillow, simr to the souvenirs avable in the ind’s store.


    “I don’t know, baby. Your dad has been busy. I think he’s in America right now,” I replied, trying to deter her from asking more questions.


    She walked over to therge globe on the side.


    “Where’s America, mommy?”


    I let out a sigh. Each time she inquired about her dad, it tugged at my heartstrings. But what options did I have? I couldn’t simply take her to Ivan and im that we had a child together. I’m not sure about his circumstances.


    Moreover, I remained uncertain about Maureen’s potential reaction upon discovering that Ivan and I had a child together. The thought of her mistreating my child loomed, potentially resulting in utter chaos.


    Heather grew quiet, engrossed in her quest to find America on the globe, allowing me to resume my tasks.


    “I want my Daddy for my birthday. I don’t want a big Barbie dollhouse anymore. I just want my daddy, mommy…”


    Her birthday was fast approaching. In previous years, her requests had centered on toys, but now, her heart’s desire was something different-her father.


    Heather settled onto the soft carpet, heaved a sigh, and tenderly embraced the pillow she clutched.


    “Hi, Daddy… Don’t you miss me? Don’t you want to see Heather?”


    My heart ached as I observed my daughter.


    I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’m sorry I can’t make your wishe true. Your dad has a different family now. But I promise you, six years from now, you’ll get to meet him. You’ll see him.


    I pray that when that day arrives, Maureen has grown and matured. I hope she’ll embrace you because it’s not your fault for what happened.


    I finally opened the email I had been waiting for before I approached my disheartened daughter.


    “I’ll be heading to Man in two days. Would you like to join me?”


    She gazed up at me. “Aren’t my grandparents there in Man? And my uncle and aunt?”


    I winced but eventually nodded.


    “Will I get to see them, Mommy?”


    I held back a smile. “I’m not sure, dear. Perhaps they’ve traveled to another country.”


    Heather’s eyes widened. “Let’s go to that country and find them. Do we have tickets, Mommy?”


    I rubbed my forehead.


    “I’m not certain which country they’ve gone to, sweetheart.”


    May God forgive me for lying to my child.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ***


    “Are you going to introduce Heather now?”


    I narrowed my eyes at Rachelle. Today, we’re leaving for Man. Heather has been quite lively since she woke up. Even though she hasn’t mentioned it, I know she’s hoping to see her father there, despite my telling her her dad is in a different country.


    I sincerely hope he is indeed in a different country. I pray I won’t identally encounter him in Man.


    “Mommy, can we go to the mall after your meeting?”


    I was changing my clothes. In less than an hour, I would be meeting with my business associate. Our meeting ce is at the mall, right across from this temporary apartment where we are staying.


    I invited Lucinda to apany us and keep an eye on Heather. My daughter is exceptionally spirited and chatty, which can make it challenging to have her join me during my meetings.


    “Yes, baby… We’ll go to the mall. I’ll text you when it’s time for you to join me.”


    “Lucinda, don’t forget to have Heather wear her ID when you leave.”


    “Yes, babe!”


    I kissed my daughter’s cheek before leaving.


    The meeting was scheduled for ten in the morning andsted until one in the afternoon.


    I was informed that Lucinda and Heather had been at the mall since around eleven because my daughter had been crying in the apartment. She insisted on going to the mall. I allowed them to go and made sure to remind Lucinda to keep a close eye on her.


    As I was leaving the restaurant, I received a call from Lucinda.


    “Oh, babe… I’m on my way there…”


    “B-Be…” Lucinda began to cry. I couldn’t understand what she was saying.


    But one thing was certain-she had lost my child!


    Heather! Oh my God!


    “I’m on my way!”


    My body trembled, but I quickened my pace to reach the mall.


    “Lucinda!”


    “B-Be… B-Be…”


    Lucinda began to exin. She said they had just been to the restroom earlier.


    “I told her to wait for me before we went to the yground, but after I finished using the toilet, she was gone!”


    We spent several hours searching. I also sought assistance from the mall’s management and security. We found a few videos in the mall with Heather walking alone, but we couldn’t ascertain where she had entered or if she had left the mall.


    I was beside myself, and the darkness was setting in. I felt physically drained, but I couldn’t bring myself to stop searching for my daughter.


    “Babe, let’s return to the apartment for now…”


    It was already eight in the evening. My God! My child. Where could she be?


    What if someone had already taken her? I couldn’t bear to contemte what might be happening to her. If we don’t locate her soon, I’m certain I’ll lose my sanity.


    I went to the nearby police station. They assured me they would call and review the surveince footage near the mall.


    “Babe, someone’s calling!” Lucinda eximed in a panic. I was so distracted that I didn’t immediately notice my phone ringing.


    It was an unknown number. Maybe it’s Heather!


    “H-Hello?”


    “May I speak to Heather’s mom?”


    I felt like I was going to faint as I heard the baritone voice on the other end.