Beside her sat a three–year–old boy in casual wear, radiating quiet elegance despite his simple clothes.

The little one intently studied a financial newspaper.

On his other side sat Zoe, now in her fifties.

“It’s time. Jacob Ramirez, promise you’ll listen to Grandma Zoe?”

Maureen checked her watch, gently ruffling her son Jacob’s hair.

Jacob obediently closed the newspaper, discreetly covering the page about Geoffrey. “I will,” he stated seriously.

The little one was barely over three, yet acted like a little adult.

Maureen gazed at the child who bore a striking resemblance to Geoffrey, reluctantly hugging him: “Take good care of your brother too.”

Zoe patted her shoulder nearby.

“Go ahead. I’ll look after both little ones.”

Maureen nodded, dragging her luggage onto the flight bound for Karaville.

Inside the plane’s first–class cabin.

Maureen gazed at the clouds outside the window, her mind drifting back four years.

Back then, despairing and heartbroken, she’d sought Gareth’s help to fake her death and leave the country. Abroad, she’d given premature birth to twins.

Everything had gone smoothly until last March, when her younger son Ethan Ramirez–already frail from premature birth–was diagnosed with a malignant clonal disease of hematopoietic stem cells, commonly known as leukemia.

Doctors told Maureen that umbilical cord blood stem cell transplants could treat blood disorders.

For months, she’d tried obtaining Geoffrey’s sperm through intermediaries.

All attempts failed.

With time critical for treatment, Maureen had to return herself to get it!

not for little Ethan, she’d never set foot in that place again, nor

takeoff, Maureen’s friend Katherine White texted: “Swamped lately. Wait till I’m back

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studies

years ago, they’d coincidentally reunited in Country

warmth spread through

Karaville.

Summer brought relentless downpours.

seven in the evening, her eyes dazed as she gazed

the airport, a luxurious Lincoln pulled

and opened

Maureen nodded. “Thank you.”

“No need for formalities. You’re a

Burke arranged accommodations

Burke” he referred

ago, she’d never have known his self–deprecating “small–time boss”

both sides of the law–without which she and her children

the car, Maureen watched

four years, save for Andrea posters plastered

meteoric rise–not just as a singer, but

eyes turned

An hour later.

stopped inside a villa

even at night, one could see the pleasant

taken to the residence, Maureen immediately contacted Zoe and the others to report her

“Zoe, where’s Jacob?”

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Jacob and found it a bit

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