Ella’s POV:
The days were slipping through my fingers, each one faster than the last. It was now just a week before the wedding, and everything felt like a dream. Arec had been... different lately. A good different. Sweet, attentive, and surprisingly romantic.
I didn’t even realize he had this side to him, but every small gesture, his lingering touch, the soft way he spoke my na, the way his eyes stayed on as though I were the only person in the world, made my heart ache in the best way. He was spoiling with his affection, and I wasn’t complaining.
This wasn’t the Arec I thought I knew, he used to be: guarded, distant, and calculated. This was a man who, with every glance and every word, showed how much he cared. And to my surprise, I found myself soaking in every bit of his attention. I hadn’t expected to fall so hard, but here I was.
I sat by the window, absently running a hand over my growing belly. Three days. Soon, I’d be walking down the aisle, starting a real new Chapter with Arec, and the realization hit like a gentle wave.
Tomorrow, my mother would arrive. I could hardly contain my excitent. I hadn’t seen her in what felt like forever, and with everything that had been happening, the contract, the now-real relationship, the real wedding, the baby, her presence was the one thing I needed to steady my nerves.
Arec had insisted on picking her up from the airport. I’d protested at first, wanting to go myself, but he wouldn’t hear it. "You need to rest," he’d said, his tone leaving no room for argunt. "I’ll take care of it."
I’d given in, of course, because arguing with Arec when he was in his protective mode was like trying to move a mountain.
The thought of seeing my mother again brought a bittersweet lump to my throat. I’d missed her so much. There were so many things I wanted to tell her, to apologize for.
I thought back to all the tis I’d been a difficult child, stubborn, impatient, always pushing her limits, at tis. As a teenager, I’d been no better, challenging her at every turn.
But now... now, as I felt the life growing inside , I finally understood. Being a mother wasn’t easy. It was a sacrifice, a labor of love, and she had done it all for without ever asking for anything in return.
Tears stung my eyes as guilt and gratitude mingled in my chest. I’d taken so much for granted, and now I couldn’t wait to tell her how sorry I was. To thank her for everything she’d done for .
The phone’s shrill ring cut through the quiet of the penthouse, pulling out of my thoughts. With a small sigh, I made my way to the table where the phone rested.
My fingers hesitating before picking it up.
"Hello?" I answered, my voice calm but curious.
"Good afternoon, ma’am," the receptionist’s warm voice ca through. "There’s a visitor here for you, a Miss Joanne. Should I send her up?"
Joanne? The na made blink in surprise. I wasn’t expecting her, nor had she ntioned any plans to stop by. I wasn’t sure how to feel about it either.
I hesitated, my grip tightening on the phone. "Yes, send her up," I finally said, curiosity getting the better of .
I hung up and set the phone down, smoothing my hands over my dress as I moved to the living room.
My thoughts buzzed as I tried to make sense of her sudden visit. Joanne and I had been making progress, yes, but this unannounced visit felt... strange.
Before I could dwell on it too much, there was a knock at the door. I took a deep breath, straightened my posture, and opened it.
Joanne stood there, her face lighting up with excitent as soon as she saw . She wore a fitted erald-green blouse that complented her olive skin, paired with tailored black trousers and ankle boots with a slight heel. Her hair was pinned back into a neat bun, and her makeup was flawless, subtle but enough to make her features pop.
"Ella!" she exclaid, pulling into a hug before I could react. "Look at you! You’re glowing." She stepped back, her eyes flicking down to my bump. "And look at my godchild How are you both doing?"
I couldn’t help but smile, her enthusiasm catched off guard but warming nonetheless. "We’re doing fine thank you," I said, gesturing for her to co in.
Joanne’s heels clicked against the polished hardwood floor as she entered, her eyes scanning the penthouse with a whistle of approval. "Wow, Ella," she said, her voice tinged with awe. "This place is incredible. A penthouse, huh? I knew Arec had a thing for luxury, but this is next level."
I closed the door behind her, amused. "I didn’t expect you to visit," I said as I watched her wander further into the living area.
She turned to with a small smirk. "Honestly? I wasn’t sure you’d even let up."
That caught off guard. "Why would you think that?"
She shrugged, her expression casual but her eyes betraying a hint of vulnerability. "The last ti I ca over, you t downstairs. I figured maybe you weren’t ready to let in just yet."
I blinked, taken aback by her assumption. "That was because we were in a rush," I explained quickly. "We had to get to the hospital, and it didn’t make sense for you to co up just to head back down again."
Joanne waved her hand dismissively, as if brushing off her earlier comnt. "It’s fine. I just worried back then that maybe you hadn’t forgiven yet."
Her words made pause, guilt flickering in my chest. I crossed my arms, leaning against the armrest of the couch. "Joanne, we’ve talked about this already. I’ve forgiven you. Let’s stop dredging up the past and focus on moving forward, okay?"
She nodded, her lips curving into a small smile. "You’re right. Sorry. I just, never mind. Anyway, this place is gorgeous. Seriously, Ella, it’s like sothing out of a magazine."
I rolled my eyes, but her genuine awe made smile. She was taking in everything, the high ceilings, the plush furniture, the floor-to-ceiling windows that frad the city skyline.
"So," I said, breaking the silence, "what brings you here? And without notice, no less?"
Joanne’s expression softened as she reached into the sleek black bag slung over her shoulder. "I know, I should’ve called. I’m sorry. But it was kind of an ergency. I wanted to give you sothing."
Curiosity sparked in my chest as she pulled out a large, beautifully bound photo album. The cover was rich leather, embossed with an intricate floral design.
"What’s this?" I asked, taking it carefully.
"Open it," she urged, her voice unusually gentle.
I flipped open the cover, and the first photo made smile imdiately. It was Arec as a little boy, his hair slightly ssy and his grin impossibly wide as he held up a shiny gold dal.
The next page had him on a school trip, posing awkwardly with his classmates in front of so historical monunt.
Page after page revealed snapshots of his life I’d never known, family gatherings, school events, monts of quiet joy. There were pictures of him as a teenager, laughing with friends, and even a few with Joanne herself, their faces painted at what looked like a carnival.
But as I flipped further, sothing stood out. There were no pictures of Arec’s parents.
"Joanne," I said softly, looking up at her. "These are amazing. But... where are Arec’s parents?"
Her cheerful deanor dimd slightly. "They passed away when Arec was young," she said, her voice quieter. "His grandmother raised him after that. She was everything to him."
My chest tightened. I’d known Arec’s parents were gone, but I hadn’t realized how young he’d been when he lost them. A wave of sadness swept over as I looked back at the photos, now seeing them in a different light.
The boy in these pictures had lost so much at such a young age, yet he’d grown into the man I knew, strong, determined, and loving.
"He doesn’t talk about them much," Joanne continued. "I didn’t want to bring it up before, but I thought... maybe this would help you feel closer to him, to his past. To the people who shaped him."
Tears pricked the corners of my eyes as I traced a finger over a photo of Arec and his grandmother, their smiles radiating warmth and love.
"Joanne," I said, my voice thick with emotion, "this is the most thoughtful thing anyone’s ever done for . Thank you."
Her smile returned, softer this ti. "I just thought it might help. You’re about to start a family with him, and I wanted you to know more about his life. About the people who made him who he is."
I closed the album gently, holding it close to my chest. "It does help. More than you know."
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