Chapter 2: I’m Your Mother!
There’s a popular saying Lily found quite true:”
Close your eyes and open them, and a day is gone. Close your eyes and don’t open them, and your life is gone.
But blinking and magically skipping fifteen years?
‘That, she considered utterly absurd.
Anyone would find that ridiculous.
“Did you team up with that little brat, Andy, to set up a hidden camera? And fake crying? Though, I have to admit, your makeup is pretty convincing…”
She noticed John’s hold tightening when she was saying.
“My… waist… is going to break!”
She playfully pinched him, a habit from their dating days that continued through their marriage.
“Sorry, Lily.”
He loosened his grip.
Lily huffed, pulling his hands away, noticing something amiss.
She gasped.“What happened?”
His right knuckles were bleeding, the skin broken and swollen in several places.
She led him to the minibar, where most hotels kept a first–aid kit.
He trailed behind, his gaze unwavering.
“What happened? You were fine when you were choking me…”
Lily paused, applying the ointment.
It wasn’t right.
If this were some elaborate prank involving a hidden camera, John wouldn’t have gripped her neck so hard!
She turned on the lamp on the nightstand.
The date and time on her phone confirmed it fifteen years later!
Lily… where… where have you been all these years?”
had left
123
passengers unaccounted for.
Ben years ago, the plane crash
The black box was found on a remote island, and the bodies of missing passengers were recovered from the beaches over the years.
John had been desperately searching Seeing her alive, in the flesh, was Lily didn’t hear his question.
She was still reeling from the shock.
Ben
for Lily
Lily while dreading finding her.
scene he’d dreamt of countless times.
years… how is that possible? Doesn’t that mean Andy’s twenty–one? And Amy and Ben…
Chapter 2 Im Your Mother..
She looked up, her eyes blazing.“Call Andy on video chat. I need to see him, John. Call him now!”
If this was real, she needed to understand this fifteen–y
-year gap.
Seeing her grown son would make she believe what had happened.
Seeing her distress, John quickly soothed her.
“Okay, Lily, I’ll call him right away.”
“He initiated a video call with Andy.
It went to voicemail, then finally connected on the third try.
“What?”
Three cold words, and a dark screen.
Lily’s agitation instantly cooled.
This wasn’t her sweet Andy.
Her boy had always been cuddly and called her “Mommy,” growing into a bright, sunny young man. This was… dark, sullen.
“Andy, is that you?”
Lily held up the phone to her face.
There was a pause, then a click.
The screen brightened..
The instant she saw him, Lily froze.
She recognized her son’s features instantly–a larger, older version of Andy, but his features. hadn’t changed that much!
“Ha! If you’re looking for some random woman, don’t flaunt yourself in front of me, you pathetic
imitation!”
The call ended abruptly.
Lily:…
She’d been… scolded by her son?!
All her confusion vanished.
She slammed the phone down, gulped down half a glass of water, and demanded, “Tell me everything!”
Where was her sweet little boy? Why had he become a prickly hedgehog? John hung his head, his shoulders slumped, his eyes filled with a weary sadness. “After you disappeared, I was so focused on finding you that I neglected the kids. They’re… resentful. I’m sorry, Lily.”
Lily pursed her lips.
The man knew how to play the victim! He’d been doing that since he was chasing her. But then she thought about it.
If she’d really been gone for fifteen years, it meant her children had lost their mother, and John
Chapter 21m Your Mother!
had lost his wife.
Their family had been shattered.
Lily felt a deep ache in her heart.
It felt like a cruel joke played by fate.
“I don’t know, John. I don’t know what happened. The plane crashed, landed in the ocean. I struggled to escape the cabin, but there were too many people… so much water in my mouth…” She really didn’t remember clearly, still feeling a bit disoriented.
*… Then I opened my eyes, and I was in the bathtub. And you were choking me. It hurt so much.” She sobbed, burying her face in his neck, feeling his heartbeat against her forehead, finding a measure of comfort.
Was 30
natural–she
was instinctively clinging to him, seeking reassurance.
“Don’t be afraid, Lily. I’m here. I’ll protect you…
He comforted her, subtly lighting a sandalwood incense stick.
The fragrant smoke swirled around them, obscuring their forms.
“How could I just open my eyes and be fifteen years in the future? My head is spinning. And Andy… he’s so angry. He must have been so unhappy these years. And Amy and Ben… at their
age…
Inhaling the calming scent, Lily drifted off to sleep, her voice growing fainter. Once she was asleep, John made a call.
Get Dr. William here immediately.”
He then opened the laptop on the nightstand, accessing the hotel hallway security footage from the time he’d left the room.
All the while, he never released Lily’s wrist.
Meanwhile, in Andy’s room, chaos reigned.
His reaction to the video call was far different from his dismissive attitude Seeing his mother’s likeness in that woman had left him speechless.
Then, nausea.
The woman
was delusional–actually
attempting to impersonate his miqther?
In a fit of rage, he smashed everything in sight..
Anyone who knew Andy knew his mother was sacred.
Even an unintentional offense regarding her was forbidden.
Anything related to his mother would trigger the beast in him.
A swaying chandelier finally gave way, plunging the room into darkness. Andy curled up on the sofa, clutching his sixth birthday present from his mother–a hand–carved
necklace–to his chest.
If was his only source of warmth.
Chapter 2 Tm Your Mother!
A soft whimper escaped his lips, like the sound of a wounded animal, lost and scared.
“Mom, Andy misses you so much”
After a long while, Andy’s eyes snapped open.
No, he wouldn’t allow any imitation to take his mother’s place!
