Chapter 151: 6 Years Later

I walked with a slight limp from a wound that would stay with me for the rest of my life. It pissed me off at first, but now I was used to it. As I maneuver the mansion’s corridors, I give an annoyed huff. *Where the heck is he?*

The blinding sunlight from the window caught my attention, and I peeked outside, spotting Amy playing in the pool with Mason, Alex, and Liam. Mom and Gabriel were lounging beneath an umbrella, drinking what looked like lemonade.

*Well, they look like they’re having a party.* It was a tempting thought to join them. *But first…*

No surprise, I eventually heard footsteps coming from my art room. Of course, he’s in there. I give the old door a couple of taps. “Knock, knock. Open up.”

“Wait! Don’t come in!”

“Eh?” I pressed my ear against the door. “What’re you doing in there?” I heard a loud crash and my alarm spiked. “Are you alright??”

“Y–yeah!” I heard the sound of a few more things falling before the boy swung the door open. There were splashes of fresh paint on his shirt and some on his cheek. His olive skin tone was fairly lighter than my caramel color. His was considered an olive tone. His hair wasn’t nearly as curly as mine and had a golden brown hue. And, the part that would always make me stop and stare, was that he had his father’s eyes. Blue embers. “Hey, Mama.”

I snapped out of my stare and looked behind him. “What’re you doing cooped up in here?”

“I was painting. Look!” He took my hand and dragged me to his masterpiece. “See?”

He had chosen a big canvas with many bright colors. It was of the sun and the forest in the background, a bright blue sky dappled with white clouds and a rainbow. The complete opposite of the black and white night sky I used to paint.

“It’s beautiful.” I gave him a sincere compliment. The boy beamed at my compliment. “But why don’t you play in the sun instead of drawing it? Tryin’ to be a hermit, weirdo?”

“Wh–” His face flushed. “But it’s hot outside!”

“And?” I spun him around and led him to the door. “Get in the pool with your auntie and uncles.”

My son gave me a loud, dramatic groan with the same sass I would give.

“Hey!” The rumors about your kids being a ‘mini you’ weren’t a lie. Everyone thought it was hilarious, me getting a taste of my own medicine.

After he got dressed in his swimming shorts, he held my hand as I led him outside. The light in his gorgeous blue eyes faded as he looked me up and down–noticing that I was in clothes that I usually would go out in.

“...So you’re not coming with me.” He stated instead of asking, I could see he was disappointed that I wasn’t joining him in the pool.

“Not this time, kid. Maybe later.”

There was another brief silence before he hesitantly spoke up again. “Can I come with you?”

My lips pursed in a frown, and I wondered if he knew where I was going. “Not this time, kid. Maybe next time.”

“You always say that…”

I poked his nose with an affectionate smile. “I keep my word, don’t I?”

His cute smile gradually returned as his small hand tightened around mine.

Once outside, he released my hand and dashed to the pool as soon as Amy called for him with an excited squeal. “Hey, baby-cakes!” Amy laughed when he jumped into her arms with a big splash.

I shared a smile with my mom as we watched them, and then she looked up at me with growing worry. “Are you sure you’ll be ok, honey? I can come with you.”

“I already told you, I’ll be fine.” I gave an annoyed groan.

Gabriel snorted. “You sound just like your son.”

“Shut up.”

“Just be careful.” My mom sighed. She didn’t share Gabriel’s humor.

“Yeah, yeah. Just watch over him while I’m gone and don’t tell him anything.” I squinted at her. “I think he’s already having suspicions.”

Mom looked away guiltily. I knew she would. “He’ll find out eventually, Suki…”

“Not yet. Not till I say he’s ready.” I tell her sternly and leave before she can protest. I refused to have my son’s mind infected by my past sins and suffering. I wanted him to live as a carefree child without my history in the back of his mind.

The boy gave me a wild wave as he rid on Mason’s shoulders, and I returned it with a soft smile before leaving.

*That’s right. I will protect him. No matter what.* It’s those thoughts that made me take each step forward. The limp in my damaged calf told me to go back. That I was being stupid. But if I did, I’d feel like a coward.

The long car ride felt far too short. It was so far that it took me outside of this divided city, yet it felt like it lasted for seconds. The buildings in this area weren’t abandoned, eroding houses or giant, white mansions. This place was in between modest buildings that were better looking than the west-side’s if they weren’t abandoned, but not nearly as flashy as mansions. Nobody warily looked over their shoulders, but they didn’t wear tuxedos and frilled dresses either.

Eventually, I reached the parking lot of a building that was bigger and separated from the rest. I felt that familiar anxiety build, and I let out a shaky sigh before adjusting my ponytail.

*C’mon, Suki. You might not be a cutthroat anymore, but you still got some pride left. Pull yourself together already!*

I shoved my mental scars into the fire where they belonged before stepping out of the car and entering the big building. I expected to see everybody in handcuffs or something, but the patients in there were… just patients. It almost reminded me of a hospital.

*So this is an asylum…*

“I’m not late for visiting hours, am I?” I asked the lady at the counter.

“You’ve arrived just in time.” She gave me a reassuring smile before checking her computer screen. “Name?”

“Sukia Arlee.”

“And who will you be visiting?”

My tongue froze. It was still hard to say his name. “...Julian August.”

“...Got it.” She absentmindedly responds while clicking a few things. “He’ll be escorting you.”

I turned and came face to face with a police officer. That didn’t exactly help my anxiety. I may have gotten my records cleaned and done my community service, but looking at them still naturally made me uneasy.

The officer led me down a few hallways before stopping at one of the doors and unlocking it. I could feel my heart rate speed up out of habit the moment I saw his familiar hair color through the window before the door slowly opened.

*Julian.*

Both his wrists and ankles were cuffed, and he looked tired, as if he were dead inside, but he was still as handsome as ever. As soon as he looked up, he sprung back to life as if his world were spinning again. “Beautiful!”

After all these years, my teeth still grind in annoyance. You’d think this fucker would’ve learned! I let it go, telling myself there are more important things to think about. The police officer stood next to the door as I took a seat on the other side of the table. Julian tried to reach out to touch my face, but the chains prevented him from doing so. Ironic. Chained up, just like he had done to me years ago.

“...Hey, Julian.” I finally spoke to him for the first time since that night.

“How have you been?” The charismatic charmer started the conversation as always, eager to speak with me like old times. “Are you alright? Have you been healthy?”

“Yeah.” I grumbled. “Other than I got a permanent limp and my thumb is messed up for the rest of my life. Other than that, I’m fiiine.” I rubbed salt on the wound by bitter habit.

Julian winced and looked away shamefully. “...I’m so sorry, Sukia. I never, absolutely never, would’ve hurt you. I wasn’t… no, there’s no excuses.” When our eyes locked again, there was that familiar, deep adoration with a hint of obsession. “I love you too much to hurt you.”

I frowned. Some parts of him haven’t changed, but I changed the subject. “Uh…” I pulled out my phone and showed him a photo of the boy. “Here.”

Julian took my phone and his eyes lit up with awe. “Is this…?”

“Yeah. Our son.”

Tears filled his eyes, and I felt my heart ache. “What’s his name?”

“It’s Kayden.”

“Kayden…” He murmured his name. “Will I ever get to meet him?”

“Someday.” It felt wrong to keep them separated.

“And you?” Julian looked at me hopefully. “Will you ever forgive me…?”

I hesitated until my father crossed my mind. I knew what was the right thing to do now. “...When I’m ready.”