C12 A Blast from the Past

After spending two hours in the air, Rose finally returned to City Y.

As she deeply inhaled the fresh air, she felt so different. The haze she had felt in the past few days was swept away.

In addition, she was eager to see her lively little fellow who was the fruit of her happiness. Once Rose thought of her, she no longer had any worries.

Just as she pushed her luggage out of the passageway, she saw her daughter holding up a sign with the words, "Welcome home to the prettiest, cutest, and most capable mommy." These thoughtful words made her heart melt.

"Mommy, I'm here!" Doris waved at her mother with her small face beaming with smiles.

Evelyn Howard, who was carrying her, stood in a conspicuous position and smiled gently.

Since it was a weekend, they came to pick Rose up from the airport.

Rose quickened her pace and stood in front of her best friend, Evelyn. She gladly took her daughter from Evelyn and hugged her tightly. It was very warm.

"Thank you so much, Eve," Rose said to her friend after hugging her daughter. She was thankful that Evelyn had taken care of her daughter in her absence.

"Come on, Rose. You don't have to thank me. Besides, Doris is also my daughter, you know? I watched her grow up and so, it's only right that I also take care of her," Evelyn said as she looked at Doris affectionately.

Evelyn took Rose's luggage while Rose held on to Doris as they walked towards the parking lot with so much talk and laughter.

"Come, we are going home."

Evelyn drove the car while the mother and daughter sat at the back.

Because there was a traffic jam on the road and it was almost noon, they had to change their plans and go to eat first before heading home.

Evelyn drove into Free Life Restaurant.

They walked in, chose a table by the window, and sat down.

"Mommy, it's been a while since we last saw each other. I missed you so much," Doris said as she snuggled into her mother's arms.

It was obvious that Doris missed her mother so much.

Rose pinched her tender face and said, "I couldn't wait to fly back early this morning once I was done with work. I also missed you very much, my dear."

"Since you have been working so hard, I have a gift for you." Doris took a butterfly lollipop from her panda bag and gave it to Rose. Her Bright eyes were filled with so much innocence.

"Mom's got you, my treasure and my fuel." As far as Rose was concerned, her daughter was her greatest motivation and comfort.

In the past five years, all they had was each other. Three years ago, Doris had both fallen ill and were in grave danger. She had nothing. Just when she was about to give up, she met Mr. Gasper, who handed her a marriage certificate and a cheque of a million dollars. Three years was the limit.

For money and to save her daughter's life, she sold herself into marriage with a strange man.

Fortunately, this unknown marriage did not disturb her, so their lives remained unchanged.

The three-year contract was almost up. She was going to free herself from this marriage and be truly free.

The night before, she received a message from Mr. Gasper, which read, "Miss Linder, please make sure you abide by the contract. You are a married woman. Remember your status and conduct yourself appropriately."

How could she not abide by the contract?

This was blatant slander! She was so angry that she felt like strangling someone.

"But I know that it is very difficult for Mom alone. So I have to settle the big issue of your life before I grow up and get married to big brother Jeremiah." The serious look on Doris' face almost made Evelyn and Rose choke on the tea.

"Doris, you just can't wait to see your mom get married again, can you?" Evelyn pulled out a serviette and gently wiped the corner of her mouth.

Rose pretended not to understand what she was talking about and continued drinking her tea.

"That reminds me. Mommy, where is the handsome uncle I asked you to film last night? Let me take a look and see if he's a good match for you." Doris said as she tugged at Rose's arm and refused to let go.

"He's a strange uncle, not a handsome one," Rose said as she handed the phone to her and ranked Bright first in her heart. "I was only able to take a short video from a corner."

At that time, she only used her phone to flash past the crowd in the banquet hall to take a shot of that little guy.

Besides, she just returned to City Y, why would she still think of that devil?

At that moment, Rose furrowed her brows in a frown, feeling that her actions were shameful.

"Rose, could it be that you plan to stay single for the rest of your life?" Evelyn asked in a low voice as she looked at Doris who was engrossed in choosing a husband for her mother.

"Actually, it feels good to be single," Rose said calmly. She didn't have any desire to be in a relationship.

"Are you still holding on to the past?" It was obvious that Evelyn was referring to Wyatt Young.

She didn't want to reopen the old wounds of her good friend, but all the same, she didn't want Rose to be engulfed by past hurts. She wanted her friend to pursue happiness at all costs.

Rose was silent and caressed her teacup gently with her fingers. After that, she said slowly, "You are right. I can't let go of the past."

"Rose, Doris is already a big girl now. Let the past stay in the past. Don't give up your happiness because of one or two scumbags. It's not worth it if you ask me." Evelyn was worried that the reason why she kept running away from relationships was that the men weren't worth it.

"You're wrong, Eve. Five years have gone by already. I will let them have a taste of what I had back then. I must take back everything that belongs to me! That's why it's still too early to talk about this now." Rose clenched her teacup tightly. Her eyes were no longer as gentle and loving as before when she was facing her daughter. Right now, all that filled her heart was intense hatred.

Evelyn stretched out her hand and placed it at the back of Rose's hand. Her eyes were filled with tenderness for her friend.

She had seen with her eyes how Rose suffered severely all these years.

Wyatt, his parents, Naomi, and even their parents were not worthy of sympathy.

"When are you planning to return to City H?" Rose asked.

"My grandmother turns 80 this year." It was the perfect time for her to return.

"Then you feel free to do what you have to do. I'll take care of Doris." What Evelyn could do was to let her have no worries.

Rose held Evelyn's hand tightly and expressed immense gratitude to her.

As soon as they were served, they put aside the unhappy things and began to eat.

Still holding the phone in her hand, Doris came over and said, "Mommy, I think this handsome uncle is not bad at all."

Rose fixed her gaze on him and her expression changed immediately.

The person Doris showed her was no other person but Bright. He was surrounded and chatting with everyone.

His outstanding charisma was the focus of the entire audience. Even in those two short seconds, he was still eye-catching.

"He has a wife," Rose said as she made up an excuse.

She wondered what would happen if Bright knew that he had a daughter. Would he fight with her for custody?

She could only pray and hope that he would never know. Only then could she have Doris all to herself.

"That's so sad. I picked him at first glance," Doris said disappointedly as she pouted her pink lips.

"All right, then. Just eat," Rose confiscated the phone and put a piece of honey-flavored chicken in her mouth.

She would rather marry a pig than marry Bright.

Once they were done with their meal, Rose was about to pay the bill, but was told that someone already paid for them and had just left.

At that moment, Rose looked towards the window and saw that a tall man outside getting into a black Mercedes-Benz.

She chased after him, but only saw a half of his face. But the face she saw shocked her.

'How could he be here?!' she wondered.