Taming Demi's Mom (ONGOING)

Chapter 42

{VICTORIA}

LION and Edward help each other to stow my luggage, along with Dad and Demi's, in Lion's car compartment. Today will be our scheduled flight back to Italy. Dad would come back with us in Italy because he will take care of his granddaughter when she attends school and will also be the one to fetch her after school. Taking care of Demi isn't difficult anymore as she is already 6 years old; she already knows some things and can manage herself well.

Lion and Edward will join us on our way to the airport. Lion's car is spacious and can accommodate eight people comfortably. Samantha is currently not at their house as she is in Paris. She secured a position as a tourist guide with a large agency based here in New Orleans. Their current destination is Paris, and she will be there for almost a week. She left in the early morning for her flight.

"Later, you can sleep at the house. Bring your own belongings," Lion said to Edward as they both entered the front of the car, with Lion taking the wheel.

The three of us, Dad, Demi, and I, are in the passenger seat with Demi sandwiched between us. I smiled to myself. The last time I was in this situation, my heart was torn into pieces, and I was literally broken. But right now, my heart has been somewhat repaired. I would leave New Orleans without any worry or heartache.

"Are you still scared to be alone at home? You're so old, yet you're still easily scared," Edward teased his older brother.

We're running late for our flight schedule, but we're still in front of our house because Lion hasn't started the car yet, prioritizing a heated argument with Edward.

"Do you want me to kick you out of my car?" Lion threatened Edward.

Edward immediately fell silent, and he just looked ahead. Lion then started the engine and drove towards the airport.

"Mom, can Daddy Jackson still recognize me? What if he already has a daughter of his own?"

"No, don't say that!" I interrupted my daughter by saying things that I didn't want to hear.

"Your Daddy would still recognize you. You know that he loves you," I said with a smile, even though I couldn't help but overthink because of her thought about Jackson possibly having a child.

Even though Demi was only 3 years old when she met Jackson, and it's only been months since they spent time together, Demi didn't forget Jackson. Perhaps because Jackson was the first one to become a father figure to her. Their memories together were still fresh in her mind, even though three years had passed.

"What if you have nothing to come back to in Italy?" Lion asked me seriously while driving.

This man and his nonstop mouth! His question added to the things I've been overthinking these past few days.

"The most insensitive person awards go to you. Here's your crown," Edward retorted to Lion, pretending to place an imaginary crown on Lion's head. Lion gave Edward a death glare, but Edward just laughed it off. Lion couldn't do anything to Edward, as he was in control of the wheel.

"I have someone waiting for me, so I have something to go back to," I replied seriously, looking into the distance.

Please, Jackson! Don't be in love with someone else. I'm coming home. After this, I won't ever leave you alone again. I resolve everything for us. I hope it will all be worth it.

"How can you be so sure that he was waiting for you? If I were Jackson, I wouldn't wait for you forever. I would be just wasting my time, and there's a lot of women around the world," Lion provoked me.

"Lion, she's your sister," Dad scolded Lion, but I just smiled at Dad.

"Dad, let him be. I'm used to his bad mouth. Besides, he's telling the truth," I assured Dad to avoid him getting upset with my brother.

Upon reaching the airport, we bid farewell to each other. I'm getting excited to go home, but at the same time, I'm really nervous. I don't know how thick-skinned I need to be to face Jackson. But the desire to see him again after all those years overwhelms me.

"WHERE have you been, Demi? I was looking for you everywhere. What if you get lost here?" I scolded my daughter.

We are now in Verona. I was just ordering street food from the old lady vendor because Demi requested it, saying she was hungry even though we ate at home before leaving. When I looked beside me, Demi was nowhere to be found, no matter where I looked.

So, I excused myself from the old lady vendor, explaining that I needed to find my daughter. Until I encountered Demi near the archway of Romeo and Juliet's house. She was still catching her breath, as if she were being chased or chasing something.

"I'm sorry, Mom. I just saw Daddy Jackson," she said sadly.

I suddenly stopped. So he's here? I felt like jumping for joy. The fact that he's here gives me hope that he still loves me and is waiting for me. This place is significant for us because it's where I said yes to him and where we promised to come back to each other's arms no matter what happened.

"Where is he?" I asked Demi.

"I shouted to him, Daddy Jackson, but he didn't pay attention. He just got into his car and left. He didn't notice me, Mom, or maybe he totally ignored me," Demi tells me, her eyes almost tearful.

"Are you sure he's your Daddy Jackson?" I asked further.

I squatted down in front of Demi so that our faces would align with each other. I wiped away the tears that were starting to stream down her cheeks. I hate seeing her cry.

"He looks like Daddy Jackson, but—"

"But?"

"He looks different," Demi told me.

I gave my daughter a reassuring smile. "Maybe you mistook him for your Daddy Jackson. Because if it were him, he would have turned around when you called him," I said to comfort her, and she finally stopped crying.

It seems like false hope. Maybe it wasn't really Jackson. After what I did to him, this place is the last thing he would visit, as it only reminds him of me. Perhaps he's already in the process of forgetting me. Or maybe he has already forgotten me.

I invited Demi to return to the street food stall we visited earlier. We picked up the food Demi ordered, and I paid for it. Then we went back to the front of Romeo and Juliet's house. We walked along the long archway, where the left wall was filled with countless sticky notes containing wishes and promises from people who had been close there.

I stopped at a familiar spot, and my eyes immediately found the sticky note Jackson and I had placed. I smiled. It's still here. I traced my hand on the sticky note and the infinity symbol I drew on it. I hope all my sacrifices and everything I've done won't be in vain.

"Mom, do you want some?" Demi asked kindly, offering me some of the street food from a large plastic plate. She was beside me.

We sat on the bench under the large tree in front of the window of Romeo's and Juliet's house. And we share the food together.

I WAS shocked when we arrived at my house the other day. The house was clean, and I couldn't recall hiring someone to clean it. Even my car, parked beside the house, looked as if it had never been abandoned for years—completely spotless. I couldn't think of any reason why my house and car were in such bad condition.

I called the company from which I bought the house and lot, and they informed me that someone has been paying for cleaning my house monthly. When I asked them who it was, they said they couldn't disclose that information due to strict instructions. I couldn't sleep, wondering who it could be. Maybe Jackson? But that seemed highly unlikely. He was angry with me, so why would he do something like this? However, I also considered the possibility that one of my brothers was behind it. Right, it must be Lion or Edward.

"I'll take care of enrolling Demi in her former school," Dad told me.

I paused from unpacking our belongings. I was currently in the living room while doing this. We weren't able to do this yesterday as we were tired from our airplane flight, and I took a quick trip to Verona with Demi while Dad stayed behind at home. Originally, I wasn't planning to bring Demi with me, but she insisted. She really loves going on trips.

Demi was already dressed to go and was ready to leave. She was standing beside Dad, and Dad was holding her hand.

"Bye, Mom," she said with a smile to me, and then she approached me to plant a little kiss on my cheek.

"Drive safely, Dad," I reminded him.

He just nodded at me, and then they left me here in the living room, heading out of the house. The next thing I heard was the sound of my car's engine starting and the gradual departure.

I quickly finished what I was doing. However, it took me a few hours to organize all our belongings in our respective rooms and drawers. Afterward, I grabbed my laptop and brought a chair to the backyard. It was already afternoon, so the sun wasn't too harsh on the skin. I stared at my laptop for a long time, unsure of what to do next.

I wanted to open my social media accounts. I wanted to know everything about Jackson's current life right now. But I was too afraid to know something. I'll be able to know everything about him when we meet.

After a while, I decided to surf the internet for trending gown and suit designs for this year and the previous ones to distract myself while alone. I wanted to relax my mind for a bit. I'll execute my plan tomorrow. I'll visit Jackson at their company to talk to him. I know it will be challenging, but I'm determined. I'll do everything to seek his forgiveness and be accepted back into his life. I was also planning on going back to my original position at his company if it was still vacant, and if not, maybe any kind of position as long as I am near him would be enough.

My thoughts were interrupted when an expensive sports car came to a halt in front of me. Only the fence separated us, and I couldn't see who was inside. But why did I feel like the driver was staring at me? Or maybe it was just my imagination. I didn't know anyone who could afford such a sports car. As far as I know, that car cost billions.

I waited for the sports car to leave, but it remained parked in front of me. Did the driver know me? Maybe there was something he needed from me. It didn't make sense why he would stop right behind my house.

I stared at the car's window from my seat. After a moment, the car sped away, kicking up dust in my direction. I was stunned for a moment, and I couldn't react. That jerk! It felt intentional, like he did it on purpose. I quickly stood up, covering my nose with the hem of my blouse. I was about to run outside to catch the sports car, but I stopped, knowing I couldn't catch up. I stomped my slippers because of too much frustration. What a lucky day for me!

I immediately carried my laptop inside the house. Frustrated, I slumped on the couch in the living room, recalling the actions of that sports car and its driver. I lost my mood. I wanted to scream out of sheer annoyance. This was the first time I had experienced something like this. How could he do that to me? Who on earth is he?

That driver was utterly disrespectful. I couldn't recall having any enemies here in Italy. Who in their right mind would do such a thing to a woman? His sports car may look gorgeous and expensive, but his behavior was terrible and trash. That person clearly had issues in his life.