THE MAN WHO FAILED ME

1. AURORA

Five Years Later.

In the midst of the crowded street, under the scorching sun, the warm breeze skim over her exposed skin. She hurried down the street eagerly with one thought in mind.

To be back with her darling son.

The reason she wakes up for, fought through life for, and her strength to survive. Her son was the angel in her life, her happiness.

Walking down the familiar street, she felt grateful for the peace in her life. The city she would have avoided became her refugee till she became attached to her new home in a foreign land.

Her fragile mind bears longing for the bitter past store deep in the depth of her memory, she never wishes to relive. But, the present overshadowed her inevitable past, creating new memories to cherish.

Spending time with her son, watching him grow and raising him became her new priority. She could withstand any hardship to provide a better life for him.

Hesitantly, for an urgent business deal, Aurora had to leave for the airport after hastily preparing their breakfast. A gentle chuckle erupts from reminiscing on his innocent whining in horror.

"Oh no. My belly is big." The young boy cried in complete horror comparing himself to the healthy old man on the streets.

Her lips curve in a gentle smile at the mere thought of her son. How his presence had eliminated her fear of abandonment, her loneliness with assurance from his constant, 'I love you mommy.' The sleepless nights, the tears and swollen eyes eventually decrease.

A sudden freezing chill involuntarily travels through her spine. A feeling of anxiety and the discomfort of an observatory eyes brew within her. She felt disquieted and restless.

Till she stopped glancing around and her eyes land on the black SUV park across the street in front of a florist shop. The man shortly walks out of the shop holding a bouquet of red roses.

Her heart constricted reminded of the man who never failed to remind his love for her. He gifted her red roses to signifies her ownship over his heart. She repulse the tenderness sipping in her heart recalling the betrayal and the nightmare that haunts her. The day she was robbed of her life, her smile stolen from her till she was empty and dead.

Deep within her, she longs to reunite with them but the greater part dread the day they may cross path again. The voice inside her weight her happiness, slowly drowning her in guilt.

She mock her thoughts that hope, hope to be found, hope she is still remembered. But, her grief and her disappointing decision prevented her from seeking them. To see disappointment in the once adoring eyes of her brother, Nicholas, she feared for rejection.

Taken by surprise by the man staring at her from across the street, she felt the familiarity in the stranger. Putting her in an entrances of observing the chilling sensation. Till he entered the car, driving off.

Alerted by the sudden vibration of receiving a message, her lips curve in a gentle smile reading through the words of an angry four year, stating his displeasure of being apart from her. With an urgency requesting for her speedy return.

Her feet hurried along the way, turning corners till the two storey bakery-cafe came into her view. With a quick acknowledgement to the people she hurried towards the kitchen. Greeted with the sweet aroma of freshly baked bread and buns.

"Greetings my darling son." She gently sneak up on the small back watching Anna working with a cookie cutter.

Her now thriving business started small, when an ageing lady offered to sponsored her. Investing in her business to rent a room, and with Leo and Ray support —apart from the loans she took to buy the house— she eventually upgrade to a bakery.

When she was offered an opportunity by an investor, she graciously accepted it after serious consideration. The urgent work was to leave for the airport to meet Mr Knight, a successful investor before his departure.

Without hesitation, he proposed to invest in her business. Praising her talent in front of the guest invited to the annual networking party.

"The softness binding with the delicate sweetnes, leaving an aftertaste of different flavours on a single bite is a wonder. It brings epiphany of one's childhood with the feelings of warmth and love it took the baker to made this"

He was left stunned with admiration when the baker turned out to be a young successful beautiful lady. He honestly raised praises, expecting the baker to be someone old with decades of experience for such delicacy. His eyes hold admiration and pride deeply confusing her.

"Aren't you a work of art, heavenly beautiful and alluring. Such, remarkable talent. I am beyond impressed" his face bare of feelings but as one observed closely his lips tuck in the corner forming a smirk.

Wasting no time he offered to invest in her business. Taken by surprise her brain freeze to proceed anything, he was a stranger and to trust him or not was her main concern. She was quite reluctant and hesitant at first yet also grateful towards his humble praises and encouragement. Taking a leap of faith to risk it, she agreed to his proposal setting a date to meet.

He managed to convince and assured her he invested only in prominent, success rate business and she could trust him but, also respecting her choice and her opinion to be considered.

He offered her the tendency to pull out from the contract without penalty for breaking it, if she suffered losses because of him. Then, he confidently assured her that would be the last thing to happen for he wouldn't risk it. After a thorough consideration and weighing the pros and cons she sealed the deal.

She was elated to have a big investor company investing in her small business, drafting up plans and recipes for her new bakery.

Mr. Knight silently observed her, watching the wheels spinning in her head spellbound by her concentrated out-of-the-world frown. Never having met an selfless business woman, with no ill motive or greed in exploiting their business partner.

"My secretary will get in contact with you shortly with the proceeding plan. I hope to get to know you more the next time" he smiled at her confused wide eye, blinking at him. He leaned in and whisper more confused words.

"I will be back soon my adorable bunny" he muttered almost a whisper, low from his throat. When he noticed her flustered confused state, his lips curved from the corner forming a pleased smirk.

Bidding goodbye with a teasing wink he walks away, leaving her standing alone staring at his back.

"Mommy" an excited voice shrill loudly, —jumping down from the table he was seated watching the bakers moving around— running towards her.

A smile tug on her beautiful face bending down at his level to hug him. Lifting him she pampered kisses on his chubby cheeks while her son giggles then repeats her action making her laugh softly.

Her darling angel, a blessing in her life, her lovely son who is her whole world, the only one she had when she loses everything. Gregory William Rancer, her four years old son, because he came into her life she was encouraged to wake up every morning to something new and beautiful. Adding new memories of her son.

The pain of starvation, humiliation, assault, betrayal she has encountered along the journey had never felt so worth it then when her son came into the world. She embraced all her sufferings for the abundant blessings she had received.

She was no longer alone, she now has someone to call her own. A family. Now, she is happy, living again but deep down —though she refused to acknowledge— a part of her remained void.

"Hi, my precious darling" she whispers kissing his head.

"What were you doing?" She asked, referring to where he was seated. He shakes his head mumbling an inaudible, nothing.

"Mommy where were you? Father Leo said mommy went to the airport" in his soft mumble the whining was evident.

"Yes,I went to the airport for a very important work. I am so sorry, I didn't inform you" cupping his soft cheeks, she tenderly kisses his nose apologizing.

By dawn she received a message about the emergency departure, urging for a quick meet up to sign the contract. It was an unavoidable situation as Mr Knight returned to the city was nearly impossible for the foreseeable months.

Aurora wrote a note pasting it on the coffee machine —making sure Leo wouldn't miss it—and had rushed to the airport right after preparing his breakfast. In order to avoid morning traffic and delaying, she caught a cab which apparently wasn't the best choice when returning back.

Baking was something important in her life. It gave her physical validation when she battles with her negative thoughts. It reminds her of her success, that she is independent. Useful.

"Can you please forgive me?" She pouted hcr lips, blinking at him in a pitiful gesture till his lips widened forming a full blown smile.

"If mommy made bunny cookies" he tilt his head, showing his adorable teeth.

"Of course, my darling. Anything you want"