Chapter 2 Holding Her Feels So Familiar
923 Words
Seven years later.
Lilian headed to the school to pick up her son William. The moment he saw her, he sprinted towards her. "Mommy!"
"William, what did you learn today?" Lilian asked warmly.
"The lessons were too basic," William replied, pulling out his iPad, and shockingly, on it were advanced programming courses.
As Lilian stroked her son's face, pride swelled within her. William was not only endearing but exceptionally bright. His ability to nearly memorize books after a single reading and solve complex problems was remarkable.
Occasionally, Lilian pondered the identity of William's father, imagining what kind of man could father such an extraordinary child.
William, handsome yet with a penchant for appearing cool, had clearly inherited this trait from that enigmatic man.
His expressions were usually reserved, but he carried himself with a natural grace. His eyes were particularly mesmerizing; under the sunlight, they were a gentle blue, but at night, they glimmered with a faint green hue.
A sudden fragment flashed in Lilian's mind. She vaguely recalled there was a man with eyes that radiated an eerie green light in the pitch black, staring her down. And with a swift move, he lowered his head and bit down hard on her neck!
Beyond that fleeting moment, Lilian's memory was a blank. She had no idea who the man was, nor how to track him down to discuss child support for William.
William's early years were marked by his struggle to control his transformations, during which his head would sprout canine ears and his eyes would shine uncontrollably. Such occurrences often led to them being ostracized, forcing Lilian to uproot their lives repeatedly, moving from one place to another in a constant battle against poverty and isolation.
Things were finally looking up. Now that William had his transformations under control, Lilian felt she could safely hunt down a solid new job!
She had a job interview lined up at ten the next morning, and determination had her out of bed by eight. She got herself ready in a flash, finishing up her morning routine, and as she stepped into the living room, she was greeted by the tempting scent of steak sizzling away.
"What's cooking? Is that Granny's steak I smell?"
Lilian inquired as she entered the kitchen, playfully tousling William's hair while he was eating.
William was sitting at the table, eating his steak with impeccable manners, while Lilian just scarfed down a few bites. Snatching up her purse, she was ready to head out the door.
Thumping footsteps announced William's approach as he came running with a document bag. "Mom, are you leaving? Don't forget your stuff."
"What's this?" she asked, taking the bag with a puzzled expression.
Upon inspecting its contents, she realized, "Ah, my resume! I nearly forgot. You're such a lifesaver, Sweetie!"
"Thank you, William," Lilian said, her voice laden with gratitude as she bent down to shower his cheek with kisses. "You're so thoughtful; I'm truly speechless."
Wiping his cheek, William watched as Lilian departed with a spring in her step.
Upon reaching the corporation's entrance, Lilian hurriedly got out of her car and dashed toward the building. Unfortunately, the floor had been freshly mopped and was incredibly slippery. Coupled with her ill-fitting new shoes, she soon found herself sliding uncontrollably.
Just as she braced for a fall, she was caught by a pair of strong arms. The faint yet captivating scent that greeted her was oddly familiar, and she couldn't help but be taken aback by the striking appearance of the man who had caught her.
There was something familiar about his scent that wafted through the air, a scent that set Lilian on edge. And he was so handsome!
His face was remarkably handsome, with broad eyebrows, brown eyes, thin lips, and a well-defined nose. She was sure she'd never forget such a face if they had met before.
The man held her steadily, his strength evident through his clothes. Pressed against his chest, she could feel the firmness of his muscles, causing her heart to flutter unexpectedly.
Lilian was puzzled, for it seemed her body was out of control.
"How long do you plan on staring?" he asked, his tone showing a hint of annoyance.
"Sorry, really, I'm sorry," Lilian managed to say, attempting to steady herself. Yet, her shaky footing led her back into his arms, accidentally brushing against him in the process.
"Oh no..."
Her cheeks turned a deep crimson as she stammered out an apology, lifting her gaze to his.
Despite her height of five feet nine inches, she felt dwarfed in his hold. Curiosity getting the better of her, Lilian inquired, "How tall are you, if I may ask?"
His expression was indifferent, his amber eyes cool.
"Six-foot-seven," he replied coldly, "Have you had enough? If so, could you release me?"
Chilled by his icy tone, Lilian quickly let go, apologizing, "I didn't mean to... and thank you."
Without waiting for a response, she hurried away, berating herself, "Lilian, what are you doing, getting flustered over a stranger like that?"
She wondered if her prolonged singlehood was to blame.
Raymond Morgan watched her swift departure, a puzzled frown creasing his brow.
He contemplated instructing the receptionist to restrict access but hesitated, struck by a fleeting sense of familiarity with how she felt in his arms.
But ever since he lost part of his memory in a battle with the Montanez family, he sometimes felt a sense of déjà vu with strangers. Could this be another trick of his mind?
- Writer
