Chapter 6 He's My Boy's Father?

(Akira’s POV)

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Standing before the yellow door of Rosie Javier’s home, I felt my heart pounding. Somehow, I had a strong feeling that this door would definitely lead me to my son.

After all these years, my dream was finally going to come true.

Clenching my fist, I knocked on the door. This was a little cottage house with a beautiful blooming small flower garden surrounding its front passage. As I inhaled the calming scent of those fresh flowers, I closed my eyes while I waited for the door to open.

“Yes? Can I help you?”

I blinked my eyes open slowly and saw a woman probably in her late fifties of age, looking at me from head to toe and wrinkling her nose.

That did not look good. I hoped this was not another joke played on me by fate.

“Who are you?” she asked and folded her arms over her chest. “Are you a lost tourist? Walk up the hill that way and you’ll find someone to help you in direction. I’m busy.”

What? Did I really look like a tourist?

“Rosie Javier, I’m Aki-“ I cleared my throat and started again. It was best for her not to know my new identity. Not yet.

I needed to be sure first that she had no relationship with my aunt who I knew never stopped wanting to end my life.

“My friend Molly came to see you. I’m who you want to see. Can we talk? In private, Ms Javier.” slowly, I removed my sunglasses, followed by removing my coloured contact lenses.

If she knew my past life was Melina Cage, she would know about my unique eye colours.

While she studied my face, I could feel the phone in my pocket vibrate. I slipped my hand inside my pocket and ended the call several times.

“But your face. You look different.” the woman rubbed her face and sighed, “And... you do look familiar. Have we met?”

Of course, I looked familiar. My face was all over the TV news for the past few weeks.

Before I could explain myself, Rose stepped aside and allowed me to enter her home. The interior of her home was neat and simple. She surely did love flowers. There were some placed indoor as well.

“Prove to me you are Melina Cage, or leave.” Rosie said after she closed the door behind her.

I nodded and removed the hat covering my hair tied up in a messy bun, “I'm here for my son. My boy was taken away from me when he was just a few months old. He has a little birth mark on his arm. Barely noticeable.”

I smiled recalling that little dot on his arm, “Shaped like a small heart.”

All of a sudden, Rosie sighed of relief and nodded, “Where have you been all this while? What happened to your face? You look different from the photos I have on Melina Cage.”

I sighed. " I met with a car accident when I ran away from the hospital. Had to reconstruct part of my face. A little amnesia came from the accident. When I was finally myself again, I start to look for my boy. That is the truth. Please, trust me."

She was shocked to hear that and I continued. “They said you had met my son. Please tell me where he is. Is he alright? Is he safe? Please, tell me.”

Like every desperate mother who wanted their child back, I put away any shame I had and held her hands with mine, “It has been seven years. I miss him so much. Is he here in Amberose City? Please take me to him. I beg you.”

Rosie patted my hands.“He is fine. He is with his father now. His biological father.”

I gasped and let go of Rosie’s hand in a reflex. His father?

“What? What are you saying? I don’t even know who his father is. H-how? I don’t understand.”

Rosie gestured for me to sit on the sofa and offered me a cup of tea to calm my nerves. “Sebastian Alexander Strauss. The man who fathered your son. You said you did not know him? Did he.. force himself on you?”

That name sounded familiar. But my mind was only thinking about my son.

I told Rosie briefly on what had happened to me eight years ago where my cousin Suzanne had drugged me to sleep with a man I did not know. I never knew why she did that. My guess was she wanted to ruin my reputation and made a mockery out of me to my grandfather.

“When my aunt found out I was pregnant, she told my grandfather to make him hate me. It had ruined my relationship with the only person who cared about me. I was.. asked to abort the child immediately." My eyes already turned red as those bad memories flashed.

"Instead of sending me to the hospital, my aunt sent me to a mental institution stating the reason that I wanted to end my life. That I had gone crazy."  I couldn't help but choke up. That was the darkest time in my life.

"It was all a lie. They kept me there for months. Shutting me out from the world.” I wiped my tears away with my fingers, “They took my baby away for a reason I did not understand. That was the last time I saw my baby. I can hardly remember what he looks like. He.. he was just a baby.”

As I burst into heavy tears, Rosie sat next to me and placed a hand behind my back to calm me down.

The past I kept hidden came rushing back in my head. It was cruel living with my aunt and my cousin after the death of my parents in a plane crash. I had wished that I too had died in that tragedy. Then, I would not have to suffer much.

“How did you find my son, Ms Javier? Are you.. are you working with my aunt Sandy Jones?” I looked at Rosie who was surprised with that question.

“Me? I never met any Sandy Jones.” Rosie handed me a handkerchief to wipe my tears away before she continued.

“I have a friend named Reema who worked at the hospital you were sent to. Reema told me about you. One day she came to my house with a baby, asking me to send the baby to his father-my former employer where I worked as their housekeeper for many years. I was, of course, in shock. I placed the baby at the gate of the Strauss mansion. Then, I left.” Rosie too was sobbing her tears away.

“Samuel Strauss. Sammy in short. That is your son’s name.”

I gasped hearing the name.

Sammy? Wasn't it the same name of the boy I spoke with earlier? What was his father's name? Gustav seemed to call him Mr. Strauss.

Oh My God!

So, I had already talked to my son? And...that arrogant man was the one who took my innocence eight years ago?

“Do you have a photo of this Sebastian Strauss?” I asked Rosie hurriedly as I could not search about him on the phone that I kept in my pocket. It was his phone locked with a password.

Rosie nodded and showed me a picture of Sebastian Strauss she had kept in a frame. Yes, it was exactly the man I had met this morning!

“A powerful man with unlimited resources. He loves his son. It would not be easy for you to get your son back, Miss Cage." She looked into my eyes, "I’m not a lawyer but I know that it would not be easy. You as the boy’s mother had been absent for many years. Not to forget, your history being in a mental institution would be against you.”

She was partially correct. The facts may not be in my favour. But I have the rights to get my son back. I was his mother!

“I’m a lawyer. I will find a way.” I believed in myself, determinedly as I always be.

“You have no idea the kind of man he is, Miss Cage.” Rosie shook her head in worry. I had also heard about how powerful the Strauss Family was. But I didn't f*cking care!

7 years, I kept searching for my son but nothing got. Every night I could only imagine his face and hug him in my dream. I had been absent from so many of his important moment, his first time to speak,  his first time to walk, his first time to go out, his first day to school...every moment that I should be his side I was not there!

I recalled the conversation I had with Sammy. It broke my heart recalling him said his mother did not want him. That was not true.

I needed to tell him that I love him more than everyone. I didn't want to wait any longer!

“I know it's hard to win, Ms Javier."  I stood up and faced Rosie with confidence, "But I know I can make it. At least, I can get the visitation rights to see my son. I deserve that at least.”

“Hold on. I know you.” Rosie studied my face and gasped, and then stood up and pointed at me, “You are that lawyer. Akira West. The undefeated and uprising lawyer!"

I nodded slowly and smiled at her. "Yes, though it’s a long story."

Recovering from the shock fact, she sighed and shook her head again. "No, Miss West. It's far more difficult than you thought."

"You have got many enemies out there. Are you sure it would be wise to let them know you have a son out there?”  I frowned and she continued. “What's more, the Strauss family is a very powerful people. You should not mess with them, Miss West.”

Her words made sense but it didn't fit me. I'm Akira West, never yielding to the privileges.

“I am not afraid of fighting Sebastian Strauss.I have dealt with more powerful person than him and I won."

Rosie exhaled loudly, “You have no idea who you are dealing with, Miss West. I could only wish you all the best to get your son back.”

“I had waited so long to see my son again. I will make it, at any cost.”

After saying our goodbyes, I walked out to the street toward my rented apartment. I had hoped Sammy to call again but somehow he didn't. Was everything okay with him?

Recalling the scene how he counted out the names of Sebastian's girlfriends, I couldn't help but feel resentful. Had he really been a good father? If not, I surely do not want my son to grow up with an arrogant and selfish playboy like that man.

Perhaps I could make a deal with Sebastian Strauss.

That name surely sounded familiar and most likely he could be my firm’s client. If he was, I would offer my services to win a case for him, in exchange to get custody of my son.

Suddenly, I felt like someone was following me. I turned around and saw no one.

I continued walking but with wider steps. For some reason, I sensed danger following me.

I sensed that I was being watched! Who was it?