Araceli POV
"Mommy, are you okay?"
Krish's calm voice, coming from the other end of the line.
I said gently, "Honey, I'll be home later. Wait for me at home for half an hour. I'll take you and Valeria to daycare."
"Mommy, I can take Valeria to daycare," Krish said, "It's only a ten-minute bus ride. Mommy, don't worry about us."
I sighed slightly inwardly.
I was an unfit mother.
Krish and Valeria were born without a father, and I was always busy with work; Krish and Valeria were really unlucky in their childhood compared to other children...
Suddenly...
My mind went back to the man I met on the cruise last night...
That man could say exactly what happened that night five years ago, so he was the same beast from five years ago!
He met me again five years later and tried to do the same thing again, drugging me...
I closed my eyes and slowly said, "Krish, thank you. Be careful. I'll pick you guys up tonight."
I hung up the phone, my face was cold.
I needed to find out who that man really was...
Raphael helped me with the discharge process and sent me to my company's office. I had only just entered when I heard a group of people clamoring about something.
"Oh my goodness, it's Mr. Royce Perton!"
"He's really handsome..."
"He's Mr. Lancaster's friend, right? He's so hot... I'm in love with him!"
My secretary, Leanna was also there. When she saw me, she hurriedly came towards me. "Ms. Chancey, it seems that a very important client has come..."
I nodded blandly. "I see."
I had just turned around when footsteps sounded behind me.
Royce rushed over. "Araceli! Are you still angry about what happened yesterday?"
I slowly turned my head and saw Royce's face, narrowing my eyes slightly.
Royce's back chilled at my gaze and he rubbed his nose in embarrassment. "I'm so sorry, Araceli. I don't know what happened. I promise I didn't put anything in that glass of wine! Look at my face. I passed out from that drink last night too. I hit my forehead on the table, and it bled a lot... Please forgive me..."
Leanna's eyes widened when she heard Royce's words.
I shook my head and sighed. I guessed it was the man who drugged my wine last night.
I needed to be more careful in the future.
"It's okay, Mr. Perton. It's not your fault. If you have nothing to talk to me about, you can go now. Leanna, please send Mr. Perton downstairs."
I glanced at Royce and headed for the office.
The office was empty and tidy.
I sat in my desk chair, turned on my computer, and found the information on the guests from last night's cruise party. I searched for a long time, searched countless photos, and finally found the man.
His name was Ramon Fleming.
I narrowed my eyes and typed the man's name into the search bar.
There was a lot of information about Ramon on the Internet. He was the CEO of the Fleming Group, thirty-five years old, married, and had a seven-year-old daughter.
The Fleming Group was famous in New York. They often worked with foreign companies. This time Ramon came to New York also to talk about investment. A number of investors in New York had been attracted.
My lips were tightly pursed.
Five years ago, Ramon was thirty years old. At that time, he already had a wife. His daughter was also two years old. But he still raped me in a New York hotel...
The media trumpeted him as a good husband and father, winning accolades.
I just felt sick.
I turned the page off, with mixed feelings.
For years, I had made a point of not looking for information about Krish and Valeria's real father. Every time Krish asked, I avoided talking about it.
Now, Ramon appeared.
If Ramon found out that Krish and Valeria were his children...
I couldn't imagine the terrible consequences.
A strong feeling of unease floated in my heart.
I drove to the daycare before it was time to leave school and parked my car in front of the daycare and waited quietly.
Ten minutes before the end of school, a black business car came into my view.
I glanced over and saw the driver of the car get out, walk to the back seat and pull open the back door.
A middle-aged man in a suit stepped out.
As soon as I saw the man's face, I shuddered violently. A chill crept up from behind me, making me feel as cold as if I had fallen into an ice cave.
It was Ramon!
I had been going to great lengths to find out about him during the day...
Why would he come to Brizela Daycare?
Did he know that Krish and Valeria were my children?
I was trembling all over.
The nightmare from five years ago suddenly appeared before my eyes, leaving me terrified.
I took a deep breath and tried to calm down my emotions.
Five years ago, I was an eighteen-year-old girl, so of course I was afraid of everything. But now I was twenty-three, the mother of Krish and Valeria.
I couldn't be so afraid anymore.
No matter what Ramon's intentions were, I was going to rise to the occasion.
No matter what happens, I will protect Krish and Valeria.
I took out my phone and called Mayra.
By this time it was almost the end of school.
I sat in the car and called several times in a row, but Mayra didn't answer.
I looked up and saw Mayra walking towards Ramon's car with Krish and Valeria in tow.
Ramon was standing against the car, staring at Krish and Valeria.
My hands trembled.
I gritted my teeth and immediately pushed the car door open and walked down, waving. "Ms. Scott, this way!"
I shouted. Everyone's eyes looked at me.
Mayra looked at me, smiled, and then took Krish and Valeria's hands and walked towards me.
I breathe a sigh of relief and rush over to them.
"Krish, Valeria, your mommy is here."
"Thank you, Ms. Scott."
I thanked Mayra and then took Krish and Valeria's hands and quickly walked towards the car.
Valeria looked around with a slight disappointment in her eyes...
Krish's eyes narrowed tightly. He didn't move to look at the man standing not far away...
I didn't have time to think about it. I hurriedly pulled open the car door.
Behind me, there came the unhurried voice of a man.
"Ms. Chancey, what is the hurry to go?"