A Journey from Bitterness to Truth

Matilda had no clue that her little Logan had survived such a harrowing ordeal. On the weekend, while she was still nestled in the warmth of her bed, dreaming away, the

doorbell jolted her awake.

Clad in her flannel pajamas, she shuffled to the door, not expecting to lock eyes with a pair of striking blue–green eyes. There stood Adrian, his golden hair shimmering, a roguish smile spread across his fair, handsome face, with a child tucked under his arm. He quipped, “Here you go, brought your little rascal back home.”

Logan leaped from Adrian’s embrace and dove into Matilda’s arms, “Mommy! I missed you so much!”

Only in Matilda’s presence did he revert to the naive boy he truly was.

A tremor ran through Matilda’s heart as she instinctively asked, “How did you get back?”

“I can live with you now!”

Grinning, Logan reached out and grabbed Matilda’s fingers, “We won’t ever have to be apart because of Mr. Boyd anymore!”

His disdain for Yvan had seeped deep into his bones.

Matilda, as if in disbelief, gently touched Logan’s cheek, “Is this real? Oh my… you’re back

with me…”

Dear heavens, you’ve finally granted us our reunion…

Adrian still loitered on the doorstep, watching the tender scene of reunion. He stepped inside as he said, “Hey, I bring back your kid and that’s all you got to say?”

Matilda glanced up swiftly, then feigned surprise, peering past him, “Willow? What are you doing here?”

Damn, did his little hellraiser sister tag along?

Adrian’s hair stood on end. As he turned to look, Matilda seized the moment to slam the

door shut in his face.

With a resounding thud, Adrian realized he’d been duped. Staring at the closed door, he muttered, “Fine, you win this round!”

Grumbling under his breath, Adrian stormed off, “Damn, heartless woman. I looked after your son for weeks! All because I got a little fresh when we first met, damn, women are unfathomable.”

From behind the window, Matilda watched Adrian disappear into the elevator, breathing a sigh of relief. She settled Logan onto the couch and gazed at him adoringly, “How did you manage to come back?”

11-05 Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

As Logan stared into his mother’s eyes, he took a deep breath before recounting the entire Baga, leaving Matilda with eyes rimmed red. She shakily placed a hand on Logan’s shoulder, “Logan… you…”

Her voice broke with emotion.

So her son had been fighting so hard to return to her, while she had once chosen to abandon him.

Matilda pulled Logan into an embrace. “It’s okay now. No one will ever separate us again. If Yvan dares to show up, I’ll fight him tooth and nail before I let him take you away!”

Logan smiled, comforting his mother, “Mommy, I want to be with you forever.”

This child was the gift heaven left her, the redemption in all her darkest days.

Matilda stroked Logan’s cheek, playfully changing the subject, “Looks like Uncle Adrian took good care of you at the hospital; our Logan’s gotten stronger.”

“You mean I got fat?” Logan looked horrified, “No, I can’t get fat. Mommy, let’s start jogging tomorrow morning!”

“You silly. It’s okay for kids to be a bit chubby. How about tomorrow Aunt Chloe and I take you shopping for some new clothes?”

Logan agreed eagerly, and as they passed Chloe’s room, it was clear she’d just crawled into bed and was still groggy. Rubbing her eyes, she opened them to see a mini Yvan standing before her, which nearly gave her a heart attack before she realized, “Little Logan! You’re back?”

Logan clutched Matilda’s hand tighter and said, “Yep, I’m back to live with Mommy!”

Chloe was utterly smitten with Logan, immediately squatting down to pinch his chubby cheeks, “Oh my gosh, you’re too cute! What a sweetheart. Let’s go out for a feast tonight, my treat!”

“Yay!” Logan’s voice pitched with excitement, then he said, “Thank you, Aunt Chloe.”

Chloe clutched her chest, repeatedly exclaiming how adorable and well–behaved the boy was, wearing a look of someone struck by Cupid’s arrow. “I can’t take it, Matilda, how did you ever bring such a cutie into the world? I’m gonna fight you for custody of this kid!”