NovelEnglishI held on to the seat's armrest as the plane touched down. A certain panic overcomesas I think of what will be awaiting me. What will be waiting forand Lilly.
It continues to rise as I think of introducing her to the life I left behind years ago. The panic gripsas I imagine the questions she'll have. Not only about my past, but also about Gabriel. I almost pass out when I think of how I'll answer those questions.
I know I've hidden a lot from her. That's what worries me. That she won't understand and that she'll get mad when she realizes just how many secrets I've kept from her.
"Breathe, Harper... Breathe." I hear his voice slowly whispering in my ear. I hold on to it as I try to fight my way away from the fog and darkness.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Is she okay?" My sweet daughter asks. Her voice tinged with worry.
"I think she's having a panic attack," Gabriel replies gently.
The worry in Lilly's voice forcesto pull myself together. It pushesto cback and overcthe panic that was threatening to drown me. I couldn't let her seefall apart. Not when we were miles away from hand everyone here was a stranger to her.
"Mom?" Pushing the last of my panic down, I open my eyes. I find her worried ones staring at me.
Giving her a smile, I try to assure her. "I'm fine, Honey. Stop worrying, I just got a little bit anxious." Her gaze shifts from mine to Gabriel's and then back to mine. She nods her head, but I can see she doesn't fully believe me. She has loads of questions and is just waiting for the perfect tto ask.
"Good then... Let's fu- leave then," Gabriel said, catching himself in the process before he could curse.
I undo my seat belt and then stand. He gestures for us to follow him and we do. In that moment, I felt like a lamb being led to the slaughterhouse. My anxiety is still there. Still dancing on the edge of the surface.
I was about to get out of the plane when I remembered something and stopped, making Lilly bumpfrom behind.
"Ouch, seriously, mom? Why did you stop?" she asked, but I was just frozen.
Gabriel, hearing her, turns his head.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"What is it now?" His irritation was very, damn well clear in his voice.
"What about the paparazzi?" I whispered and looked behind me. I didn't want Lilly get a hint of what's going on. Luckily, she was too busy rubbing her nose to catch what I'd just asked.
"Don't worry about them; my people have already taken care of that," he answered. "I'm not ready for word about Lilly getting out yet." Sighing in relief, I nod my head.
Satisfied, Gabriel turns around and gets out. We follow close behind.
Once outside, the heat hits me.
Damn it, this was the one thing I didn't miss about this country. It was it was most almost always hot. It was almost evening, but the sun was still scorching hot. It would take stto get used to it again, because when I fled, I went to a cooler region. Shielding my eyes from the sun, I continue following Gabriel. He stops besides a black car. His driver, whose nI'd already forgotten, vas standing beside it too, with the >ack door open. >wI stepped aside to let Lilly get in first, and her mouth was wide open. The girl loved cars, so she probably knew which model this one was and how much it cost.
"No way!" she almost screamed in excitement. "This is a Maybach, a Mercedes-Maybach S-Class to be exact... Sweet, my friends are going to be even more jealous." She continues to study it in awe and I steal a quick glance from Gabriel. He looks impressed with Lilly. After all, that is one of the things I know they share. Their love for cars.
I'm surprised, too. Not because of the car, but because Gabriel gives her tto study his car before gently asking her to get in.
It honestly surprises me. This is a side of him I never knew existed. A side of him I don't want to know exists. You're wondering why, but it's simple. If this gentle side of him exists, then it just glaringly points to the fact that he did truly hate me. That was the reason why he treatedso fucking poorly when we were married, and not because it was his character or personality.
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