: Aiden

“Lily? My favorite daughter in the world is back!” Lily’s mother, Scarlett, exclaimed.

Lily could not help but roll her eyes at her mother’s remark. She responded, “Mom, you can’t have a favorite daughter. I am your only daughter!”

Scarlett laughed. Lily’s father, Kaleb, who was sipping tea in the living room, also laughed.

Yes, she was still living with her parents at thirty-three years old. Since her work often took her to different stations, having a place on her own was unnecessary, especially since she had Aiden.

“How was work, Lily?” Kaleb asked.

“Um.” Lily put down her bag on the floor. She replied, “It was a counter-drug operation. Pretty easy.”

“Did you get shot, Sweetie?” Kaleb asked while studying her.

Lily smirked. She proudly said, “I would not be here if I got shot.”

“Very good,” her mother remarked. She sat beside Kaleb and asked, “Why don’t you join us for tea?”

“I -” Lily paused. “I think I’ll go see Aiden.”

“Anything the matter, Lily?” Scarlett asked with a frown. “You seemed bothered?”

Lily had already walked to the foot of the staircase. She stopped, thinking if she should tell her parents about Lucas.

The Thompsons and the Wrights used to be good friends and business partners, but Lucas’ disappearance ten years ago created friction between their families. The Wrights blamed the Thompsons for breaking the trust they had built as friends.

It wasn’t just them, though. Back then, Lily sensed Lucas’ mother had become aloof towards her. It felt to Lily that Lucas’ mother blamed her instead.

Decades of friendship were flushed down the drain because Lily’s oldest brother found evidence suggesting the Thompsons hid their son’s whereabouts. So, given that fact, was it wise to bring up the pain of the past? She did not think so. Thus, she replied to her mother, “Nothing, Mom, I’m just tired.”

“Then, take a rest, Lily,” Kaleb said. “Your mom and I are going to enjoy our alone time.”

Her parents giggled while Lily choked. She knew exactly what that meant. Her parents were already seniors, but they still had an active sex life!

She ran up the stairs and first checked in on Aiden. It was a weekend, and he did not have school. The young man was sound asleep. So Lily went to her room and bathed. After getting changed, she called her boyfriend, Jake, and let him know she had arrived.

Jake was out of town and on a business trip. Thus, she had no other commitments and meant to spend more time with her son. She returned to Aiden’s room soon after.

Seeing that Aiden was awake, Lily called, “Hey!”

The boy turned to her, and he screamed, “Mommy! You are back!”

Lily wasn’t a crybaby. Oh, no, she wasn’t at all. However, seeing her son and how he looked so much like the man from earlier simply brought tears to her eyes.

Ten years ago, she gave herself to Lucas. She lost her purity, but that experience gave her Aiden.

Since Lucas was nowhere to be found and the relationship between her family and the Thompsons became stained, no one knew about Aiden except for the Wright family - her family.

Lily gave birth to a private clinic. Her family opted to home-school Aiden for the first few years. They finally let Aiden enroll in a regular school when they were sure the Thompsons were no longer checking on them, and all their business ties were canceled.

“Hey, Mom. Why are you crying? Did you get hurt from arresting bad guys?” Aiden asked with concern.

“No, Aiden,” Lily quickly shook her head. She sniffed her tears away and said, “I just miss you.”

Aiden embraced her and said, “I missed you too, Mom. Can you take a break from Black Hawk? Can you practice martial arts with me after school?”

Lily chuckled. She answered, “Sure, Aiden, but you know, any of your uncles can also teach you martial arts.”

“I know. I just want to learn from you!” Aiden said.

“Okay. Okay! It will be better if you learn from the best, anyway,” Lily winked at her son.

Lily and Aiden played video games for the first hour of their bonding. Next, they had dinner and watched a movie. It was supposed to be an adventure movie, but it featured a father and son thriving through obstacles. The film probably reminded Aiden of his father. He asked, “Mom? Is my real father still missing?”

Hearing her son, Lily’s body stiffened. Should she tell him about Lucas now? Right now, she did not know what to do. She wanted to give it a lot of thought. She gulped and replied, “Yes, Aiden. He is still... missing.”

That night, Lily remained by Aiden’s side. She stayed up for a few hours, acknowledging how her son needed a father figure. ‘Should I introduce him to Lucas? Or maybe Jake and I should get married.’

‘I can’t stay single forever,’ Lily thought.

***

The sun’s rays hit Lily’s face. She winced and woke up beside Aiden, hugging her tightly in bed the following day. Her phone rang, and she panickedly picked it up, hoping it would not wake her son.

“Lily Wright speaking,” she said, still in a daze.

“Sergeant Lily Wright, This is Sergeant Major Patton. I need you to report to the Fort Eagle Military Camp this Wednesday,” the officer said on the other line. “You have been called for an active duty.”

“Active duty? If I may ask, Sir, what for?” She asked with a frown. “I - I had just reported for my monthly service at Koplin Troop Command -”

“Sergeant, we all know that even serving as a part-time National Guard, you can be called for duty at any time,” the officer reminded her. “For now, I can only say that it is classified. You know the drill.”

“Yes, my apologies, Major. I will be there on Wednesday,” Lily reluctantly acknowledged.

“And Miss Wright,” the major said. “Prepare for a long assignment. You may need to put your full-time job on hold. Inform your family because we don’t know how long this secret mission will last.”

After the call, Lily fell silent. She was going on a secret mission, and the length of the job was unknown. She turned to Aiden and felt regretful because she was going away again.

“What in the world is this secret mission?” She muttered to herself. “On the bright side, Lily. This mission might help you decide what to do about Lucas, maybe even help you stop thinking about him.”

That was what Lily thought until... Wednesday came.

: New Mission

"Somebody has guilt written all over their face," Lily softly commented, seeing her oldest brother, Liam Wright, in the dining area of their home early that morning. If anyone knew about the arrival of one Lucas Thompson, her brother would be it. After all, Liam previously managed the joint businesses between their family and the Thompsons.

"Good morning, Lily," Scarlett greeted with a smile from the far end of the table. "Your dad and I made waffles. It's special today because you are home, and your brother Liam came to visit. It's such a wonderful surprise!"

"Take a seat, Lily," Liam urged, eyeing the chair right in front of him.

Lily narrowed her eyes at her older brother, sarcastically saying, "It is a surprise that Liam is here. Wonder why big brother flew out here early in the morning?"

She made sure to enunciate every word that left her lips.

At first, Liam did not respond. He studied their parents, and after seeing they were busy preparing for breakfast, he leaned closer from across the table and said, "I wasn't sure if we were ready for Lucas' return. I wanted answers before I could tell you. I had men follow the Thompsons, but they were cautious. I still did not get anything about ten years ago."

"Did you keep that information from coming into Braeton too?" Lily asked. Surely, something of this magnitude was aired on TV and covered in an internet article: The lost heir of the Thompson Group of Companies has returned.

"I did not have to. The Thompsons kept everything quiet, Lucas' arrival and down to his CEO appointment," Liam replied. He gave Lily a concerned look and asked, "Do you believe me?"

Lily sucked in a deep breath and thought about it. The anger and the pain felt like it was rushing back. Soon, she answered, "I believe you because I love you."

"You will always be my little sister." Liam reached for her hand and said, "I would do anything to protect you and get answers, but the Thompsons have risen into power over the years. Their influence has gone so deep that they are now very efficient at covering their tracks."

"Good morning, guys - Uncle Liam!" Aiden's scream echoed in the dining hall. He ran towards Liam and leaped in his arms.

"Easy, Buddy. You are not so young anymore," Liam laughed before making a mess of the boy's hair.

"It has been a while, Uncle," the boy said.

"It has been Aiden. And you are already nine years old. You are too heavy to be jumping into people's arms," Liam complained.

The dining area became filled with laughter and warm discussion after that. Aiden had so much to tell Liam about martial arts and school.

Soon, breakfast began. Aiden sat beside Lily and announced, "Mommy stayed in my room last night. We played video games and watched a movie."

"Great bonding with Mom, eh?" Liam asked before giving Lily an approving nod.

"Yep!" Aiden turned to his grandparents and asked, "Waffles, please!"

As Aiden ate, Lily glanced back to her older brother and said, "Well, the Thompsons have their secrets, and so do we. I guess we are even."

While Lily said those words, somehow, she doubted if it was truly fair for all parties, especially for Aiden, her son.

Lily knew she had a big decision to make, one that involved Lucas.

***

Wednesday.

"Do you have to go? How many years do you have to serve in the army?" Aiden complained. His brown eyes narrowed, and his face was grim as he asked, "Can't you quit?"

Lily paused. She leaned down to Aiden and explained, "I made a deal with the army. I was supposed to be in the infantry, to be deployed to another country. My contract should have already ended, but because I did not want to stay away from you, I pulled strings to be a part-time National Guard."

She pinched his cheek and added, "As a result, my contract got extended, and no, I can't pay my way out of a military contract."

"Don't worry, Aiden, my contract ends next year, and I'll only work for Black Hawk. We will have more time together," she promised with a wink.

Lily hesitated for a moment before smiling at her son. She said, "And I supposed it's time for Mom to settle down. I'll marry your uncle Jake, and you'll have a daddy -"

"What?" Aiden loudly objected. "I don't like Uncle Jake!"

Jake was Lily's boyfriend of two years. Lily never understood it. With Aiden and Jake, it was like hate at first sight! Jake did nothing to Aiden, but her son created a natural dislike for Jake.

To Lily, Jake was a very good catch. He was handsome, and he was one of a few who accepted her past and Aiden. It was never easy for a single military mom to date and find a man who was completely understanding of that fact.

"But, I thought you wanted a father?" Lily asked. "Jake adores you."

"He is a fake!" Aiden angrily growled.

"How in the world could you tell he is fake?" Lily asked, but her son did not answer. Instead, Aiden rolled his eyes.

"Then who do you want me to marry?" Lily asked.

"My real dad," Aiden responded, crossing his arms against his chest.

"That's not going to happen," Lily answered while choosing a jacket from the closet.

"Why?" Aiden asked angrily.

Lily turned to her son. She gasped and reminded him, "Because I told you he is missing. He left us, Aiden."

She turned to collect her duffle bag. Just as Lily picked it up, she heard a faint cry. Aiden sought, "He did not love us?"

His question broke Lily's heart. They had talked about Lucas before. She had always been open about the fact that Lucas had left them, but it was undoubtedly the first time he had cried about it.

"Look, I don't care if we don't find my dad, but not Jake! I don't want him!" Aiden said bitterly.

Lily embraced her son. She caressed his back and said, "Okay. I won't get married."

Sometimes, Lily felt like nobody was ever good enough for Aiden. He had such a high standard for a father, something that she could not even point out.

She pulled away to wipe the tears that stained Aiden's face and said, "Let's talk about this another time. I'll be on a mission and don't know when I'll return. I'm not sure if I can call either. You know how this works?"

"Yeah," Aiden said dryly. It took him a while to say, "Be safe, Mom. I love you."

"You know, I will," Lily responded. "I love you too."

***

Hours later, Lily discovered the full details of her new mission. She was supposed to protect a very important individual.

When she met this person, her heart sank. She silently thought, ‘No. Why didn't I see this coming?'

: Come Back To Me

"He is an important person who needs protection. It will be your primary responsibility to oversee his security," the major loudly said to Lily while they were on a military helicopter, flying ten thousand feet above the ground.

This was one of those odd assignments.

When Lily arrived at the military camp earlier, Sergeant Major Patton only let her sign a confidentiality contract, and then they hopped on a helicopter. It was while in the air that the major explained the mission. It seemed like she would protect a private individual from a threat, but who? Even that was kept a secret.

After some time, they ultimately arrived at their destination. Earlier, Lily thought they were closing in on a familiar city, but her senior officer often distracted her, and she had to answer many of his questions. She wasn't able to identify where they had landed.

The helicopter landed on a rooftop building. Again, it all seemed familiar to Lily; however, looking at everything several feet above the ground made it difficult to put a name to it.

Lily reluctantly followed the military officer down the building, where bodyguards escorted them. They walked through an elegant hallway and into the private office.

The man whom she was assigned to protect was sitting on a leather seat, and his back was facing them.

'Whoever this was should have heard the doors open, right? Why did he have his chair turned the opposite way?' Lily mused while studying the chair.

Eventually, a man with blond hair announced their arrival, "Sir, Major Sergeant Patton is here with Sergeant Lily Wright."

The chair slowly swiveled, and at the sight of the man she was meant to protect, Lily's hands sweat, and her heart sank.

It was Lucas Thompson, Aiden's father.

'No. Why didn't I see this coming?' Lily silently asked herself. No wonder the place was so familiar. Lily was in Rose Hills, Lucas' hometown and the location of the Thompson Group of Companies headquarters.

Major Patton walked towards Lucas and shook his hand. He said, "Mister Thompson. It's nice to see you again.”

'What? They have met before?' Lily could only wonder.

"Sergeant Wright, this is Mister Lucas Thompson. He is the new CEO of the Thompson Group of Companies, and right now, his life is in danger. He had requested the military’s help, and we have chosen you for the job," Major Patton said. "You will be reporting to Mister Thompson round the clock, which means you will be living in the same building as he is until the authorities have arrested the mastermind behind his assassination threat."

Lily was standing there like a stick. She did not know how many times she gulped. Eventually, she took a deep breath and answered, "The Military is not supposed to be used by private individuals. I refuse to accept this mission."

"Miss Wright, that is true, but if it is for the benefit of the federal state, then we will intervene," Major Patton said plainly. "And that is why you are here."

"Besides, isn't it that your family has used the military for personal protection too?" Major Patton pointed out.

Inside, Lily was fuming. How dare the major point that out?

Yes, that was true. Because Lily's great-grandfather was a former military general, her family, the Wrights, have enjoyed the benefits of military protection and service over the years. So, it was unfair to use this as an argument not to protect Lucas. Thus, she heaved a sigh and answered, "I understand, Major Patton. I'm sorry."

"Then, I shall let you be. You are to report to me every week through our dedicated private line," The Major said before giving respect to Lucas. After that, he excused himself.

Lily heard the door close behind her. When she was alone with Lucas, she lifted her chin to look him in the eye.

Fuck, he looked so good, but Lily had to remind herself that she hated this man. This was the man whom she loved, gave her everything to, and left without any explanation.

"How have you been, Lily?" Lucas finally asked. Like the last, his voice was deep and slightly raspy. "It's been a long time."

"Oh." Lily let out a sarcastic laugh. She said, "So you do know me?"

"I'm sorry about the last time we met. I wasn't entirely prepared for it," Lucas explained himself.

"And you are prepared now? Let me guess, you set this whole thing up?" Lily asked.

Lucas just smiled in his seat. He did not confirm nor deny it. He offered the chair before his desk and said, "Please, take a seat, Lily. I'd really love to catch up. What would you like to have? Coffee or tea?"

"I don't need anything. I will only sit and talk with you if you tell me why you left. Where have you been, and what on earth did you do in the past ten years that you went missing?" Lily could not help but raise her voice. "Why haven't you contacted us, not even your parents?"

"How could you throw away years of friendship, love, and brotherhood just like that!" Lily said that because Lucas was also very close to her brothers.

"If you did not want to be with me, you could have said so!" She screamed. Her emotions were taking over her so she took a deep breath and shut her eyes, trying to find her calm.

"Whoever said I did not want you, Lily? I returned solely to take you back," Lucas frankly said.

His answer stupefied Lily. Her brows raised as she asked, "Really? You want me back? After ten years of being gone?" She scoffed and said, "Are you out of your mind?"

"You left me. You made me miserable, and you made our families fight! You only left me a note to say not to wait for you!" Lily said. She could not help but be irritated by his calmness. "What makes you think I want you back, Lucas? Newsflash, I have moved on as you had requested. Also, I have a boyfriend!"

Yet again, Lucas did not answer. However, Lily saw his expression darkened. He leaned back in his chair and ran his fingers through his dark brown hair. He replied, "Do you think I care if you don't want me back? Is your boyfriend half better than me? I bet he isn't."

His answer frustrated Lily to the core. She asked, "Where have you been?"

"I can't tell you that," Lucas replied bluntly.

"Why? Why can't you?" Lily asked. "If you can't tell me, then I can't trust you!"

"The past ten years are now part of my past. Didn't they say that a person's past should not matter in relationships?" Lucas asked. He finally stood up and walked towards Lily, saying, "Come back to me, Lily. I'll give you everything you want."

"What I want is for you to leave me alone," Lily coldly said.

Lucas stood before Lily and slightly chuckled. At first, he seemed amused, but soon, he firmly replied, "Anything but that."

He held her wrist and repeated, "Come back to me, Lily."