I had not given it much since I returned from Zach's house that night, but now, I realized that it didn't matter what had happened.

I made a mistake first. He was not over what happened, and I didn't expect him to, but he could've given me a chance to explain. Still, he didn't, so I didn't think it was necessary to correct him on what had happened in the past.

Zach already made his decision and conclusion without hearing my side first, so why would I bother?

I hadn't lost hope, though. I still wanted to be civil with him, for Caleb's sake. Maybe one day, we could resolve it.

It was comforting to think that way, so instead of desperately begging for a chance to talk to Zach, I focused on staying away. It was also time to buy a bigger house because my mom had complained that I barely saw her and Caleb. Her health was improving, and since Caleb was already attending kindergarten, I figured we could all stay in one house instead of jumping from one place to another.

It was reasonable because Mom could assist me with caring for Caleb while I was at work. She didn't have to travel far just to have a day with me and her grandson.

After several days of house hunting, I found a nice place near my workplace and kindergarten. The surrounding environment was also outstanding. My mother and I took Caleb on a house tour over the weekend.

I thought it would already be perfect, not until I ran into Zach while taking Caleb to the bathroom.

He was in the building's display room, behind the model area. A woman in a white gown stood beside him. She was not tall but had a nice figure. Looking back at her, I could already tell she also had a nice-looking face.

"Mom, mom, there is a handsome man over there who has been staring at you," Caleb's voice resounded around the area. I wanted to grab my son and run away, but I knew that it would look suspicious, so instead, I greeted Zach with a short nod.

It was a quick interaction, and I immediately grabbed Caleb's arm and left, but my son just had to stop and pull my hand.

"Mom, that guy is walking over here, and I think he's coming to you."

"What did you call her, kiddo?" The familiar voice sounded in my ears, and my heart missed a beat.

Caleb blinked, his wide eyes filled with innocence. "I called her mom. She's my mom, and I'm her son, Caleb Dikkens."

Zach was dressed in a dark tracksuit, which made him look even taller, but my gaze couldn't help but be drawn to the woman next to him. The girl was not too old, perhaps only in her early twenties. Her skin was delicate. She was the kind of girl who would be breathtaking even with the most simple make-up.

"Nice to see you, Mr. Dempsy," I greeted with a forced smile.

Feeling a little awkward, I kept wondering how small this city was. Zach didn't say anything, but his eyes were glued to Caleb. His deep eyes were looking at him over and over again, very carefully.

After a long while, Zach asked again, "Your name is Caleb Dikkens? How old are you?"

Caleb smiled at him and raised his hand, saying, "I'm four and a half years old, and it's three months until my birthday. Mommy said I'd be five after my birthday."

Standing back, I clenched my hands. After hearing what Caleb said, I noticed a solid light flickering in Zach's eyes, and I knew I'd never be able to keep Caleb away from him.

Zach was clever enough to figure out that Caleb was his son just by the way he was talking to him. Not to mention, Caleb inherited his looks. They have similar eyes and eyebrows.

Zach walked away, not saying anything. I could see the joy in his eyes as he looked delighted. The girl who accompanied him smiled politely at me and quietly followed him away; she didn't say anything the entire time.

I hadn't seen Zach since that fateful day at the sales office. However, I had felt uneasy since then, as if something terrible was about to happen. As expected, I received a text message from an unknown number two days later. The content was straightforward: the time and the address of a high-end restaurant.

It didn't have any other details like who I was meeting, but I already knew I would finally talk to Zach.

My heart pounded loudly as I sat quietly across Zach.

We were both in a private room of the restaurant. His face was etched with seriousness, but I'm confident mine was filled with nervousness and worry.

"Is Caleb my son?" he asked. It looked like there would be no pleasantries and beating around the bush. He was a straightforward person, after all.

"You already know the answer to that question," I mumbled.

"I didn't know you never aborted our child," Zach uttered while looking me straight. "Do you still have feelings for me?" His calm and tentative tone made my hand tremble slightly.

I knew we would discuss Caleb's paternity, but it never dawned on me that we would also talk about our relationship. But hearing those words from his mouth took me back to when he was mine—the time when he was still gentle, sweet, and affectionate.

"What's the point of that question?" My voice quivered, but I heard the bitterness drip from my lips. "I already have a good life. And I'm sure yours are better."

I could still remember the girl's face I saw him with. She was pretty, prettier than me, even. And I knew from that girl's eyes that she loved Zach.

"Just answer my question, Ivy. Do you still have feelings for me or not?"

My mind completely shut down at his authoritative voice. Did I still have feelings for him? Maybe. I knew that I still cared about him because I wouldn't be here if I didn't. I wouldn't be hoping to explain my side.

Zach's Adam's apple moved. "If… if you still have feelings for me and haven't given up on us yet. Maybe… maybe we could start over." His eyes were filled with eagerness and sincerity as he spoke.

It almost broke my heart to see him like this.

"Let's forget the past. I don't care if you took the money or not because you kept our baby. I just want to give you and our son a home and a better life."

I gave a bitter smile as I listened to him ramble. Why were there so many regrets in the world if the past was so easy to let go of? Even if I could put the past behind us, how could we ever return to what we were? Too much has changed.

" Zach, even if you are okay with it, what about your mom and your family?" And the girl who loves you deeply. "It will be fine. Caleb and I are fine. We don't need monetary support from you."

Zach reached out to grab my hand and rubbed his bony finger against the back of my hand. "My mom won't mind as long as we don't get married..."

"Not getting married? Do you even hear yourself?" I asked, "Do you want me as your mistress or something you keep in a cage and occasionally play with?"

"Don't make it sound like that. I mean, as long as we are together, the rest—"

"Zach Dempsy! You are goddamn disgusting!" I pulled my hand back, and my heart broke into a million pieces. "Do you think I went through all of that six years ago just to end up like some fucking secret?"

"What do you think of me? What do you think of yourself? Do you even think about Caleb, or all you thought of was how to satisfy yourself?"

It was exactly as his mother had said back then: the only way I could be with Zach was to be his mistress, just like she was. We'd never be able to have a future together. Because Zach was an illegitimate child, so his family ignored him. The person he was going to marry had to be someone that could turn his life around. That person wasn't me.

"I know it's unfair to you, but this is the best plan I've got for you and our child. Caleb is already five years old; do you want him to grow up without a father and live in a single-parent household like you?" Zach was sad looking at me, and I could tell he was really in a dilemma and heartbroken, "I wanted to make it up to you and our son."

"Fine. If you really had Caleb's best interests at heart, then marry me and give him a whole family. We don't care about money or social standing as long as there's food and a place to live. Are you capable of doing so?"

"I can't. Not for the time being, at least. Ivy, could you please give me some space? My mother's life has been difficult recently, and she is not doing well. Her only wish is that I have a solid ground in that family."

"So it's not easy for your mom, but it's easy for me, right?" I laughed. The glint in his eyes was so hurtful that it made my heartache.

With my still shaking body, I said, "Yes, I did take the 500,000 dollars from your mom. But, Zach, do you know how your mother forced me to have an abortion and abandoned you? Do you believe I went abroad because I had given up on our relationship?"

"You know what, Zach, I'm not smart, but I'm also not dumb. We're both deceiving ourselves. And, yes, I do owe you a lot, but it is your fault."

Now that everything had gotten to this point, I didn't see the point of me holding back anymore. What Zach said today was concrete proof of my thoughts. He left me of his own will and would never give me a future even if I didn't take that money. So, I would rather that he hated me, retaliated against me, or even tortured me. It would prove that he had a clear conscience and did not give up on us. However, at that moment, it seemed that money and status were all he wanted!

Zach had changed. A lot.

He was no longer the man I knew. Or perhaps I never really got to know him.

Zach remained silent as if he agreed with my words. "Huh, of course..."

"Well, since you don't have any other choice, you don't have to choose. We will be exactly like what you said before, you live your life, and I live mine. We are done!" I mumbled, my eyes starting to well up with tears. I stood up and started to grab my bag and coat.

"Ivy, can you let it go that easily? Do you want to give up on us?" Zach yelled. I scowled.

As I approached the door, I turned my back on him and said, "Zach, I love you, but I'm not going to be the other woman who begs you to stay. So, this is it."

Without looking back, I gently closed the door, and tears streamed down my cheeks.

Maybe love wasn't really for me. This path gave me pain, and yes, it also gave me my greatest joy, Caleb, but I couldn't handle it anymore. I didn't want to be associated with him anymore.

Zach has never contacted me ever since our last encounter. I figured it was for the best, anyway, because after all these years, I finally let it all out.

It didn't matter who owed who or who should apologize. The best thing for the both of us was never to see each other again and live our usual lives.

That's what I did.

My mother moved into my newly-bought house when the last week of September came. Her presence made it easier for me to balance taking care of Caleb and work.

However, ever since Zach learned about Caleb, he always seemed to find a way to get close to him.

At first, it was just leaving toys by the door. But then I found out that my mother would let him into our house to spend time with Caleb, and he would leave before I came home.

I didn't feel betrayed because, despite our strained relationship, Zach was still Caleb's father. He deserved some time with him, at least.

The set-up was fine for me, but then Zach started picking Caleb up from kindergarten and occasionally took him out for a quick trip to the mall. I was okay with it, but I always became uneasy when Caleb took too long to go home.

It annoyed and worried me so much, especially when Caleb started bringing Zach into our conversation at home, saying that he wanted to live with Zach.

That was the trigger that made me more protective of Caleb. I started staying at home more so Zach wouldn't dare show up again. I also didn't give him the chance to pick my son up from his kindergarten.

I thought I could protect my son by doing this, but unexpectedly, Zach showed his ace. I was working overtime that day when my mother called me at five in the evening.

I thought she was just checking to see if I'd be home for dinner, but a worried voice greeted me when I answered the phone.

"Come here immediately, Ivy. Caleb is missing. I can't find him anywhere! He's not at school!"

My heart skipped a beat as my mind immediately went to Zach. I clenched my fist as my brows furrowed.

"What happened? How did you lose him? Where were you?"

"After dinner, I took Caleb for a walk. So many people were dancing in the central area that I just stood there for a few minutes, and then he was...gone."

Silence reigned over our call as my thoughts started to scramble. I could hear Mom's loud sobs on the phone.

"It had only been a few minutes, and I..."

I released a heavy breath, trying to maintain a calm facade. "We'll find him, Mom. Don't worry. Just stay there. I'll be there in a minute."

I hung up the phone and drove there. Holding the steering wheel, my hands were shaking, and my palms were sweaty.

There were a lot of people in the square. My mother squatted in the crowd. The tear in her eyes fell instantly when she saw me.

"Ivy, I can't find Caleb, and I don't know what to do. I'm so sorry. It is all my fault."

"Don't cry, Mom; it's all right." My voice croaked as I pulled out my phone and checked the time. "When did you lose him? Did you call the cops already?"

"Yes, the police are on their way."

My mother sobbed and wiped her eyes. "I don't know what I'm going to do if something happens to him. I deserved to be damned, and I really deserved to be damned."

I gripped my mom's hand tightly, comforting her in a way I could. I didn't know what to say, and I was afraid that if I spoke, I would cry in an instant.

A loud ringing snapped me back to reality. I immediately answered the phone without looking at the caller, but my shoulders slumped when I heard a familiar, friendly voice.

"Hi, little Ivy, long time no see. Did you miss me?"

"I'm not in the mood right now, Tyler. What do you want?" I snipped, my eyes traveling back and forth around the park, looking for signs of my son.

"What's wrong? Who's bothering you? Tell me, and I will...."

I hung up the phone, feeling annoyed, even before he finished speaking. After two seconds, it rang again.

"Tyler Rivers, would you stop fucking around? I'm not in the mood to play your little game."

After a brief pause, his tone changed to severe. "What's going on?"

"My mom went for a walk with Caleb, and now we can't find him."

"Where was he? How long had he been missing?" Tyler inquired.

"We've been in Central Park Square for more than thirty minutes." From afar, I saw a police car parking on the sides. "The cops are here. I need to go, Tyler. I'll call you back once we find him."

Two cops emerged from the car; my mom and I immediately went to them. They asked us the questions of where and when, but Mom was the one who answered. My mind was already in a daze as it was starting to get dark.

My hands were constantly shaking as I wanted to cry. I watched the cops walk around the area, asking random people if they'd seen my son.

"There are too many people, and cars come and go. We've been looking everywhere. I suggest we just go back to the station and file a case," the cop said when they came back.

"What is the point of filing a case right now? At least we know where to look while we are still here. What happens if he goes somewhere else? Where do we look for him, then? We can't leave here!"

"So, what did you do earlier? Can't even two adults keep a child close? Unfortunately, we don't have enough staff to assist you in looking around in such a large area right now."

"Yes, given that it's been an hour, the only thing left to do is return to the station and file the case, and then we can send the squad to assist you," the second officer grumbled.

"Can you even find my child? I don't think so, based on how slow you move!" I cried. I felt Mom's tight squeeze on my hand, but all I could do was shake my head.

The cops seemed irritated, but I didn't care. Caleb was missing! How could this even happen?

"Is this how you treat the people you swore to protect?" A deep, booming voice made us all turn around.

I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes when I saw Tyler walking towards us, his gaze stern and burning fiercely as if he would devour the cops whole.