Chapter 2

Mabel said, "Hazel, this shop was meant for you. Take good care of it, and it'll support you and your baby."

I named my flower shop "Waiting for the Wind."

It felt like I was laying my quiet, unfinished past to rest, and reaching for a future that seemed so far away.

My son was born in the spring, and I named him Leo Knight, nicknamed Leo.

I wished him a peaceful life, free from regrets or burdens.

As the days passed by, his features grew more and more like Howard's.

Especially those tranquil eyes, there was always an innate sense of detachment when he looked at others, but with me, they would soften with warmth.

In the past five years, I kept wondering if Howard would ever show up at my door.

In the middle of the night, sometimes, the sound of a car outside would snap me awake, drenched in cold sweat.

But time was the best medicine.

Five years was more than enough for a stand-in like me to disappear completely from Howard's busy world of business.

Maybe he and Elara had already built their perfect family, kids and all. How could he ever remember someone like me?

I used all my efforts to run a flower shop and raise Leo. Life was humble, but steady and secure.

Leo was so considerate and clever that sometimes it made me ache for him.

He would use his tiny hands to help me arrange the flowers. When I was exhausted, massage my back, and bought me a few hair clips with the money he saved from his allowance.

I thought life would always stay this peaceful. Leo would finish kindergarten, move on to elementary school, and I'd watch him grow up, and watch myself grow old alongside him.

Until that phone call broke the peace.

The producer said, "Is this Leo's mom? I'm the director of the program team of 'Baby Dash.'

"We spotted Leo during the Bespin kindergarten auditions. He really stands out. There's something unique about him. We would like to invite him to our live parent-child reality show."

My first reaction was to refuse. Exposing Leo was way too risky.

The producer said, "Hazel, don't rush to refuse. Our show has huge ratings, and the winning family gets a three-hundred-thousand-dollar dream fund.

"Plus, we'll make sure to protect Leo's privacy. We'll only film the interactions."

That number that he said made my heart race.

With this money, I could get Leo into a better school district, let him learn Lego programming that interested him, and provide both of us a little more guarantee for the future.

I looked at Leo, who was drawing so seriously. He was still so little, but he already understood how hard things were for me.

My heart softened, and I couldn't help but feel tempted.

Maybe it wouldn't line up that way.

It was just a parent-child reality show. How could Howard ever tune in to something like that?

So, hoping for the best, I signed the contract.

Filming the show was more fun than I expected, but it was also exhausting.

In front of the cameras, Leo was surprisingly calm, and sometimes he'd say things that were way too mature for his age, which made him a hit with the viewers.

I tried to keep myself in the background, only ever called "Leo's mom" on screen.

Everything was going smoothly until the last live outdoor episode at the biggest theme park in Bespin.

During the task, Leo had to borrow something from a random visitor all by himself.

He walked up to a couple who looked like college students, raised his little face.

But before he could speak, the girl exclaimed excitedly, "Wait, are you Leo from 'Baby Dash'? I like you so much!"

Her boyfriend squatted down, smiling, and asked, "Hello, Leo. You're so handsome. Do you take after your dad or your mom?"

The atmosphere froze for a few seconds.

My heart skipped a beat, and I was about to walk forward.

Leo blinked, his eyes so much like Howard's, then looked straight into the camera and said with a steady voice, "My mom is the best in the world. I don't have a dad."

His crisp, innocent voice spread across the internet in an instant through the live broadcast.

The live chat almost blew up.

[Oh my god, he is so mature. Poor baby.]

[Is Leo's mom a single parent? So hard.]

[Wait, am I the only one who thinks Leo looks just like Howard from the finance magazines?]

[Yes! Those eyes, that serious little face, he's literally a tiny Howard.]

[Wasn't there a rumor five years ago that a woman by Howard's side suddenly disappeared?]

[What the hell! Is this one of those 'pregnant runaway' stories coming true in real life?]

The director on set was both shocked and thrilled after seeing it. It was definitely going to be a viral moment.

But when I saw those comments, it was like I'd been thrown into an ice bath. My whole body shook.

I wanted to rush over, carry Leo, and leave immediately, but my legs felt like lead.

Just then, the background music at the amusement park came to an abrupt end.

A deep, icy male voice boomed through the speakers, its authority and dominance amplified by the sound system. It rang out across the entire amusement park.

It echoed in everyone's ears and sent a shockwave through the live broadcast, stunning viewers all over the country.

"Hazel." The voice paused, thick with barely contained fury.

He continued, "Hold onto my son and stay in here. Don't move."

Time seemed to freeze. I hadn't even had a chance to run before Howard already walked over.

Five years hadn't left much of a mark on his face. If anything, they'd only made him look more mature and imposing.

His face was dark, and his deep eyes were full of anger at the moment, fixed on me with an intensity that made me feel trapped.

Then, his gaze slowly shifted to Leo, who was clutching my fingers tightly beside me.