As soon as the cabin door swung open, a man and a young boy rushed
The boy flung himself into Blanche’s arms, his voice trembling with desperatio “Pretty lady, please don’t go. I don’t want you to leave.”
Blanche hugged him tightly, whispering comfort. “You can come visit me whe you’re on break, sweetheart.”
“But I don’t know where you’ll be!” Terrell looked up at her, worry clouding his big
eyes.
“Your dad knows where to find me,” she assured him, gently pinching his chubby cheeks. The longer she gazed at his familiar features, the more her brow furrowed with suspicion.
As Terrell glanced toward Fernando, Blanche’s eyes followed.
“Dad, when I’m op break, will you take me to visit her?” Terrell asked nervously
Blanche ruffled his hair, unable to keep her question inside any longer. ‘Terraill your son?” she asked Fernando quietly.
Fernando leaned against the cabin door, memories stirring of things Felipa and Hugo Black had once said to him:
Professor, Cipher’s leaving Eddy–she’s leaving you, too! If you don’t make a move now, you’ll never get another chance.
Let Terrell be the reason Cipher stays.
One day she’ll remember everything. And if Terrell could have a mom, that would mean more to him than anything you could ever give.
Without a word, Fernando nodded.
Blanche’s eyes filled instantly; a tear slid down her cheek.
“Of course, when you’re on break, I’ll take you to visit the pretty lady Fentando promised Terrell solemnly.
Terrell’s whole face lit up. He grinned back at Blanche, but then paused, his little brows knitting in confusion. “Pretty lady, why are you crying?
In that moment, Blanche pulled him closer, pressing her cheek to his. Her sadness
21:51
spilled over into a trembling whisper. “I’m sorry, Terrell, I’m so sorry”
Terrell’s small hands tightened around her neck. “Dorit cry, pretty lady. I’m okay, really.”
He didn’t know why she was apologizing, but he felt he ought to answer her–especially since he really did like her so much.
But then-
“Pretty lady, can you be my mom?” Terrell blurted, longing clear in his eyes.
He released her, his gaze shining with hope and the sparkle of a thousand stars as he looked up at Blanche.
Fernando held his breath.
Ablett, standing nearby with a tissue in hand, paused between them.
Blanche took the tissue, wiped away her tears, and smiled at Terrell. “Of course I
can.
“From this day forward, I’m your mom.”
She wanted to make up for all the love he’d lost, to give him everything she could.
Terrell was the son of Fernando’s assistant–the one lost in the Silverwood Incident, a tragedy caused by her own misjudgment.
Terrell threw himself into Blanche’s embrace, shouting joyfully, “Mom! Mom!”
As if, in that instant, he’d gained the whole world.
Blanche hugged him close, then fished a necklace from her purse and fastened it around his neck. “Terrell, this is my mother’s–your grandmother’s–greatest design. It stands for unwavering love.”
“Whenever you miss me, just look at this necklace. It’ll be like having me right there with you.”
“Thank you, Mom!” Terrell beamed, giddy with happiness.
No one in the cabin looked more moved than Fernando. His eyes never left Blanche, full of open longing and affection. “Laney…”
Just then, Ablett glanced coolly at the staff nearby.
One of them spoke up, cutting off whatever Fernando had been about to say. “Professor Reese, Terrell–it’s time to take your seats. The plane’s about to depart.”
Chapter 166
Fernando caught Ablett’s calm gaze and glanced around at the crew filling the cabin, forcing himself to rein in his emotions.
Laney had accepted Terrell as her son–and he was Terrell’s father.
There was no rush. His chance would come.
Terrell slipped from Blanche’s arms and took Fernando’s hand. “Mom, I’ll come visit
you soon.”
“I’ll be waiting,” Blanche replied, her smile gentle and warm.
She watched as Terrell walked away, her eyes meeting Fernando’s by accident. His earlier confession echoed in her mind, and she waved to them both, her feelings at tangled knot.
Closing her laptop, she took a deep breath.
“Sir, the signal’s gone!” the bodyguard called out, just as a Rolls–Royce sped onto the tarmac. “It disappeared right here–at the airfield!”
On the laptop’s dark screen, the blinking red signal dot vanished.
Eddy flung open the car door, his voice icy. “Find them.”
