Chapter 109 FIGHT for what you WANT

Chapter 109 FIGHT for what you WANT
Maureen’s POV
~continuation~

I tapped her name and brought the phone to my ear, my foot bouncing lightly against the floor as it rang.

“Hello?” she answered.

“Linda,” I said, my voice barely containing the excitement bubbling inside me.

“What is it?” she asked suspiciously. “Why do you sound like that?”

I inhaled deeply. “I got promoted.”

There was half a second of silence.

Then Linda screamed.

“AHHHHHHHHH!” Her shrill voice burst through the phone so loudly that I instinctively pulled it away from my ear, laughing in shock. “PROMOTED? MAUREEN! OH MY GOD!”

I laughed openly now, my shoulders shaking. “Linda, calm down,” I said, even though my own heart was racing.

“Calm down?!” she shrieked. “How do you expect me to calm down? My best friend just got promoted!” I could practically picture her jumping up and down wherever she was. “What position? Tell me everything! I knew it! I knew they would see your worth!”

“I’m the team leader now,” I said softly, the words still feeling new on my tongue.

Another scream followed, even louder than the first. “TEAM LEADER?!” she yelled. “Gurl! I’m so proud of you I could cry!”

Her excitement poured through the phone, warm and infectious. She talked rapidly, barely pausing for breath, listing all the reasons I deserved it, praising my hard work, and already planning a celebration. I smiled so hard my cheeks began to ache.

“Thank you,” I said sincerely. “I really needed this today.”

“And you deserve every bit of it,” she replied firmly. “We are celebrating. End of discussion.”

By the time we ended the call, my heart felt lighter than it had in days.

The rest of the workday passed in a blur. There were congratulatory smiles, subtle nods of respect, and whispers that no longer carried mockery but admiration. When it was finally time to leave, I packed up my things and headed home, exhaustion settling into my bones—but it was the good kind, the kind that came with accomplishment.

As soon as I opened my front door, a loud shout exploded into the air.

“SURPRISE!”

I flinched, my handbag almost slipping from my hand as Linda and Sam jumped out from the living room.

“Oh my God!” I gasped, clutching my chest.

Sam ran toward me immediately, his small hands holding a little cake decorated with colourful icing. He beamed up at me, his eyes shining.

“Congratulations on your promotion, mommy!” he said proudly.

My heart melted instantly.

I dropped my bag and crouched down, pulling him into a tight hug. “Thank you, baby,” I whispered, pressing a kiss to his hair. My eyes stung with tears I didn’t fight.

Linda clapped loudly, already pulling out her phone. “Pictures! We need pictures right now!”

We laughed, celebrated, shared the cake, and filled the house with warmth and noise. For a while, everything felt perfect. We took pictures together, smiling widely, holding up the cake, capturing a moment I knew I would want to remember.

Later that night, after Sam and Linda had gone to bed, the house grew quiet again.

I lay on my bed, my phone resting in my hand.

I called Liam.

No answer.

I sent a text.

‘I got promoted today.’

No reply.

Another call.

Nothing.

My chest tightened, but I swallowed the feeling down and sent him one last message—one of the pictures we had taken earlier, Sam holding the cake proudly while I smiled beside him.

A few minutes later, I saw it.

‘Wow! Congratulations’.

My heart sank.

That was it. Simply congratulations, nothing more. Well, at least he celebrated me.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I placed the phone on my chest and stared at the ceiling, the joy of the day slowly fading into a dull ache. Exhaustion finally claimed me, and I drifted into sleep.



The weekend arrived quietly, without the rush and pressure of work, yet my heart felt anything but calm. I followed Linda to the salon that Saturday with Sam walking beside me, his small hand tucked into mine. The air outside was warm, the streets lively, but my mind drifted elsewhere, caught in thoughts I could not seem to silence.

The salon was already open when we arrived. The familiar scent of hair products, heat from styling tools, and soft music playing in the background wrapped around us the moment we stepped in. Linda greeted a few customers with her usual bright smile before guiding us to a corner where Sam could sit comfortably.

Before long, Sam had joined two other kids around his age. They laughed loudly, running back and forth, turning empty cartons into cars and chairs into imaginary castles. His laughter filled the space, light and carefree, and for a moment, watching him eased something tight in my chest.

Linda wasn’t too busy that morning. She stood behind one of the chairs, combing through a client’s hair lazily while glancing at me through the mirror. When her client finally left, she pulled a chair closer to where I sat and dropped into it, wiping her hands on a towel.

“You’ve been quiet,” she said gently, tilting her head. “Too quiet.”

I forced a small smile and shrugged. “I’m fine.”

She raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Maureen,” she called my name slowly, “how do you really feel?”

The question hit harder than I expected. My smile faded. I looked away, my eyes settling on Sam as he chased another child across the salon. I paused, then heaved a deep sigh that felt like it came from the depths of my soul.

“I’m not okay,” I admitted quietly.

Linda’s expression softened instantly. She leaned closer, lowering her voice. “Talk to me.”

“I miss Liam,” I said, my voice cracking despite my effort to stay composed. “I miss him so badly, Linda. It’s not even up to two weeks, and I don’t know how to exist without him. Everything feels… off. Empty.” I swallowed hard. “I keep reaching for my phone, expecting him to call. I keep thinking I hear his voice.”

Linda listened without interrupting, her eyes fixed on mine. When I finished, she exhaled slowly.

“You should go and see him,” she said.

I blinked and shook my head almost immediately. “No. That’s not a good idea.”

“Why not?”

“He’s not picking my calls. He’s not replying to my messages,” I said, my shoulders slumping. “I don’t want to embarrass myself.”

Linda frowned. “That’s exactly why you should go. If he won’t answer calls or texts, then show up. Look him in the eye.”

I hesitated. “Linda…..”

“Maureen,” she cut in firmly, placing a hand over mine. “You can’t just sit here and suffer in silence. You love him. Go and fight for what you want.”

I stayed quiet for a moment, my heart racing as fear and hope tangled inside me. Slowly, I nodded.

“Okay,” I whispered.

Linda smiled immediately. “Good.”

I stood up almost at once, grabbed my bag, and waved at Sam. After making sure he was settled, I stepped out of the salon, hailed a cab, and gave the driver Liam’s address.

As the car pulled away, my heart pounded violently in my chest.