Chapter 5 BREAKDOWN: PAST AND MUM!
ERICA’S POV
Hmm… I stared at the watch on my wrist. Today was the day. The day I died—the day I jumped off the bridge.
Today, I was going to my supposed grave, to lay flowers for the innocent girl who died that night.
The door creaked open slowly, and Jolie walked in, a stack of files clutched in her arms. She placed them on my desk, a wild smile curling her lips.
She adjusted her glasses, and I turned my chair toward her.
“You have a lot of documents to sign… Mr. Finn also sent a message. He wants to announce the success of the contract, to the public” she rattled off quickly.
I only tapped my fingers against the desk, my mind already drifting elsewhere.
“Madame?” she called softly. My eyes twitched as I turned to her.
“I’ll be out for a while. I'll be back by afternoon,” I said flatly. Her lips parted, and she hurried after me as I grabbed my keys.
“Do you want me to do anything in your absence?” she asked.....I paused, turning to face her.
“Can I trust you?” I asked quietly. Her eyes widened at my question, but she nodded quickly. A small smile tugged at my lips.
“Take this,” I said, dropping my car key into her palm. She froze.
“What… what do I use this for?” she asked, confused.
“It’s yours now,” I said, watching her gasp.
“I can’t accept—” she started, but I cut her off. “You can. Consider it a gift… a small compensation for what I’m about to ask you to do.” Her shock melted into understanding, and her expression harden with determination.
“Sure,” she said, firm and excited. A faint smile curved my lips as I stepped closer, my voice dropping low.
My lips brushed her ear as I whispered the words that sealed her role in my plan. She froze for a moment, then nodded.
Jolie was someone I could trust. Why? That’s a long story, one I’ll tell soon enough.
I turned on my heel and left, I had already called my driver to bring my other car around.
I walled out of my company building....Then—bam.
Someone slammed into my shoulder. I staggered back, ready to snap at whoever it was, but then I froze.
Time stopped.
He wore a hoodie, plain trousers, glasses and held a bouquet of flowers.
“Sorry,” he murmured softly. His voice—it sounded familiar.....Aaron.
Memories rushed back like a flood. He was the reason my high school days were filled with laughter and light.
“Hey, get back here!”
“No!” I giggled, hearing echoes of the past. “Aaron…” I muttered his name without realizing it.
He arched his brow. “Do you… know me?”
I blinked, pulling myself together and forcing a smile. “Sorry. You just reminded me of my ex,” I lied smoothly.
He just hummed, then reached into his pocket and handed me a business card.
“I’ll buy you dinner sometime to apologize,” he said before walking off.
I stared at the card, my breath catching.
“GLID,” I whispered.
My heart skipped. Aaron....the unseen face behind GLID, the billionaire CEO everyone wanted to unmask? How? He was just a nerd back then.
I swallowed hard. This wasn’t the time to get distracted. I tucked the card into my Hermès bag and slipped into the car.
I leaned my head back against the seat when my phone suddenly rang.
“Hello,” I answered coolly.
“Come on, is that how you greet a friend?” Jaxon’s voice teased through the line, and my eyes snapped open.
“How should I greet you?” I asked, unimpressed. He laughed, low and charming, making me roll my eyes.
Jaxon—the country’s beloved actor. The man everyone adored. He was currently filming Spy X Romance with Giselle, a role I had personally forced him to accept. He was also one of the few allies I had made since becoming Erica.
“How’s the project going?” I asked.
“Ugh, Giselle talks like a total angel. Are you sure she’s as evil as you claim?” he said, and I could hear the smirk in his voice.
“Are you crushing on Giselle now?” I asked coldly.
He chuckled. “When I have you? She doesn’t even compare. You know I’ll end up being your husband someday.” He flirted.
“In your dreams,” I muttered, making him laugh.
“Come on, I’m your closest male friend, your only male escort,” he teased.
“You make it sound like you’re my gigolo,” I replied dryly.
He laughed louder. “Maybe I should be. Imagine being married to me. What an honor.”
“Hm.” I ended the call, because i had finally arrived at the cemetery.
“Pick me up at ten,” I told my driver.
“Yes, Miss,” he replied.
I stepped out, heels clicking against the cement. The flowers felt heavy in my hand, my face darkened by shadow and memory.
I reached my grave, yet no one was there. It was quiet, lonely. Forgotten.
I knelt and placed the flowers gently.
“You were innocent then… well, not that innocent—you did sleep with Carter,” I whispered bitterly. “But you still didn’t understand human cruelty. It’s a loss that you died… I hope you rest in peace.”
I wiped away the tears that weren’t really there.
“So sad…” I murmured. “I’ll make it right. Watch from above how I destroy them all.”
I bent lower, my fingers tracing the name carved into the stone. One real tear fell—betraying me.
“Who are you?”
The voice froze me in place. It was one I hadn’t heard in years. My heart thundered painfully.
I turned, and there she was. Smiling, her middle-aged face still beautiful, though striked with whitish-hair and tired eyes.
“Um, sorry,” I stammered, looking away quickly, terrified she might recognize me.
My mother.
She looked at the flowers I’d placed and smiled softly. “Did you know my little girl?” she asked gently, setting down her own bouquet: my favorite flowers.
It broke something inside me.
It had been years since I’d seen her. I had only sent her gifts, money—anonymously, yet she never accepted any of it.
“I should go,” I whispered, standing quickly. I couldn’t break down now. Not here.
But she caught my wrist. “Have dinner with me,” she said.
“I can’t. I have things to—”
“A dinner wouldn’t hurt, would it?” she interrupted softly.
When my eyes met hers, the weak spot in my heart twisted painfully. My stomach growled at the same moment.
“Let’s go eat,” she said with a small smile.
So I followed...because deep down, I wanted to taste her cooking again.
Her home was just downtown, not far from the cemetery. It hadn’t changed. The same walls, the same faint smell of detergent and old memories.
“Eat,” I heard her fading words echo in my head, and my eyes burned.
“Have a seat,” she said kindly, pointing to the dining table, i forced a smile and sat down.
I kept my gaze low, trying to hold the tears back as memories rushed in—her laughter, her warmth, everything I had buried.
Then she placed the meal on the table. My breath hitched. “Chicken broth stew with rice and sausages.” my favorite.
My hands trembled as I picked up the spoon, one taste and the world fell apart. It was perfect. Just like before.
“My daughter… I know you knew her,” she said suddenly, reaching for my hand. Her voice trembled.
“The last day I saw her, I didn’t say a word. I was angry, hurt… I regret it so much. I miss her hugs, her laugh. Every night, she’d sneak into my room for a hug before bed, i can't see or jear those anymore. I was… a bad mother.” Her voice cracked, and my tears finally fell.
“I see flowers at her grave sometimes. Always four. I wondered who they were from, did someone still care for her? Seeing you today… it makes me believe she had friends I never knew about. Thank you, for those flowers.”
I broke down, the sob tore out of me before I could stop it.
She froze. “Oh dear, did I make you cry?”
But I couldn’t stop. I cried harder. The spoon slipped from my hand, clattering onto the plate.
My tears fell, echoing through the silence.
I missed her too, I wanted to hug her, tell her it was me—Celina, but I couldn't. I didn't want to drag her into my new world, it was full of vengeance and bitterness.
“Hnnn… ahhhk…” I cried, the sound of my grief filled the room.