Chapter 202: Fun Mom or Boring Mom?

Holly’s POV

Well, it couldn’t be. Whatever I was thinking that day was pointless because Justin turned out to be so sweet. Imagine making me forget there was someone called David for five whole seconds?? Five seconds! That’s a record given my devotion to David.

It’s been two days now. Two long days, and not a single word from David’s company. Not an email. Not a call. Not even a whisper in the wind.

Do I look bothered? No. And I won’t be…not until it’s been at least a month. That’s my promise to myself. Now is too soon. I would appear so pathetic if I start fretting after two days. I don’t want him to win.

He thinks I need him. But I don’t. Well I do, to be honest.

But I’m gonna play it cool.

And true to that promise, I didn’t answer when David’s house called. Not once. He can stew in silence. He can sit there wondering which man candy is serving. Let that eat him up alive.

Yes…Candy…My other skin. My most beautiful creation. She will remain out of sight, untouchable, until I decide otherwise. David doesn’t even know Candy and Holly are the same person. And oh, the thrill of dragging this game out while he unknowingly breathes the same air as me.

The call still lingers in my head, the mistress’s voice soft but edged with amusement only women like her carry. David had come in yesterday evening. She said he looked like a man falling apart, jittery and hollow-eyed, like something was eating him from the inside out. Withdrawal. That’s the word she used.

He’d thrown money…heaps of it…across the table, demanding Candy. When they told him I was gone on a trip with another customer, he snapped. Threatened to burn the whole place down if they didn’t bring me back. Imagine that…David, all puffed-up pride and cruel words in the daylight, breaking down like a beggar in the dark.

Oh, how I would have loved to see it. To watch him crumble, desperate, for the same girl he treats like filth when the world’s watching. But behind his bedroom door, he worships me…my body, my mouth, my pussy, like it’s the only salvation he knows. The hypocrisy is almost delicious.

And maybe one of these days, I’ll make him choke on it. I’ll blur the line, slip into Candy’s skin just long enough for him to believe it, to need it…and then snatch it away again. Leave him dazed, confused, crawling after me with his pride in tatters.

He will take me back to continue working at the office. He will. But not yet. Let him feel the gap. Let him itch for it.

I padded across my room and paused in front of the vanity. My hand hovered, then curled around the bottle of perfume. I smiled at the label…Tom Ford Black Orchid. Classy in a delicious way. Sexy enough to seep under his skin without him realizing why.

Candy never smelled or spoke like Holly. That was my rule. I made sure of it. I would bathe in different soaps, scrub with another body wash, shampoo with a scent far from what Holly would use. Different body sprays. Different perfumes. A fortress of scents so David never suspected a thing. It’s like I step into a different skin when all that is done. Like a different personality.

Today wasn’t for David, though. Today was for Caden.

I slipped into a soft, casual outfit…light denim jeans that hugged my waist and a white crop top knotted just above my navel. Cute. Harmless. The kind of look that made people drop their guard. I tied my hair back in a loose ponytail, tugged a strand free to fall by my cheek, and smiled at my reflection.

Free day. Premium fun. That’s what Caden and I would have.

“Holly?”

The little voice floated from the hallway, sweet and cautious.

Caden.

I took one last look in the mirror, smoothed my top, and walked out.

Kayla was waiting near the door, already fussing. The moment she saw me, her hands went for my hair. “Hold his hands at all times, okay? And don’t let him wander. I can’t believe I’m letting a child go out to the mall with another child.”

I slapped a dramatic hand over my chest, feigning offense. “Excuse me? You’re just a year older than me!”

Kayla raised a brow.

“You’ll see,” I said, smirking. “I’ll surprise you. I’ll be good. Don’t worry.”

“No surprises, please,” she shot back quickly, exasperated. “Just bring my son back in one piece. And you too, Holly. Both of you…one piece.”

I rolled my eyes and nodded, pretending annoyance. “Fine, fine.” I bent down to Caden’s height. “Well, buddy, who do you want to go with? Fun mommy… or boring mommy?”

“Fun mommy!” Caden shouted, his little arms already reaching for me.

My heart warmed. I scooped him into a hug, pressing my cheek against his hair before setting him down again. His hand fit so perfectly into mine. Together, we waved at Kayla before heading for the car.

I buckled him in carefully, snapping the child safety locks into place. Kayla still stood on the porch, arms folded tight across her chest as though her glare alone could keep us in line. I gave her a jaunty little wave before pulling out of the driveway.

“Music, please!” Caden squealed.

I obliged. Children’s songs flooded the car, tinny and bright. He sang along, offbeat but joyous, and I laughed until we rolled into the parking lot of the mall.

Inside, we made the rounds…kids’ stores, toy aisles, shelves bursting with games and clothes. His little voice chirped “mommy” so often that it sent a strange thrill through me, like electricity buzzing under my skin.

“Mommy, look! Mommy, come see! Mommy, I want this one!”

Every tug at my jeans, every wide-eyed plea…he was weaving a thread between us. Tight. Permanent.

We promised each other the park after this, and even listed out the rides we’d be enjoying. The Ferris wheel, the bumper cars, the lazy river…safe enough, nothing that would make Kayla’s cop-mom alarms go off.

Caden mentioned the roller coaster, the one he said he’d always wanted to try, but never did because of Kayla.

That will change today, because I stand for freedom. For liberation. The kid will ride the water slide. With me, of course. Kayla can scowl all she wants when she hears about it.

I promised Caden that he’d have the best day of his life. I don’t have any plans of failing him.

“Mommy, mommy! I want one too!” he shouted suddenly, tugging hard at my jeans.

I turned, half-laughing, half-curious. “One what, sweetheart?”

And then…

“Mommy?”

The word came again, but this time it wasn’t Caden.

It was a voice from behind me. Firm. Deep.

I froze.

Slowly, my heart pounding against my ribs, I turned toward the sound.