I Missed You

I Missed You
NOVA

Everything that was happening was like a big dream. My life's dream was coming true, and I felt so happy in a way I had never been before. Ella wouldn't understand how I was feeling, and to be honest, I regretted reconciling her with my dad.

Her parents were together, and if I were in her shoes and trying to come between her mother and father, she would have made a big deal out of it and probably let the whole world know about it. So she ought to understand that I wanted my family to be together.

I'd seen my dad suffer for years, from when I was a child to when I grew up and understood what was happening. He had mourned the loss of my mom for such a long time. Now that she was back, they had to rekindle whatever they had in the past, and probably he would get married to her, and we'd be one big family.

This was what I wanted, but Ella wanted to ruin it. However, I put her in her place. My dad didn't disappoint me also. He was the best father in the world. He had been so amazing in the past few days, and I was so happy.

I hadn't seen Ella in school for a few days, but I couldn't care less. She could have jumped into the lagoon for all I cared. My mom, too, was very happy to be reunited with us. I could see it in her eyes. Most times, she shed tears of joy from just staring at me. It was the best time of my life, and we were happy and having fun as one big family.

The next week was full of nothing but bliss. There was no Ella, and my dad and my mom drew closer. We all bonded, went shopping together, and cooked together. It was amazing.

Although I noticed that my dad did not really spend so much time with my mom because he was always going to work and all, he was very nice to her.

I believed that in no time, they were going to grow closer as a couple. The important thing was that Ella was no longer in the picture.

I began to think about where she could be. I mean, she hadn't been in school for a week. Although we didn't have much to do during this week, she had still missed a few classes.

But then again, it was better for me; no Ella, no worries. I came back home after a week of having my mom back and noticed that she wasn't looking as happy as she usually did.

"What is the problem, Mom?" I asked.

She sighed, "Well, I miss your dad. I spent all my life thinking about him. I held onto the memories we had in the past, and I wish we could go back to the way we used to be.

But, I think your dad is holding back. I would like to stay in his room because that will make us get closer, but it seems your dad still thinks about that girl, that other girl, what was her name?... Ella. He still thinks about her."

I smiled and said, "Don't worry, Mom. Forget about that. Is this why you're sad? Dad would do anything for me, so when he comes back, I'll just tell him to let you move into his room. He will do that.

In fact, let me move your things into his room right now. When he comes back, I will tell him I want both of you to stay in the same room. Trust me, Dad will give his consent."

"Really?" My mom's eyes lit up, and she became so happy.

Of course, I understood her. How could I not understand when I had once been in the same shoes with Aiden? When he wouldn't make the initiative, back then, I thought it was because he was shy. But in my dad's case, I knew he was honest with his feelings.

So, of course, he probably felt something for Ella, but if he gave my mother a chance, he would forget about Ella and rekindle the love they once had for each other.

When my dad came back, my mom and I were sitting on the couch waiting for him. I excitedly got up and hugged him. He smiled at me lovingly, but he also stared at my mom and smiled at her.

I said, "Dad, I have a surprise for you."

"What's the surprise?" He asked.

I smiled and looked at my mom briefly, "Well, I've moved Mom's things to your room because I want you both to get closer. Please let her stay in your room. I just want the both of you to be together in the same room."

My dad smiled at me, then turned to stare at my mom. My mom was smiling expectantly at him, and I thought he was going to say, "Alright, let's do it," because that was my dad, you know, but then he said, "Enough with the act already."

LUCAS

Both Nova and her mom stared at me in shock. They weren't expecting me to say what I said, but it was time.

Nova got up and asked, "What are you trying to say, Dad? What do you mean by 'enough with the act already'?"

My dad said, "Your mom knows what I'm talking about. Mrs. Nova cut out the act. Okay, I know your game and I've understood everything you're trying to do."

Tears began to fall from my ex's eyes, as she said, "What... what are you talking about, Lucas? Listen, even if the world accuses me, I can bear it. But if you act this way with me, Lucas, I won't be able to survive it.

More than anyone else, shouldn't you know how much you mean to me? Don't you know how much I love you? How can you say such things to me?"

I scoffed, and Nova kept staring at me in surprise, unable to believe the way I was acting because it was in contrast to how I had acted in the past few days. I had been loving and caring toward her mom.

"Could it be Ella? Nova asked me. "Yes, it must be Ella. She may have called you and said something to you. Dad, Ella must be trying to mess with your head because she doesn't want you to be with Mom."

"C'mon, Nova," I said.

"No, I will not listen," Nova cried. "You cannot accuse my mom falsely. Listen, Dad, Mom has been through a lot. This is our chance to be together as a family. Why are you allowing Ella to come between us? We all know that Ella lied. You even saw it that day, which was why you sent her away."

"No," I shook my head. "Ella did not lie, and that was not the reason why I sent her away. Hold on, Nova, let me show you something."

Nova folded her arms, and she was staring at me angrily, which was surprising because I had never seen her look at me in such a way.

I took a flash drive from my bag and connected it to the TV. When I turned it on, Nova began to watch it. Her mom also stood up, and they both stared at the screen in surprise.

It played for almost an hour. After that, Nova turned and stared at her mom in surprise and asked, "Mom...?"

I said, "Yes, this is who she is. You know what? That morning when Ella came to this house and overheard her conversation after she left, Ella called me. I asked her to come over to my office, and she told me everything.

After listening, I believed her because c'mon, I love Ella, and there is no love without trust. When you love someone, you trust them. I knew Ella wasn't lying to me, so my plan was to come back home and throw this gold digger out of my house.

But Ella told me not to do so because she was thinking about you, Nova. Ella was worried that if I acted in that way, our relationship was going to be strained. She knew that we had a very good relationship as father and daughter. She didn't want that to be ruined, so she gave me an advice.

She said she was going to pretend to come over here, call out your mom, expose her evil plans, and then I would take your mom's side and kick her out.

She would take the opportunity and travel because she had been wanting to see her grandparents for a while. While I can use the opportunity and gather enough evidence against this woman here.

Yes, I planted cameras all over the house. During the time when we went out shopping, I had people come out to fix cameras everywhere, and all her phone calls, as you've seen on TV, I was able to capture them.

I also did a little digging into her background. Do you know what this bitch did throughout the period she was with me when we were much younger? She regretted being pregnant for a broke-ass guy like me.

Then, when someone reached out to her, promising to make her an actress and give her a much better life, your mom agreed to fake her death. She knew how much I loved her and that it would be difficult to part with her, so she faked her death.

Everything was done with her plan. She went to Australia, for a better life away from me and she lived glamorously there. Since I wasn't someone who watched movies or paid attention to entertainment, I didn't realize she had become a small-time actress.

She also changed her name, so I never even got to find out that she was still alive. Eventually, she got married, and then she had three children.

That was years later, but eventually, everything turned out badly for her. Her career is dead and her husband is now very poor. They greedily invested in the wrong business and lost everything.

And do you know what she thought of? She thought of crawling back here. To do what? To swindle enough money from us. Your mom has been aware of your existence for years, but she never showed up.

The only reason why she came back was to take as much money as she could back to her family in Australia. Everything she has been doing was an act, and if it weren't for Ella, we would not have realized what she was up to."

Nova stared at me in surprise. She turned and stared at her mom. "How could you? How could you do that, Mom?"

Her mom walked closer and said, "Please listen to me, Nova. It's not what it seems."

But Nova pushed her. "Don't even dare! Don't touch me! Because of you, I would have turned my back on my father, on Lucas Keeler, the man who means the world to me.

You are not worth it. You know what? I don't even want to set my eyes on you ever again."

After speaking, Nova went into my room where she had taken her mother's things and packed them. She threw them outside and yelled, "Get out of here! I never want to see you again!"

Her mom still wanted to beg, but Nova pushed her out of the door and locked it. She threw herself in my arms and cried, while I did my best to console her.

"It's okay, baby. Stop crying. Do not worry. Everything will be fine."

As she cried, she said, "I thought I had gotten my mom back but that woman is a devil who played with my feelings and I hate her. Ella is the reason why we still have a good relationship, Dad. I treated her so badly, and I feel..."

"No, no, do not say that." I interrupted her. "It's fine. You saw your mom after so many years, and you trusted her. You did not do anything wrong, and I'm sure Ella understands this."

Nova asked, "So, have you and Ella been in contact?"

"Of course," I replied. "Ella and I speak almost every day. I mean, I'd go crazy if I don't talk to her. I know she's back, though, but she says she wants to give me some time because she knows that you'd be going through a lot now that you've discovered your mom's tricks.

She wants me to spend time caring for you before I can meet with her."

Nova shook her head.

"I guess I misunderstood Ella all this time," she said to herself.

ELLA

I returned from my trip a day ago, and everything had gone smoothly, as I wanted. My grandparents were happy to have me, and I was happy.

Lucas called me last night to tell me about how he exposed Nova's mom and that Nova had personally kicked her out of the house. I felt pity for Nova, but I was happy.

I knew it was a matter of time before I'd get to see Lucas, but I was able to wait so Nova could have her time with him, and they could sort out whatever misunderstanding they may have had.

I was surprised when I saw Nova's call that morning. I thought she would be grieving the departure of her mom. I was happy when I saw her call.

I picked it up and said, "Nova?"

"Hi, Ella. Mmh.....I just want us to meet," Nova said.

"Of course, I can make time for you. I mean, today is Saturday, and I'm not going anywhere," I replied.

Nova and I agreed to meet somewhere, and she said she would come to my place.

She met me in front of my gate, and when I came out to see her, she said, "I want to apologize to you, Ella. I disregarded your feelings, and I treated you harshly, but then you considered my feelings and helped me to expose the imposter, the evil woman who came into my life pretending to be my mother. Thank you for everything.

I've realized that I misjudged and misunderstood you. In all honesty, my Dad did not make a mistake when he found you, as I thought. You're good for him, and I'm happy that it's you my Dad chose to be with."

I could not believe it. I was so happy. I kept staring at Nova as she pulled me closer and hugged me.

"Welcome to the family, Ella," she said.

"Are you really Nova or someone else?" I asked.

She smiled. "My Dad is at home. He's not expecting you but, would you like to go and see him?"

"Oh, my God!!! Yes," I said. "I have missed him so much."

"You can go and see him now. I'm sure he'd be pleasantly surprised to see you."

"Thank you...thank you so much," I said to Nova. Without bothering to change my clothes, I quickly grabbed my keys, got into my car, and drove straight to Lucas's house.

The moment I drove into the compound, Lucas came out of his house and saw me. He was so surprised. "Ella? Oh, baby! Are you really the one or am I dreaming?"

"Nova asked me to come," I replied. I ran to him and he opened his arms and hugged me tightly.

"I missed you so much," he said.

"I missed you too," I replied.

He stared at me. I wanted to say something else. I mean, I had a few lines I had prepared for this special moment, but Lucas sealed my lips with a kiss and did not give me an opportunity to say them. He let me go when I was out of my breath and swooped me off my feet.

"I stared at him with a smile, "What are you up to now, Mr. Lucas Keeler?"

"Well, I have a few tricks up my sleeve," he replied. "And I would like to show them to you."

"Then what are you waiting for?" I asked.

Lucas joined our lips together as he happily carried me into his house.

THE END