Chapter 101 Unwanted Visitor
Mia's POV
"Do you know how to cut hair?" Liam asked casually, like I was just another employee in the salon and nothing more.
His voice was calm. Too calm. As if we were strangers.
"No. I'm just an assistant," I answered, keeping my tone professional while trying my best not to look at him. If I met his eyes, I knew my resolve would weaken.
"Oh," he said lightly. "What if I ask you to do it for me?"
My hands froze for a second. Was he teasing me? Testing me? Or just trying to find a reason to talk?
"And then what?" I replied before I could stop myself. "File a complaint against me if you're not satisfied?"
I finally looked at him.
His expression changed immediately. The teasing look disappeared, replaced by something softer. Something hurt.
"I would never do that," he said quietly.
For a moment, I almost believed him. Almost.
"Well," I forced myself to say, even though my chest felt tight, "rich people love making jokes about people like me. As if we don't have feelings."
The words came out sharper than I intended. I instantly regretted them. I didn't want to sound bitter. I didn't want to sound hurt, but I was.
I had promised myself I would stay away from him. I had promised I would keep things simple and professional ti avoid getting hurt all over again.
Yet here I was, standing too close, talking too much.
"Just wait here," I said quickly before he could respond. "The stylist in charge will be here soon."
Without giving him another chance to speak, I turned around and walked back toward my small office at the back of the salon. I didn't even greet Daniel. I couldn't.
Part of me wanted to be angry at Daniel for telling Liam where I worked. But the foolish part was still happy that Liam came.
"Why are you hiding back here, Mia?" Josh asked, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed.
"I'm not hiding," I replied, though my voice gave me away.
"It was obvious Liam came here to see you," Josh said.
I let out a small laugh. "He doesn't need to come here if he wants to see me. We see each other every day at school. We share most of the same classes."
The bitterness in my voice surprised even me.
Josh looked at me carefully, but thankfully, he didn't push the topic.
"I won't be working tomorrow," I said, changing the subject quickly. "I know it's one of your busiest days, and I'm sorry. But I need to see my sister. It's her birthday."
Josh's posture softened immediately.
"You're going to see your family?" he asked gently.
I nodded. "I've been trying to call my mom for days. She hasn't returned any of my calls. But I still want to try. I want to see Leah."
Josh sighed. "It's fine. I don't mind you taking the day off. But I wish you told me earlier." He paused before adding, "I'll drive you."
I smiled gratefully. "You don't have to. I can take the train."
"Mia," he said firmly, "this is the first time you're going to that place. What if you get lost? What if you can't find the address?"
"I know how to use the map on my phone," I said lightly. "I have data. I'll be fine."
He shook his head. "No. I'm coming with you. I want to meet your sister too." That made my chest warm.
"Me too," I whispered. "But I'm not even sure if I'll get to see Leah. My mom hasn't answered any of my calls."
For a second, fear crept into my heart. What if they didn't want to see me? What if I was no longer part of their world?
Josh stepped closer and gently squeezed my shoulder.
"You'll see your sister," he said with confidence. "Don't lose hope."
I nodded, blinking back the tears that threatened to fall. And I was grateful that for once, he didn't mention Liam. Because if he had, I wasn't sure I could pretend to be strong anymore.
“Are you ready?” Josh asked the next morning.
His voice was gentle, careful, as if he was afraid I might change my mind.
“Yes… I’m ready,” I replied, even though my hands were already shaking as I fastened my seatbelt.
The truth was, I wasn’t ready at all.
The entire drive felt longer than usual. I kept rubbing my palms against my jeans because they were sweating. My heart would not calm down. I kept asking myself the same question over and over.
What if she refuses to see me?
What if she tells the guard to send me away?
What if… she looks at me like I am nothing?
When Josh finally slowed the car down, I looked up.
In front of us stood a massive gated house. The tall black iron gates were decorated with golden details. The walls were high. The place looked more like a private mansion than a home.
My chest tightened.
“Hey,” Josh said softly. “You’ll be okay.”
He reached for my hand and squeezed it gently before stepping out of the car to open the door for me like he always did.
Before I could even take two steps forward, the gate slowly opened. A uniformed security guard walked toward us with a serious expression on his face.
“Good day. What business do you have here at Green’s residence, Ma’am? Sir?” he asked politely but firmly.
My throat suddenly felt dry.
“Hello… I’m looking for Helen Green,” I said, trying to sound confident even though my voice trembled.
“Do you have an appointment?” he asked.
“No,” I admitted.
“I’m sorry, but I cannot allow you to enter without an appointment.”
“Can you please tell her that Mia Villaruiz is here to see her?” I asked quickly, afraid he would walk away.
He hesitated. "I’m sorry, Miss…”
“Please,” I begged, my voice cracking. “I really need to talk to her. Just call her. I’ll be very grateful. Please.”
For a second, I saw something soften in his expression.
“Alright,” he said. “But I can’t guarantee that she’ll see you.”
I nodded. I had prepared myself for this moment, but it still hurt. My own mother might refuse to see me. She left me without looking back. She never called. She never asked if I was okay. Not once.
The guard returned to his small booth and used the intercom. From where I stood, I could see him speaking, nodding slowly. After a few seconds, he put the phone down and walked back toward us.
“She said you may wait inside at the pavilion located in the garden,” he said. “But you must leave the car outside. Only you may enter.”
Relief and fear mixed inside my chest.
“Thank you so much,” I said sincerely.
“I’ll wait here,” Josh told me quietly when I looked at him.
He gave me that same reassuring smile he always gave whenever I felt like breaking.
I nodded and walked inside alone.
The moment I stepped through the gate, I froze.
The garden was breathtaking. The grass was perfectly trimmed. The flowers were blooming in bright colors—pink, white, red, purple. There were tall trees placed carefully around a stone pathway. In the center stood a beautiful white pavilion.
It looked like something from a fairy tale. For a brief second, I forgot my pain.
So this is where they live now. My mother and my siblings.
They were living in a world so different from mine. While I was working double shifts and struggling to pay tuition, they were living in luxury.
I swallowed the lump in my throat.
Before I could take another step—
“What the hell are you doing here, Mia?”
I flinched before I slowly turned around.
And there she was.
My mom.
She looked beautiful. Her dress was elegant. Her hair was styled perfectly. She looked nothing like the tired woman I remembered from years ago.
But her eyes were cold.
“Mom…” I whispered. “Aren’t you happy to see me?”
Her face tightened.
“You need to leave. Right now before my husband sees you.”
Her words felt like knives.
“I just want to see Leah and Seth,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “And of course… I want to see you.”
My hands were shaking. I hated that she could see how weak I was.
“This is not the time for us to talk,” she said sharply. “If you still care about us, you need to go.”
Still care about us?
“I’m your daughter,” I whispered.
She avoided my eyes.
“Mia, please don’t make this harder than it already is.”
“Harder for who? I waited years,” I said, my voice trembling now. “Years, Mom. I thought maybe one day you would call. Or ask how I was doing. I thought maybe you missed me.”
She looked uncomfortable. Almost annoyed.
“You don’t understand the situation,” she said.
“Then help me understand,” I begged.
But instead of softening, her expression became firm.
“You need to leave before he sees you. If my husband finds out you came here unannounced, it will cause problems.”
“So I’m a problem?” I asked quietly.
She didn’t answer.
That silence hurt more than anything.
I had imagined this moment so many times. I thought she would hug me. I thought she would cry. I thought she would say she was sorry.
But instead, she was afraid of me being seen.
“I just wanted to see my siblings,” I said softly. “Just once.”
Her jaw tightened.
“It’s better if you don’t.” That was the final blow.
I stood there, in the middle of her beautiful garden, feeling smaller than ever. I felt like I didn’t belong in her world. Like I was some unwanted visitor.
Tears blurred my vision, but I refused to let them fall in front of her.
“I see,” I whispered.
I waited for her to stop me, hoping she would change her mind and call my name the way she used to. But she didn’t. So I turned around and walked away, my heart breaking all over again.
When I reached the gate, I saw Josh immediately get out of the car. He didn’t ask questions. He just opened his arms. And that was when I finally broke.