Always, Julie. I’ll always be there for you, no matter what

Every step I took towards the mansion where my son was seemed an echo of the frantic beating of my heart, that place was heavily protected and that was a sign that I really had something precious stored there. Being so close to seeing my son again after so long was a gigantic mix of emotions. Jordan, with his courage and some connections, got help from an informant within my father’s organization, who would open the gates and take us to a safe place where we could at least glimpse Drew from afar. It was intoxicating. I was accompanied by my friends Bella, Ryan and Sophie, as well as Jordan, and entered the luxurious mansion located in a gated community in Canada. Each of us were undercover, trying to blend in between the employees and security guards who patrolled the site. That was indeed a risky and dangerous task, if John knew that he would never see my boy again, but the only way to get to Drew without arousing suspicion.

Jordan’s informant led us to the backyard, where we supposedly found Drew. Mine faltered for a moment, I felt blood pumping in my ears, my heart beating so hard that it seemed to want to escape from my chest. I was so anxious, nervous and full of fear of what might happen at that moment. Jordan held my hand, looked at him and took a deep breath as I received his encouraging look. As we reached the garden, I abruptly stopped to glimpse a small being, a little boy playing with his toys in a corner. I felt everything around me rotate, everything that was next to me disappeared at that exact moment, my heart took a leap of joy to immediately recognize him as my Drew. There he was, my baby, my son, so close and yet so far away from me.

"It’s him," I whispered to Jordan, my voice charged with emotion. He shook my hand tightly, sharing the same emotional intensity.

"Are you sure, Julie? Is that our son?" I heard his voice come out full of hope.

"Yes, it’s your son," I looked at him, crying "Our son, Jordan." I said in tears and turned my gaze to the boy ahead.

We get closer, being hidden in the shadows to avoid being seen. We watched Drew play, his childish laugh was so hot, it was so full of life that it filled the air and warmed my heart. For a moment, I forgot all the pain and suffering I had felt and faced in the last two years, focusing only on the joy of seeing him again. But like a cold water bath upon me, the cruel reality struck me again with its cruel force. We could not just go to him and take him in our arms, kiss him and smell him, we had to be content to see him from afar, without being able to touch or comfort him. It was torture for a mother to see that, but it was the price I had to pay to keep Drew safe until I could actually get him back. As we watched, a wave of nostalgia and sadness invaded me. I remembered the precious moments I had with my little one, when he was in my belly, and after he was born, moments that, even if he did not remember, was something shared between us before we were forcibly separated, and I wished I could go back in time. Correct all the mistakes that led us to this situation, I could have fled that place before it happened.

"Jordan, I miss him so much," I muttered, tears streaming freely down my face, he wrapped me in a comforting embrace, sharing my pain.

"I know, Julie. And I wanted so much to meet you, you have no idea," Jordan said as he admired Drew from afar. "We’ll get him out of here, I promise you admire" he said firmly.

I wanted to believe Jordan’s words, but I knew the road ahead would be so long and difficult. However, as I looked at my son playing innocently from a distance, I promised myself that I would do anything to have him back in my arms, where he belonged. And so, even with a heavy heart of pain and uncertainty, I kept alive the flame of hope that one day we would finally be reunited as a family again.

Time seemed frozen as we watched Drew play in the garden, but we soon realized it was time to leave before another employee discovered our presence there. Reluctantly, I accepted Bella’s hand and left the place, taking with me the comforting image of my son.

*Hours later*

When we returned to the motel, an avalanche of emotions hit me with overwhelming force. What I just witnessed in the gardens of that mansion watching my little one without me, playing surrounded by my father’s bodyguards, only intensified the pain and anger that had been consuming my heart since Drew was taken from my arms. I took a deep breath, trying to contain the tears that threatened to overflow at any moment. But it was useless. As soon as I found myself alone in the room, the tears came with an overwhelming intensity, tearing my heart completely torn. How I hated my father, how I hated that man who had stolen the joy of motherhood from me. I didn’t have my little one in my arms because of him. My baby didn’t even know I existed. The pain was so unbearable, a weight that seemed to crush my soul. Feeling Jordan approached silently from behind and wrapped me in a comforting embrace. His words of consolation were a relief and comfort to me, even though I knew that they could not quickly heal the wounds that had spread inside me.

"Julie, my love, I’m here, and I’m as hurt as you are," murmured Jordan, his voice choked by emotion. " I’ll even move hell to bring our son back."

I clung to him tightly, sobbing uncontrollably, letting all my sorrows and frustrations pour into a sea of tears. It was a temporary relief from the pain that burned inside me, but I knew the scars would be deep and lasting.

"Promise, Jordan," I whispered, my voice trembling with the intensity of my emotion. " Promise me we’ll bring him back, no matter what." He squeezed me even more in his arms, looking into my eyes and making silent promises between us like an invisible link.

"I promise, Julie, and nothing will stop us. I will bring Drew back home where he belongs." For a brief moment, it allowed me to believe Jordan’s comforting words, allowed me to glimpse a future where Drew would be back in our arms. But the hole in my chest, the emptiness that a son’s love should fill, kept throbbing, a constant reminder of the pain that consumed me.

At that moment, I was clinging to Jordan’s comforting arms, my head resting on his chest and I knew I wasn’t alone. And as the world out there continued to spin in its dance of chaos and sorrow, we both stood together, united by the love we shared and the determination to bring our son back home. The hours dragged slowly as we recovered from the emotional shock of that day. Jordan stood beside me, holding my hand, taking quiet care and comforting me with his silent presence. His support was my anchor, always, and that was holding me steady in the storm of emotions that threatened to consume me.

"Thank you for being here with me," I muttered, knowing that my words could barely express the depth of my love for him.

"Always, Julie. I’ll always be there for you, no matter what." He smiled kindly, his eyes reflecting all the love and understanding he felt for me.

And at that moment, surrounded by Jordan’s love, I found a little flame of hope. I knew the road ahead would be difficult and full of challenges, but while I had Jordan by my side, I knew we could overcome any obstacle that came our way.