Chapter 468 – Beginning with a Daring Encounter

It was safe to say that Aaron’s world had come crashing down around him when he read that letter. His life never remained the same after that experience.

Disregarding all she had said in the letter, he tried to find her in the weeks and months that followed, but all his effort had been futile. It was as though she had disappeared into thin air.

He had later found out from one of the models Sara had been close to that she had pleaded with one of the supermodels who often came to his studio to hook her up with her agent some months earlier, and they had agreed that she move to Milan after she puts to birth.

Regardless of his discovery he had found a way to reach her through the supermodel and when he did, he begged her desperately not to abandon him and their baby. He had assured her that she could be married to him and still pursue her career, that he would support her in every way even if it meant moving to wherever she was.

She had told him plainly that she wasn’t interested in him or the baby. She was never coming back, so he should move on and never bother her again.

That had been the eyeopener he needed to understand that Sara had been using him the whole time. And she had only agreed to keep the pregnancy so that she would not be stranded.

He had wept, not for the loss of his money or for the trust she had broken along with his heart which was now completely shattered beyond repair. He had wept instead for his newborn child, who had lost his twin sister and had now lost his mother.

He had wept for his newborn son, who had been unfortunate enough to come through a stupid father like him. A father who had been dumb enough to have blindly fallen for someone like Sara and had chosen such a mother for him.

He would have been devastated had she stolen all he had and taken Harry with her when she left, but he still would have preferred she had done that instead of leaving behind such a fragile baby who not only needed his mother’s love and affection but also needed to suckle on his mother’s breast.

Growing up, he had always believed that growing up without a loving mother was way more difficult on a child than growing up without a father. He had always thought that every child needed a mother’s love.

Having lost his own mother at an early age, not because she died, but because she had abandoned him so she could get married without her partner knowing she was a single mother, he knew and understood what it felt like to be abandoned by one’s own mother.

He knew what it felt like to be picked on by other kids and how painful it had been for him to grow up with the knowledge that his own mother had not loved him enough to want him. She had been ashamed of him. And now he was broken because he had just subjected his own son to the same fate as he had faced.

How stupid could he have been not to have seen all the signs? He should have known that someone like Sara could never give up on her ambition. How could he have let himself be blinded by love?

Aaron wept as he looked down at his innocent baby boy, who was sleeping peacefully in his cot. He told himself that there was no time for regrets or to mourn. Sara had made her decision, and now he needed to step up to the responsibility he now had.

He resolved within himself to never let Harry be affected by his mother’s absence. He promised both himself and the sleeping infant that he would love him more than enough for two so that never in his life would he feel unloved or unwanted.

He promised himself that he would show Harry both the love of a father and a mother and would never let him know that his mother had abandoned him. That was the only way he believed his boy could grow into a happy and confident young man.

Having made that decision, he shut down his studio and sold off all he had. Taking the baby with him, he moved to a different place to start his life afresh.

A place where no one knew about him or Sara. And when anyone asked about his baby’s mother, he simply told them he was a widower who lost his wife while she was delivering their baby.

After being rejected by his mother and the one woman he had loved enough to get married to, Aaron had been unable to bring himself to get involved with another woman, so he had decided to raise his son himself.

*******

Celsie, who was still seated on the bed beside Aaron, watched with concern as he continued to move uncomfortably in his sleep while muttering Sara’s name at intervals.

Her eyes widened in alarm when he suddenly began to groan like he was in severe pain, and just as she got off the bed, wanting to go and get Harry, Aaron started speaking.

“Why Sara? Please don’t do this to us,” He cried, tears rolling down the side of his face, and she paused when she realized that his pain was more emotional than physical.

Us? Was he talking about himself and Harry? Did that mean Sara was Harry’s late mom too, and they had a daughter together? What happened to Harry’s sister? Celsie wondered as she returned to sit beside him.

Tears gathered in her eyes as she watched the sweet, cheerful man she had spoken with just the previous day cry in his sleep like a baby. Was he still so devastated by the loss of his wife? Was that why he never remarried? Was Harry aware of this?

She sat back, wondering what to do since she couldn’t possibly go and call Harry just because his father was crying and talking in his sleep.

“Harry, I’m sorry!” Aaron cried, and unable to bear his anguish anymore, Celsie rose from the bed and walked out of the bedroom. Seeing him this way was making her feel deeply sad, and she didn’t want her mood to be affected more than it already was.

As Celsie approached the living room, her steps faltered when she overheard Benne speaking, and she heard what he was saying, “I still think it’s best you find out who this Sara lady is that keeps calling him. Your father doesn’t need to know about it. If you feel too guilty about doing it, you don’t have to get involved, I could help you do it,” Benne offered, and Harry sighed as he shook his head.

“I don’t think I should do that. It would be the same as deceiving him or lying to him,” Harry said, and Benne raised a brow.

“Where is the lie in it? It’s not like he’s going to know anything about it. It’s only a lie if he asks you,” Benne pointed out, but Harry shook his head.

;

“It’s the same thing. Although it’s hard to ignore it, I really want to trust him that he will tell me about whatever is bothering him, so I will wait. I can only hope that I won’t regret the wait,” Harry said, making Celsie’s brows pull together in confusion.

Were they talking about the same Sara his father had been talking about in his sleep or was it someone else? She wondered. Deciding not to eavesdrop anymore, she made her presence known as she joined them.

“How is Aaron doing?” Benne asked as he glanced at his wristwatch.

“He is still asleep,” Celsie said without giving any details, and neither did she meet their gaze as she returned to her seat.

“We should leave now if we want to have dinner with Jamal,” Benne said, and Celsie almost sighed in relief as she quickly grabbed her handbag.

“Give my regards to Aaron when he wakes up. And if you change your mind, let me know,” Benne told Harry as he picked up his wineglass and gulped down the content.

“Don’t bother yourself about it. I won’t change my mind,” Harry said as he escorted them to the door.

“Thanks for coming, LuLu,” Harry said as he embraced Celsie after she slid her feet into her shoes, and she forced a smile.

“Give my love to Aaron, and tell him I will visit him another time,” Celsie said, and Harry gave her a nod.

“I will. By the way, Benne told me you overheard some employees insulting us. What are their names? And what department do they work in?” Harry asked, and Celsie glared at Benne, who was still putting on his shoes.

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