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CHAPTER SEVEN

Leilani pov

Leilani’s heart pounded in her chest as she weaved her way through the airport terminal, her eyes frantically searching through the crowd.

"Aiden!" she called out, desperately her voice hitching, pulse racing and her ears straining for any sounds of her son's voice.

“Aiden!” she shouted again, her voice louder this time, the heavy noise of hurried travelers and announcements over the PA system cutting through her own voice .

Where was he?

Panic clawed at her chest. The airport was a large ocean of people, it had never been this large before but now it seemed to be all she could see around her.

She had heard him first, that familiar cry that made her blood freeze, sending her running .

She pushed past the sea of strangers, her breath coming out in short gasps,

Where was he? How could she have lost sight of him, even for a moment? Christ what was wrong with her, loosing control just because she was back in London.

“Aiden!” she shouted again, her voice cracking.

Then she heard it again—a small voice calling out her name from a distance.

" Mommy" She turned, eyes wide, scanning the area as her gaze landed on a small figure in the crowd, his hand waving excitedly in her direction.

Relief washed over her, and without thinking, she sprinted toward him, her feet barely touching the ground.

“Aiden!” she cried, as she dropped to her knees, pulling him into her arms. He relaxed into her arms hugging her back with just as much enthusiasm.

“Mommy!” Aiden squealed, his face lighting up as she smothered his cheeks with kisses, her hands running through his hair, checking him over to make sure he was safe.

“Oh my God, Aiden, you scared me,” she whispered, her voice shaking as she clung to him.

“Don’t run off like that again.” she hissed pulling away , Aiden looked up at her with wide, innocent eyes, so like his father's his small hands gripping her jacket.

“I’m sorry, Mommy,” he mumbled, his voice shaking

" I just wanted to see the planes.”

Leilani let out a shaky breath, her hand gently brushing through his dark hair.

“It’s okay, baby I'm not mad. Just stay close, okay?”

"I'm so glad you're back " she breathed, her voice trembling. Her heart hadn't slowed still beating like a drum.

She kissed him again, but as she pulled back, her eyes lifted, —and she froze.

Standing there, only a few feet away, was a man she had not expected to see , not yet and definitely not this soon.

Gustin Winchester.

Her ex-husband.

Her heart seemed to stop, the world around her coming to a halt as her eyes locked on him. For a brief moment, everything else—the bustling crowd, the noise of the airport, even her son in her arms—faded into the background.

And her heart, which had just started to settle from the panic of losing sight of Aiden, now thundered in her chest for a completely different reason.

Leilani felt her breath catch in her throat, he hadn’t changed much, he was still tall and imposing, his dark hair slightly longer than she remembered, even in the casual clothes he wore. His dark hair , framed his sharp blue eyes staring at her with a mixture of disbelief, shock and something else she couldn’t quite place.

She hadn’t seen him in years, hadn’t spoken to him since the day she left. What were the chances that she would have run into him here, of all places and now of all times?

He was staring at her as well, he couldn't seem to take his eyes off her .

“Leilani,” Gustin said, his voice deep, familiar, and as commanding as it had always been. She flinched slightly at the sound of her name on his lips, as she realized she had been staring at him frozen in place.

“Gustin,” she managed to say, her voice barely a whisper as she stood up, still holding Aiden’s hand.

Gustin’s gaze flickered downward. His eyes landed on Aiden, still clinging to her side, his little arms wrapped around her waist.

The moment stretched between them, Gustin’s eyes shifted from her to Aiden, and Leilani could see the wheels turning in his mind, the way his gaze lingered on the him—on their son. He walked closer to her

“Is he your son?” he asked, his voice low,

The question, though expected, hit her like a punch to the gut. Leilani swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry.

She started to speak, but no words came out. Her throat felt tight, but she couldn’t lie, not when Aiden was standing right there, not when it was so painfully obvious, all she could do was nod.

Gustin’s jaw clenched, his hand flexing at his side as he turned away slightly, his eyes darkening as he tried to keep his emotions in check

Leilani wanted to say something, to explain, but the words wouldn’t come and just when she thought she couldn’t feel more pressured, she heard another voice—one that sent her stomach into free fall.

“Leilani!”

Her blood ran cold as she turned to see her sister, Ella hurrying toward her, a look of confusion on her face. And just behind her, holding her hand, was her daughter, Allison skipping along, behind her.

Leilani’s face paled. Of all the times… for her two worlds to collide in the worst possible way. Her sister’s presence was the last thing she needed right now.

“Mom!” Allison called, waving her free hand excitedly as they approached.

“Look, we found you!”

She turned back to Gustin, panic rising in her chest as his expression shifted from anger to something else—confusion, disbelief—as he took in the sight of Ella and Allison walking towards them .

Every step her sister took was like a slow-motion car crash, one she couldn’t stop or avoid, bringing her closer to the truth,

“Mommy!”

Allison' s small voice cut through the crowded room,

“What are you doing here?” Ella hissed

“I was looking for you,” she muttered as they joined them

" You could have called to say you found him" she muttered scolding her then she looked up and cursed

" Shit "

" Ella" Leilani urged and her sister swallowed

“I didn’t realize we had company.” she mumbled apologetically

" Aunty Ella look Daddy" Aiden , mumbled

" Right" she huffed, breathing slightly,

" I think we'll leave you both to talk" Ella muttered dragging the children away despite their protest.

" Two of them" Gustin muttered, his eyes flashing with rage.

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