Chapter 4: Back
Charlotte and Isabella landed at the airport, their journey to X City marking a new beginning for them. As they walked towards the pick-up area, Charlotte's eyes scanned the crowd, searching for her best friend, Alice Barker. She knew that Alice would be there, ready to welcome them with open arms.
Isabella tugged on Charlotte's hand, her little voice filled with urgency. "Mom, I need to use the bathroom."
Charlotte smiled and nodded. "Alright, Bella. Let's find the restroom first, and then we'll meet Aunt Alice."
They made their way to the restroom, and Charlotte waited outside as Isabella went in. Taking out her phone, Charlotte sent a quick text to Alice, informing her of their whereabouts and suggesting they meet near the toilets instead. It would save them time and make it easier to reunite.
Meanwhile, not far from Charlotte, David caught a glimpse of a familiar figure. His heart skipped a beat as he thought he saw Charlotte Evans among the bustling crowd. Confusion and anger filled him, memories of their failed marriage flooding his mind. Determined to confront her, he started making his way towards the figure, only to be distracted by his son, Arthur, who had just arrived with David's secretary to pick him up from his business trip.
"Dad!" Arthur called out to his father, excited to see him after his time away. David's attention shifted, and he turned to greet his son, momentarily forgetting about the figure he had seen. The thought of Charlotte and the pain she had caused him and Arthur resurfaced, but he dismissed it as mere jet lag, attributing the sighting to his exhausted state.
On Charlotte's end, Alice finally spotted them and made her way over, a wide smile on her face. "Charlotte! Isabella! I've missed you both so much!"
Charlotte returned the smile, grateful for Alice's presence in her life. They embraced warmly, their friendship reignited in that moment. Alice's enthusiasm overflowed as she expressed her excitement about finally meeting Isabella.
"Little Isabella, I've heard so much about you! You've grown so much since the last time I saw you," Alice exclaimed, ruffling Isabella's hair affectionately. "How about we celebrate your arrival by going out for dinner? I know a great restaurant nearby."
Isabella's eyes lit up with excitement at the thought of eating out, as they rarely did so. "Can we, Mom? Can we go out to eat?"
Charlotte chuckled and nodded. "Of course, sweetheart. Let's have a special dinner to celebrate our arrival."
With that, Alice helped them with their luggage, placing it carefully in her car. As they drove to the restaurant, laughter and conversation filled the air. It was a moment of joy and catch-up chit-chat, with Isabella eagerly sharing stories of her adventures and Alice updating them on the happenings in X City.
They arrived at the restaurant, a cozy and welcoming place that Alice had chosen specifically for their return. The aroma of delicious food filled the air, whetting their appetites. As they settled into their seats, their laughter and conversation continued, filling the space with warmth and companionship.
However, halfway through their conversation, Charlotte's phone rang. It was Dr. Peter, and she excused herself to take the call outside. As she stepped out, her heart skipped a beat when she saw David sitting near the window inside the restaurant. Panic washed over her, and she quickly dialed Alice's number.
"We need to go," Charlotte whispered urgently. Alice, sensing the urgency in her friend's voice, was quick to respond. "What's wrong? Why are you whispering?"
"David is here. I'm near the car. I don't want to risk him seeing me when I go back in," Charlotte explained in a hushed tone, her panic evident.
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Alice instructed the waiter to bring the bill and pack the food to go. Isabella, sensing her Aunts unease, remained calm and obedient, not wanting to cause any trouble.
Within minutes, Charlotte and Isabella were safely inside Alice's car, leaving behind the restaurant and the potential confrontation with David. The tension in the car was palpable. As Alice drove them away from the scene, the three of them shared a silent understanding. Charlotte held Isabella's hand tightly, finding solace in her daughter's presence.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone