章節 9: Episode Nine: Echoes of Recognition

The day unfolded with an unexpected turn of events as Ava received an order to deliver a bouquet of roses to the nearby international hotel hosting a global conference. Unbeknownst to her, this task would lead to a confrontation with her past—a past she had tried to bury deep within the petals of time.

As Ava arrived at the hotel, anticipation filled her heart. Little did she know that fate had woven a moment of recognition and sorrow into the tapestry of her life. Andrew, now a successful businessman, was present at the conference, poised to receive the very bouquet Ava had been tasked with delivering.

Annoyance crept into Ava's demeanor as she was informed that she had to wait, the conference taking longer than expected. Her impatience was soon replaced by surprise and disbelief when a familiar little figure approached her. Little Lucas, recognizing her despite the black mask and basketball cap, hugged her with a sense of familiarity that touched Ava's heart.

"Are you married?" Lucas asked with hopeful eyes. Ava, her heart burdened with sorrow, softly replied, "No." The little boy, filled with enthusiasm, requested her to be his mother because he lacked one. The request echoed with the pain of Ava's own unfulfilled role as a mother. Overwhelmed by emotions, she hugged the little boy, finding solace in his innocent presence.

Lucas's attention soon shifted as Andrew emerged from the conference room, calling for his son. Breaking the hug, Ava was instructed to give the bouquet to the approaching man. A mixture of emotions played on her face—a smile that held the echoes of the past, grief that lingered in her eyes, and the realization that the man before her was none other than Andrew, the love of her life.

Andrew, oblivious to Ava's identity, felt an odd familiarity in her broken voice. Before he could delve into the thought, Lucas exclaimed, "This is my Mommy, daddy!" Shock and confusion gripped Andrew as he was freed from holding Ava. He corrected Lucas, stating that his mommy was back at home—a reference to his grandmother who had taken care of him since birth.

Ava, unaware of the familial dynamics, felt her heart shatter. Without looking back, she bowed her head and left the place. Lucas, filled with sadness, wept and expressed his desire for a real mom, emphasizing that he wanted the specific lady as his mother. Andrew, thinking his son was throwing a tantrum, ignored his pleas and carried him away from the scene.

Meanwhile, heartbroken and defeated, Ava retreated to her apartment. Bursting into tears, she sought solace in her old ultrasound pictures and the unsent letters she had written to Andrew over the years which she never had the courage to post. With a sad smile, she gazed at the images and spoke to the unborn child she had lost.

"Baby, hang in there. Mommy will find you. Though daddy is now happy and has a new family, Mommy only has you. I will never stop searching for you!"

The echoes of a past love, entangled in the threads of fate, lingered in the tear-stained apartment. Ava's determination to find her lost child remained unyielding, while Andrew, unknowingly tangled in the web of emotions, faced the complexities of a present shaped by unexpected encounters and unresolved history. The tapestry of their entangled lives continued to unfold, revealing the layers of pain, recognition, and the haunting whispers of what could have been.