Chapter 12
Six Years Later – Santawill City Railway Station
As soon as Willow stepped out of the train station with her three sons, all heads turned.
The mother wore simple, comfortable clothes, no makeup…. yet her beauty was stunning. Every subtle expression, every slight movement carried a quiet elegance that made it impossible to look away.
Her children were equally eye–catching, Their adorable little faces peeked out from behind face masks, big round eyes gleaming like black pearls, lashes fluttering like butterfly wings. One blink and strangers were ready to hand over their hearts.
“Another ‘tricked into having babies‘ goddess story?!” someone whispered.
But Willow paid no attention to the stares. Standing at the station exit, she looked around at the familiar–yet–strange cityscape, a flood of memories rising within her.
Back then, Damien had thrown her under the bus with just one sentence… “Unfaithful woman.”
One brutal label, and the whole city turned on her.
A month later, she found out she was pregnant. The timing sealed the gossip, cemented the scandal. The rumors nearly drowned her.
Her adoptive parents were disgusted, not only because she brought shame, but also because she had lost all “value” in their eyes. They cut ties with her and kicked her out.
She knew the child in her womb belonged to that stranger… but still, she couldn’t bring herself to end the pregnancy.
Because that was her child. Her flesh and blood.
The baby had come to her, and she believed that meant fate had chosen her to be its mother. No matter how hard it got, she would carry it to term and raise it.
To protect her unborn child’s future from the stain of her own reputation, she left Santawill City behind and moved to the countryside.
Life as a pregnant woman on her own was hell.
The hardest part? Finding a job. No employer wanted to take a risk on someone who was clearly about to give birth.
But she had to work. She needed money.
She had to eat. She had to pay for hospital bills. She had to save for baby formula. For diapers. For school fees one
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day…
Eventually, she managed to land a job at a small restaurant. Desperate not to lose it, she worked harder than anyone, never missed a single shift. It was hard to manage a life with such a fast–paced economic and social crisis.
Her body paid the price.
Malnutrition, exhaustion, and overwork finally caught up with her. At nine months pregnant, she passed out on her way home from work.
And then…
When she woke up again, she was in the middle of a remote mountain village. Her newborns by her side.
To this day, she still had no idea what happened back then.
Who had performed the emergency C–section?
Who brought her and the babies deep into the mountains?
And why?
The man who saved them said he’d found her by chance. Said she looked pitiful, so he brought her back to his home.
That “home” became her safe haven… for five whole years.
Those five years were peaceful. Simple. Joyful. Safe.
She and the kids lived like wildflowers… untouched by the chaos of the world.
But children grow up. Fast.
Willow couldn’t ignore reality forever. She had to think about their education, their future.
The mountain was serene, but there was no one there except their savior. And once he passed on… the kids would be
alone.
She couldn’t let her children go through life without ever seeing the world. Without knowing how beautiful… or messy… it could be.
So she made the difficult decision to leave the mountain, said a tearful goodbye to their benefactor, and brought the boys down to civilization.
She hadn’t planned to return to Santawill City. Not after what happened six years ago. That wound hadn’t healed.
But when she tried to register the kids and apply for their official household status, she was hit with a bombshell…
Oh–ion
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She was still married.
What the hell?!
Back then, she was sure she had signed the divorce papers.
She couldn’t figure out what went wrong with the process, but that didn’t matter now… because the consequences had already arrived. Since she was still legally married, when she tried to register the children, Damien ‘s name automatically showed up in the “father” column.
And the Crawford family? They were powerful, proud, and definitely not the type to tolerate scandal. Damien didn’t even like her. There was no way he’d want to play daddy to her kids.
So before she could give the boys their official identities, she had to get that marriage annulled once and for all.
That was why she came back to Santawill City… just to get a divorce.
Willow held no grudges against Damien. Not anymore.
She had been the one in the wrong. He wasn’t lying when he accused her of being unfaithful.
If she was bitter about anything, it was about that man from that night… the bastard who had taken her innocence.
They say men’s promises are sweet poison. That couldn’t be more accurate.
Back then, that man had sworn to her:
“I’ll make you the happiest, most cherished woman in the world.”
What a joke.
All he left her with was pain, shame, and a ruined life.
Just thinking about the injustice of it all made her want to punch someone… preferably him.
“Mommy, I need to pee…” A tiny voice tugged her out of her thoughts.
Her youngest, her Adam, clung shyly to her coat and whispered the words, cheeks flushed red.
Willow blinked and looked down at the three kids standing in front of her. Just like that, her heart softened, with a warm rush of gratitude.
.ed
Sure, that night had flipped her world upside down. Sure, it had wrecked everything.
But it had also given her these three beautiful children.
And for that… she didn’t regret a thing.
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They were her pride. Her everything.
Her eldest, her Little One Brad, was the perfect gentleman. He didn’t talk much, but he carried himself like a true eldest son… mature, composed, and clever beyond his years. Every move he made radiated confidence and quiet authority.
Her middle child, Mac? The complete opposite.
fied troublem
Wild. Loud. A certified troublemaker.
Hobbies: fighting. Interests: fighting. Life goal: become the undefeated king of all fights.
Then there was the youngest Her baby. Adam.
Soft–spoken, timid, and an absolute sweetheart. He didn’t have the brains of his older brothers, but he had a heart
twice the size.
Even at his age, he could cook… and his food was amazing. Like, chef–level amazing.
And fashion? That kid was born with a sixth sense for style. The perfume she wore right now? Adam blended it
himself.
Give him a few pieces of fruit or a bouquet of wildflowers, and he’d turn them into one–of–a–kind fragrances you couldn’t find anywhere else on Earth.
There were no high–tech formulas or chemical tricks… just a soft blend of floral and fruity notes. Fresh, clean, and effortlessly natural.
And that wasn’t even all.
Adam had a real eye for design. Sketches for clothing or jewelry? He could whip them up in minutes, like it was
second nature.
Willow had thought more than once: Whoever ends up marrying her Adam one day… they’re going to be the luckiest person alive.
She looked down at him with a soft, doting smile.
“Okay, Mommy will take you. Brad and Mac, do you guys need to use the restroom too?”
The two older boys shook their heads in perfect sync. “Nope!”
“Alright then, stay here and wait for Mommy and your brother. Don’t run off. We’ll be back in a minute.”
“Got it!”
Willow took Adam by the hand and headed toward the restrooms. At the entrance, she crouched down to give some
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careful instructions.
“Sweetie, you go into the boys‘ room, Mommy will use the ladies‘. If you finish first, wait for me right here, okay?”
“Uh huh.” He nodded obediently, then waddled off into the men’s room with his short little legs.
Willow smiled at his back before turning toward the women’s restroom.
It wasn’t long before Adam came out again. He didn’t wander, didn’t fuss. Just stood quietly outside, waiting for
Willow
But suddenly, a loud commotion came from nearby.
A group of bodyguards in black suits surrounded a woman dressed head–to–toe in glam. She strutted in heels, her oversized sunglasses and bright red lipstick screaming for attention.
Her voice wasn’t quiet, either.
“I told you, no more of those crap mini–scripts! I had to shoot in some godforsaken mountain village, and now I have to take a train back? Seriously? What kind of public figure takes a train? Look at this crowd… poor and disgusting.
Just gross.”
Nancy’s shrill voice drew frowns from everyone around.
Her manager nodded along frantically, trying to calm her down, while the bodyguards shoved through the crowd
with zero tact,
“Move! Outta the way! Step aside!”
Adam blinked, stunned. He didn’t even have time to dodge before someone shoved him hard.
He landed on his butt with a painful thud. Tears welled up instantly, but he bit his lip and didn’t dare make a sound.
“Whose brat is this? Get lost!” Nancy snapped.
The boy froze, clearly terrified. He sat there, clutching his mouth, big teary eyes staring up at the angry woman.
She frowned harder.
Something about his face… it hit a nerve. A painful, familiar thorn lodged deep in Her memory.
A child this age…
She ground her teeth.
“You’re still sitting there? You don’t know it’s rude to block someone’s way?! What kind of trashy parents raise a kid like you? No manners, no class!”
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And then, as if words weren’t enough, she kicked him with the toe of her high heel before storming off without
another glance.
Adam finally burst into tears.
“Mommy! Brother! It hurts… wahhh!”
Willow hadn’t come out of the restroom yet.
But his brothers had heard the commotion.
They ran over immediately. Brad crouched down in front of him while Mac eyes flashed with rage.
“What happened, Adam?! Who did this to you?!”
The moment he heard the word kick, Mac’s whole vibe changed.
Someone had hurt his baby brother?
Did they think he was dead or something?!
“Bro, stay here with Adam. I’m gonna make her pay.”
With that, Mac took off like a shot, vanishing into the crowd.
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Chapter 13
Chapter 13
