Tony’s POV

“Why are you not picking up my call?” Tanya asked, her tone a blend of concern and irritation.

“Sorry, Tanya. I had... other things going on,” I said honestly, guilt weighing on my chest.

The moment I stepped out of Robbie’s office, my phone buzzed with her name. She’d been calling since yesterday. I should’ve answered. It wasn’t fair to keep her in the dark, but I was still reeling from the chaos. How could I explain something I was struggling to process myself?

“Is it about our CEO?” Tanya asked, voice tinged with suspicion.

I froze on my way to the car. Did she sense something? “Why do you ask?” I replied cautiously.

“Yesterday, you were acting weird after seeing him.”

Shit. I sighed. I forced a casual chuckle. “You’re observant.”

“So, it is the CEO? Do you two know each other?” she asked, surprised.

“You could say that,” I replied vaguely.

There was a sharp whistle on the other end, then Tanya’s voice dipped into mischief. “Could it be… You and our CEO were—”

“Nah,” I cut in quickly, keeping my voice light. She couldn’t have been more on the mark, but to me, Robbie and I had nothing now. Whatever we once were, died long ago. I added, jokingly, “This is no fairy tale, and Mr. Walker is no Prince Charming. We had more of a bully-victim relationship.”

Tanya’s laugh dissolved into a contemptuous snort. “Huh! No wonder you looked so shaken. Alphas are just arrogant pricks, anyway.”

Her bitterness caught me off guard. Tanya rarely badmouthed anyone, let alone an entire gender dynamic. There was something raw in her voice, like a wound long buried. It made me curious, but I didn’t want to press her.

As I started the car, I tried to lighten the air with a chuckle. “Sounds like you’ve had your fair share of bad experiences with Alphas.”

She huffed, and I could hear her nod through the phone.

“Well,” I said gently, “there are kind ones out there, too. I hope you get to meet one someday. Anyway, I’m hitting the road now. Let’s talk later, yeah?”

“Be careful, Tony. See you soon,” she said, hanging up.

***

The drive gave me too much time to think. Robbie’s words, the look in his eyes, the way he’d bandaged my hand, it all swirled in my mind like a storm refusing to settle.

He’d told me to take two days to cool down and think things through.

He still wanted me.

But why?

Robbie Walker had never been someone who gave without expecting a return. I didn’t buy his story of “realizing his feelings.” He wanted control. I could only pray that his sudden interest didn’t extend to Twen.

I gripped the steering wheel tighter, my knuckles whitening. I couldn’t let Robbie anywhere near my son.

I hated that he still had this power over me. Even now, his presence rattled me in a way I couldn’t explain. After he patched me up and told me to rethink resigning, I left. I had no energy to argue, no interest in being anywhere near him.

But now that the fog of anger was lifting, I had to admit, my resignation was a knee-jerk reaction. If I quit, I’d lose both income and shelter. Sure, I had some savings, but with rent, food, Twen’s school, books, clothes, bills... it wouldn’t last long. Maybe three months, tops.

It reminded me of my lowest point.

Back when I first came to this city with Twen cradled in my arms, barely eighteen, full of naive optimism and terrified desperation. My savings from school jobs vanished in weeks; food, a cheap room, and diapers. Every job interview ended the moment I disclosed I was an Omega. No one would hire me.

Within four months, we were on the street. I was penniless, thrown out of our rented room with nothing but a sick infant and the clothes on our backs. The landlord even stole my security deposit.

I begged and groveled, but no one helped. Twen was feverish and weak. I thought I was going to watch him die.

That was my darkest moment.

Then Fred appeared.

He was a stranger, a teenager with an odd accent and a kind smile. I knew he was an Alpha the moment I smelled him. I assumed the worst. When he brought me to his home, I braced myself for what I thought he wanted. I was willing to do anything to save my son.

But Fred never touched me; he never even tried. He gave me a warm meal, a shower, and clean clothes. He offered me a job: cleaning and cooking. In exchange, we could live in his house. He paid for Twen’s treatment, no questions asked.

Fred shattered every bitter belief I had about Alphas. He was kind, honest, and pure-hearted. He gave us back our dignity when we had nothing. I owe him everything.

I hadn’t spoken to him in over two years; he went abroad, got busy. We lost touch. But today, after remembering everything, I miss him deeply. I wanted to see him. To thank him again. To introduce Twen to the man who saved his life.

***

“Mommy?”

The moment I stepped through the door, Twen came rushing over. He was supposed to be home from school for the weekend. I felt a stab of guilt seeing him working quietly on his homework alone. I always dreamed of spending more time with him... but reality demanded otherwise.

“I’m back, munchkin,” I smiled, ruffling his hair.

“You don’t have work today?” he asked, looking up at me with those wide, curious eyes.

“Mommy got off early today.”

That wasn’t a lie.

His gaze fell on my bandaged hand. “Did you get burned again?”

I looked at the gauze and smiled sheepishly. He’d seen me come home with burns and cuts often during my early kitchen days, but it had been a while since I was injured. His concern was touching.

“It’s nothing. Mommy can handle these little things,” I reassured him.

Still, he looked unconvinced. So, I decided to cheer him up.

“Hey, munchkin… want to go for a drive?”

His eyes lit up instantly. “A drive?”

“A long drive to the beach,” I teased with a grin.

“Really?” His whole face lit up.

“Yes! Mommy’s got the whole day free. Come on, go get ready—we’re going to have so much fun!”

“Yaaaaaay! The beach!” he squealed, dashing off to change.

I chuckled and quickly packed a backpack with all the essentials—meds, towels, snacks, water, sunscreen, and a change of clothes. I helped Twen change, then dressed myself, and we piled into the car. He immediately rolled down the window, sticking his hand out to feel the wind. It made my heart swell to see him so happy.

La Costa Beach.

Fred’s beach.

The place that had once been my refuge. A place that saved me when the world abandoned me. I came here often, sometimes hoping to see Fred again, sometimes just to breathe. This place held memories of hope. Now, as I drove us toward it, all I could think about was him.

I wanted Twen to know who saved his life, and I wanted Fred to see how beautifully that tiny, sick baby had grown.