Chapter 6
– Soraya –
Soraya was busy the whole day. After visiting Aegis Core System, she went to the bank to make a deposit and then viewed apartment
options.
Since she hadn’t yet met with her friend Silas, Soraya remained uncertain about settling in Cedar Heights, Another option was to stay in Belridge momentarily and help restore her uncle’s company to its former glory.
As Soraya drove back to her uncle’s house, she passed by a park. Something caught her eye, prompting her to pull over and walk out.
She was about to enter the park when she noticed a young girl, looking like she was about four or five, running across the street on her
Soraya gasped, her motherly instinct kicked in.
She noticed a black sedan struggling to avoid the girl. Soraya ran, grabbed the little girl, and rolled to the side of the road. She did not care that she had ruined her coat. Her arms protectively wrapped around the little girl.
People crowded around her as Soraya remained on the concrete.
Miss
“Are you okay, Miss!”
“How is the child?”
The driver of the black sedan ran to them, saying, “I’m so sorry. She came out of nowhere. I wasn’t sure if stepping on the brakes abruptly was fast enough or—”
“It’s okay, we understand,” one man said. “The girl did run too fast into traffic.”
“Angelal Angela!” a man’s concerned voice echoed in the air.
Everybody figured it was the father or the child’s guardian.
Someone had helped Soraya up. Just then, the young girl looked at Soraya with guilt. She appeared teary–eyed and nervous. She sniffed before hugging Soraya back, her little arms wrapping around her neck
“It’s okay. You are fine. You are safe with me,” Soraya assured the child.
“Angela! Thank God, you are okay!” the unknown man said behind Soraya.
“Mister, you should watch over your daughter carefully. She almost got hit by a car!” someone said.
“Tin so sorry, everyone, the man said, his deep voice laced with a touch of panic.
When Soraya finally turned to the man behind the voice, her breath hitched. ‘No way! Of all the people!”
It was Jacob Steel.
Of course, it was him! Calum’s arrogant, judgmental, steel–faced friend who ironically always looked like he’d stepped out of a luxury magazine ad.
His usually pristine trench coat was wrinkled as if he’d run through a storm. His dark hair, always perfectly combed, now fell over his forehead. And his eyes, sharper than she remembered, reflected fear.
The sight of him made Soraya pause. The polished, untouchable billionaire, Jacob Steel, suddenly looked human: be was out of breath, messy, and dearly worried.
It felt strange
The last time Soraya saw him, he wasn’t exactly kind. Her eyebrows pulled together as the memory came back. Still, when she looked at the Intle girl clinging to her like a koala, Soraya couldn’t bring herself to pull away.
“buraya Jacob spoke first.
“Mr. Steel,” Soraya acknowledged.
“Right.” Soraya remembered. Jacob lived in Belridge. This was his town.
3:54 PM P P
Chapter
“Is she she hesitated before resuming, “your daughter?”
“Yes,” Jacob responded.
His voice, deep as ever, was slightly ragged from ruming, but there was something raw in it too. Maybe guilt. Maybe panic. Maybe both.
He stretched his arms toward the girl, his eyes clearly inspecting if she had been hurt during the fall
Angela turned to Jacob, silently admitting their kinship, but still, she refused to let go of Soraya.
“Angela, come here, let’s not bother Soraya” Jacob tried to pull Angela away, but the little girl sure was strong
Angela’s actions reminded Soraya of the times when Sage was younger. Soraya’s daughter was the same: possessive of her. When Sage was two years old, Soraya could barely go to the bathroom at night because her daughter did not want to leave her side.
While that was happening, the crowd around them had dispersed. The driver from earlier had also left the scene.
“Angela, it’s time for dinner. Didn’t you want to eat at your favorite restaurant? Your ice cream is waiting,” Jacob said, pointing to the establishment across the street.
- She tried to help Jacob out by turning to the girl. “Aren’t you hungry? Don’t you want ice
(Oh, so that’s what happened, Soraya mused. S Cream, Angela?”
Only then did the little girl pull away slightly and give Soraya a nod.
“Then why don’t you go with your daddy?” Soraya suggested. She forced a smile, adding, “Get some food and ice cream?”
The little girl looked at Soraya with puppy eyes. Then, Angela cupped Soraya’s face and turned her head to the park.
She did this twice before Soraya realized Angela wanted to look at the lights display in the park, the same wonder that made her pull over to admine:
Soraya couldn’t help but smile. She turned to Angela, asking. “Do you like lights?”
Angela nodded. She did not say a word but simply pointed to the light display.
“Do you want to go there?” Soraya asked, and the little girl nodded.
“Angela, let me take you instead,” Jacobs said. This time, he sounded like a scolding father.
However, matter what he did, Angela refused to remove herself from Soraya, and again, she proved to be very strong. Angela used all her limbs to wrap herself around Soraya.
“Angela This time, Jacob was mad
“You know what? It’s okay.” Soraya said. She smiled again and gazed at the light display. She said to Angela, “Do you want me to go with
Angela hually unded and nodded. Again, she did not speak and pointed to the beautiful lighti
Left with no choice, Jacob followed Soraya and Angela to the park From the comer of Soraya’s eye, she noticed Mr. Steel signaling what looked like his ladyguard or driver to stay behind
Minines laer dhary stood before a mounted LED screen flashing with colorful
Angela amiled, he ryes tied on the lights before her
“Angela likes lights, ang other things Jacobs explained
Suraya dad to turn to Jacot instead she forsed on the 14 acres
tuge
it was brigin and colorful Ainge toy robot lit up with daining lights. The lights moved in patterns spg teshing and changing
Mosi prople watched for hun har SURAJA LAW ADOR
The rulia
Fing randi tash. A shum scale forced
it lashes pra long… Thaijan oprati ony live seps. Oh, they used a spiral pattern. Naw
354 PM PP.
Chapter 6
Her brain was already breaking it down like a puzzle. She could guess the timing, the rhythm, and the pattern without anyone telling her. It made her feel calm, as if the lights spoke a quiet language only she could hear.
In all the noise around her, this made sense. Numbers made sense. Patterns were safe.
For a moment, Soraya forgot everything else: Calum, Sage, her parents, her pain. She just felt like herself again.
“Angela is an Aspie.” Jacob said. “She’s fixated on fast–moving lights and patterns.
Soraya’s smile brightened, and her gaze shifted to Angela, who was still looking at the LED screen. She responded to Jacob, “I had a feeling. The way she communicated through gestures reminded me of how I used to be.”
Turning to Jacob, she admitted, “I should know. I also have Asperger’s Syndrome.”
The revelation made Jacob frown. She assumed he thought ill of her again, as usual. Soraya scoffed and said. “If you don’t believe me, I don’t care. I’m not trying to win your sympathy. I–I just feel for your daughter, Mr. Steel”
Just then, Angela turned to Soraya with a bright smile. She opened her mouth, hesitated, then tried again. Finally, she said, “M.….., M…
Mommy.
Hearing that, Soraya’s heart leaped, her eyebrows raising “What?”
On the other hand, Jacob froze, his eyes locked on Angela.
The sudden silence stretched between them, heavy and charged. Then his voice broke through, filled with shock. “Angela… you spoke?”
If it wasn’t enough to make Soraya panic, Angela further tightened her hold, saying, “Can you be my Mommy?”
Soraya nearly choked on her spew. She wished she could bury herself under the ground, right that
Oment.
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