CHAPTER 4

Celine's POV

I snuggle closer into the bed, raising my comforter to my chin with my eyes wide open when I hear the slight knock on the door. I have been awake since last night and Paxton offered to stay up with me but I refused. 

I don't want to inconvenience him and I am sure he is the one at the door. He has been a good friend since he moved into the apartment next to mine. I don't know much about him because I am always scared to ask questions about him so he won't do the same.

My past with Bryan isn't something I regret because of the beautiful thing that came out of our relationship but I was ashamed to tell anyone how all of this came to be. I don't want people to judge me or call me a manipulator. Sometimes, I feel like one.

The knock persists and I force myself to get down from the bed, ignoring my weak body and heavy eyes as I stroll to the door with the comforter wrapped around my head. I turn the doorknob and the door opens.

"Hey", Paxton grins at me as he stands by the doorway in a clean t-shirt and faded blue jeans trousers.

"Hi", I did not return the smile. I turn back and walk into the house. He trudges behind me calmly after closing the door. 

If it was on a different circumstance, I would have been happy to have him here to kill the boredom in the house and help me play with Jason while I do the house chores but right now, I just want to wallow in pity, lay on my bed, thinking about my baby and probably wish for the world to go on without me. I see no reason for living if my baby isn't here. He is the reason why I am still standing strong and brave to face the challenges life has thrown at me so far but without him, I have nothing to motivate me to keep going.

I would have smiled in return at Paxton when he grinned but I am in no mood to smile or do anything exciting. I just want my baby back and I know the smile will come naturally if he can be brought back to me.

"Celine, don't be hard on yourself", he says and towers over me as I sit back on the bed and rest my head on the headboard with my eyes closed. I am not answering and I feel his height on the bed the moment he sits in.

"Celine", he calls and I blink and breathe out before facing him with my red sleep-deprived eyes. 

"I can't help it", my voice is shaky. I am on the verge of tearing up.

He stares at me for a while before asking. "Did you get any sleep at all?"

I shake my head. He sighs. "Have you eaten?"

"I'm not hungry", I tell him.

"You should eat something at least", he persuades but I shake my head again and close my eyes. 

I can't hear him saying anything after a few moments of silence and I open my eyes in curiosity to see him moving to the kitchen. I know what he wants to do but I won't stop him. 

This isn't the first time he will cook for Jason and me. The idea seems familiar but different because Jason is not here. He is just going to cook for me alone.

The sob I have been holding in escapes my throat and finally comes out. I quickly sink into the bed and cover my whole body with the comforter, including my head. I don't want him to know I am crying. I feel this is what I need to do to get it all out.

Besides, the more I think about everything, the more it seems impossible to have my son back. I know Bryan will fight me with everything he has and I have nothing. I am just a poor woman finding it hard to fend for myself and my son. 

The court of law wouldn't hesitate to give Bryan the full right of Jason because it is obvious I am incapable of taking good care of a child that is supposedly a billionaire's child.

The realization makes me wail beneath my comforter without giving a care in the world if Paxton will get to know again or not.

****

Paxton's POV

I have always known that there is a story behind the sad smile and eyes of Celine. She is a strong woman who has kept all of this inside without letting it out for long. 

She caught my eyes the moment I saw her when I moved into this vicinity. At first, I didn't even know she had a baby until I became closer to her, because I was always looking for excuses to either help her to the door with her grocery bag or give her a free ride to town. 

When I saw Jason, I fell in love with him too. He is a cute boy and I was relieved when I didn't see any man coming to see her or claim to be the father of Jason. I wanted to mean so much to her and her son. 

I came here to disguise myself as someone else but the tears of Celine are making me have a rethink about letting go of my disguise for a while and show my true identity to whoever the bastard is that is causing her so much pain. 

I called Caleb last night to inform the guys about the recent happening and the help I will be needing. Caleb promised to come this morning and I am still expecting him as I cook for Celine while she is crying.

My phone rings after I finish dicing the onions. I wipe my hand with the towel and bring out my phone from my pocket. 

Caleb's name flashes on the screen and I know instantly that he is here. I drop the phone in a hurry and open the saucy pasta before pouring the diced onions into it. I stir for a while before closing the pot.

As soon as I am done reducing the heat, I pick up my phone and walk to the living room. Her bedroom and living room are attached so I call out.

"Babe, I will be right back", I say to her and move out without waiting for a reply. I see Caleb's car in the garage and I move closer before he comes out with Ryan and Logan.

"Where is she?" Caleb asks me.

"She is inside", I point at her door before leading the way. We walk back swiftly to the door in silence and I open it to see Celine up. I am amazed to see her dried eyes already.

"Celine", I say and she looks up at me from the kitchen. Her gaze moves past me and rests on Caleb's.

I beckon to her to come closer and she did with a puzzled look on her face. I ask Caleb and the other guys to go sit in the living room.

"Who are they?" She asks more like a whisper with her disheveled hair.

"That's my brother and his friends", I introduced with a smile. She looks over at them before staring back at me.

"Why are they here?" She demands again in a soft tone.

"To help us get Jason back", I say. I didn't assure her that I was going to get her son back for nothing. When I said I was going to get Jason back, I meant it.

She shakes her head. "No, you can't."

"What?"

"You can't. I know the kind of person Bryan is. He is a dangerous man, you can't go there and come back alive. He will do all he can to make sure Jason doesn't come out of his mansion again", she explains with fear clouding her eyes.

I smile inwardly. She has no idea who I am and how dangerous I can be when I want to be dangerous. 

"Don't worry. We can do this." I touch her arms but she moves away.

"No, I am not going to support this. Tell them not to bother anymore. I will have it sorted out myself", she mutters and turns her back to me before waking away and I stare at her with mouth agape.