Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3. Five Years Later That name no longer existed. Liora Vale had died five years ago, on the night she gave birth alone, accompanied only by the sound of the wind and a fear that pierced her bones. All that remained now was Liora Ward, a woman who had built her life on the ruins of the past. She stared at herself in the mirror that morning. Her face was thinner, her once warm eyes now calm and calculating. Her hair was cut to shoulder length so it would be easy to style. The luxurious clothes that once filled the large closet in Adrian's house were gone. All that remained were a clean white shirt, a simple blazer, and a work bag that she had been using for a year without complaint. However, in the corner of the desk, there was a small photo. Nolan, five years old, smiled widely with his missing teeth. He looked at the camera with clear eyes… those eyes were almost identical to his father's, a constant reminder that the blood flowing in this young body also came from the man who had ruined her life. But it wasn't Nolan's fault. He was more like a gift from God, giving her life new meaning. Liora took a deep breath and picked up her bag. Her life had changed since she started working as an independent consultant three years ago. At first, it was out of necessity she needed a job that didn't require her to be in the office all the time, since Nolan was still often sick at such a young age. But it turned out that the mind honed over years in the Vale family business environment allowed her to thrive. Her analytical skills were sharp. She could spot gaps in financial reports at a glance and unravel corporate strategies in a matter of hours. Those skills attracted many clients. Including Damien Ward. Liora had heard Damien's name even before becoming a client: a young billionaire, owner of Ward Global, a man often talked about by many for his cold intelligence but always on point. He didn't easily accept new people. He only chose those he considered "valuable." And somehow, Damien considered Elira, who was actually Liora, to have that value. That morning, Liora entered the Ward Global building with a steady gait. Her appearance was simple, but the looks she received showed that her presence always left an impression that was hard to ignore. There was something new in the way she carried herself. Calm, confident, and no longer fragile like before. When the elevator doors opened on the upper floor, a man was waiting outside the large office with a direct view of the city center. Damien Ward stood with his hands in his pockets. His dark eyes scanned Liora face as if trying to read something hidden behind the woman's calm demeanor. "You're here," he said briefly. "I came because you said this project needed a quick evaluation," Liora replied without beating around the bush. The corners of Damien's lips lifted slightly. He wasn't the type of person to easily show his feelings, but every small movement he made had meaning. "I made the right choice in choosing you."Liora didn't respond. She placed the documents on the table and began working as if Damien were just another client, not someone who could change the course of many people's lives with a single decision. For two hours, she presented her analysis, showed her restructuring plan, improved the financial model, and highlighted issues that Ward's internal team had failed to detect. Damien was often silent, not because he disagreed, but because he was impressed. Finally, he leaned back in his chair. "You're sharper than I thought." "I'm paid for that," Liora replied. "But that's not the real reason," Damien interjected in a softer voice. "People like you... don't learn all this overnight. You've been in the big business world, haven't you?" Liora's heart was pounding, but she kept a slight smile on her face. "Everyone has a past, Mr. Ward. Let's focus on this project." Damien stared at her for a few seconds, as if he wanted to say a lot, but finally just nodded. "All right. I want you to work not only as a consultant. I want to hire you permanently." Those words hit Liora like a cold wind. "I'm sorry. I don't work as a permanent employee," she said firmly. "I have a small business, and... other responsibilities." "Responsibilities named Nolan?" Damien guessed. Liora was silent. "I don't mix personal matters with work." Damien just smiled slightly. "You forget that I study everyone I offer an important position to. Your son is part of your life. That doesn't diminish your professional value." Liora bowed her head for a moment. Not many people respected her boundaries. Damien didn't force her, but he made the fence Liora had built feel fragile. --- When Liora came home that afternoon, Nolan ran up to her. The boy hugged his mother's waist tightly, showing her a picture he had just drawn. "Mom, look! This is our house! The big one!" Liora smiled softly. "It's beautiful. But why is it so big?" "So you won't be tired anymore," Nolan replied innocently.There was a warm but painful feeling. The boy was much more sensitive than he let on. "Liora," a soft voice greeted her from the kitchen. Miriam, the middle aged woman who had saved her five years ago, smiled as she prepared dinner. "This little one has been waiting for you." Liora approached the woman and hugged her briefly. "Thank you for taking care of Nolan." "Anything for the two of you," Miriam replied. That simple little family was the only reason Elora was still holding on. Without them, she might have given up. At dinner, Nolan held Liora's hand. "Mom, someone asked about us in front of the store earlier. A new person." Liora tensed immediately. “What did he look like?” Nolan shrugged. “I couldn’t see clearly, he was wearing a helmet. But Mom, promise me… we’ll be safe?” Liora held the small hand tighter. “Of course. Mama won’t let anyone touch you.” She never forgot the horror of five years ago when the men hired by the Vale family nearly caught her, when she had to run with blood dripping from her feet, when she felt her breath was only seconds away from stopping. Then Nolan was born… All the fear turned into strength. She gritted her teeth and endured those difficult moments she never thought she could survive. Even in Nolan’s first year, the Val family tried to find them, but thinking of their distrust and the hurt they had caused her, she firmly believed that starting over under an assumed name was the best option. She would never go back to being Liora. Never. --- A few days after that first meeting, Damien contacted Liora again. He wanted Liora to help with a presentation to a major investor. He needed someone who was not only intelligent, but also capable of calming the situation. The investor was known to be stubborn. However, Damien said, "If you speak, they will listen." For some reason, Liora agreed. When the presentation began, some investors looked dismissive until she started speaking. The way she explained things, the accuracy of her analysis, the calmness of her voice... everything made the room focus entirely on her. Even Damien seemed to pay more attention to her than he should have.After the meeting ended, one of the investors approached Damien with a small laugh. "That woman... if you don't hire her for your company, many people will be fighting to get her." Damien replied briefly. "I know." Liora heard him. She sighed, slightly surprised. Damien approached Liora. "I'm serious. You can choose your own working hours. I just want you to stay on my team." "Why me?" Liora asked softly. Damien looked at her deeply, as if trying to penetrate the wall she had built around herself. "Because you're different. And I want to know... what made you this way." Liora was silent. She knew the man didn't want to reveal her past in a harsh way. But Damien's attention made her uneasy. She couldn't let anyone get too close. "Let's just work, Mr. Ward. Nothing more." Damien smiled slightly, as if he had expected Liora to refuse. "All right. For now." --- That night, as Liora put Nolan to bed, she stared deeply at his little face. His eyes, his nose, his jaw... everything resembled Adrian. Even though she tried hard to hate Adrian, the love that had once been there never truly died. But she buried it, deep down. "Are we starting a new project tomorrow, Mom?" Nolan asked sleepily. "Yes," Liora replied softly. "Don't get tired, okay? I only have my mother." Liora's chest felt tight. "And my mother only has you." She kissed Nolan's forehead and turned off the light. In the darkness, her thoughts drifted to the past that continued to haunt her. Meanwhile, elsewhere, unbeknownst to her, the path of destiny began to unfold. For in the coming weeks, the major project Damien had offered would bring her back to the city she had left behind. The city where Adrian lived. The city where everything would begin anew.And she wasn’t ready to face whatever awaited her there.