Chapter 124

**Acacia Point of View**

I cannot help but feel gloomy all over again.

That jerk is really good at scheming. He used my dad, got him as his employee, approached me through him and now I even have to work on this resort project with them.

If only I took some more time to sign the contract!

Now that the contract was signed before the jerk showed up before me, if I have to cancel it, I will have to pay a heavy price for it.

However, the only good thing is that I will not be in contact with the jerk frequently. Dad is making sure of it and I'm thankful for it.

Although my family have no memories of me, the way they are with me is not much different from the past.

After the conversation with jerk in my office, I and my family sat down for a long time and told each other how our lives went in the past few years.

I did not tell them everything but I did tell them a few instances that made me hate the jerk more and more. And one of it was how he used me and Igses as bait to his enemy without blinking his eyes.

That was one of the things that I could neither forget, nor could I forgive him for that.

Dad, mom and Liam got enraged after hearing it but surprisingly, dad still wanted to work with Jerk which I did not understand why.

Seeing that he is the one I will be in close contact with during the resort project, I sighed in relief because I don't want that jerk anywhere near me or my Igses.

We all tacitly decided not to tell any of these things to Igses, one because he is young and doesn't need to know and two, because I don't want Igses to get impulsive with his powers.

He is a child and he should live worry free.

I got Igses and Noemi to quit Thunders' and got them into another academy to learn martial arts.

However, from the moment I knew about Jerk and his subordinates arrival here, I couldn't help but become paranoid about everything.

I don't want to overreact but I couldn't help but over think about all the worst possibilities to happen. I've been a little carefree these past five years after coming back. Although I had nothing to begin with and I had no one lean on, I could still build my life on my own terms and live better even if it was exhausting and difficult.

But with Jerk here, the little relief inside me is wiped away. He did not show up again after walking out of my office but given how he used to handle things, I could only think that he is doing something in the dark against me and Igses.

Am I being petty and paranoid in thinking so? Maybe but given his personality, I think anyone in my place would be the same.

The only relief in all this is that they don't have any powers here. Be it true or false, that very thought of them being nothing but normal mortal humans like everyone is like rubbing small ice cube on skin in the hot summer day.

Huh! Life sometimes is so complicated! The more you don't want something, the more it will appear before you.

These past few days, thanks to my family, Viva and mostly because of my son, I calmed down a little.

Work was one of the ways I chose to distract myself with. So I took the job seriously and worked like a cow on the resort project.

When I can get some good money, then even if it's the Jerk's project, so why don't I use it on my terms!

"Have the civils start implementing the structural plans for the first block. Once the base is made, we can coordinate the designs for the rest of the blocks accordingly." I gave the huge folder of structural plans to my assistant.

"The team is asking about the sparse trees around the lake. Should we cut them down for block two, Miss Winters?" I thought about the location around the lake and those few irregular trees around it.

"Tell them to arrive at the lakeside tomorrow early morning. We can discuss it then." My assistant nodded. "Also, make sure the bills of the materials are intact and well kept. Get Paxton to help you with it. Make sure you keep several copies of those bills and receipts for safety purpose."

She took the orders and went on to work on them while I stayed with the civil team and had a little more discussion before going to the work tents.

It was usual for us to have tents built onsite to work and rest simultaneously. Before, I used to either take Igses with me on my onsite trips or if it's only for a night, I would leave him at Noemi's place under her parents supervision. Now that the resort location is a little far from the city and I have to stay here for few days, Igses is now staying at my parents house.

And he absolutely loves the idea of it!

He is eager to learn how to use bow and arrow from his Uncle Liam so he did not even care I will be out of city for a few days. He was not used to live without me for more than a night but now, with his grandparents and uncle, he is sitting on cloud nine.

That little guy did not even express that he misses me after being away from me for four days now. He casually shares how his day went over a phone call and then goes back to pester his grandma to make some yummy food for him.

"Mamma, guess what!" I heard an exclaim coming from the other side of the call. I couldn't help by press my lips to stop myself from laughing.

"What? You finally miss me?"

"That I do, mamma. But this is something fun. Uncle Liam is going to take me and Noemi to his university tomorrow for a small curious trip. We are going to meet his friends and teachers and everyone. Uncle said that his university is so big and it is also so beautiful." He said enthusiastically.

"Really? I thought outsiders are not allowed to visit casually during normal days?"

"That is the case but since uncle is studying in sports department, the practice field is open for visitors for casual visits. He said he has a small friendly match tomorrow so he can take us with him." Just by his tone, I can tell that he is extremely excited.

Beyond excited, actually!

I couldn't help but smile brightly for the first time after days of feeling down. I can tell how happy my son is right now and I once again patted my back in my mind for not keeping my distance from my parents over the insecurities I have.

I can easily tell that Igses loves his grandparents and uncle a lot.

"Alright. You and Noemi should not leave each other's hands. Always be with each other and look after each other. The stranger danger rule still applies. Don't go out of your uncle's sight and stay at the place he tells you to stay. Am I understood?"

"Yes yes, mamma. Don't worry. I know. Mamma, can I take my pet with me, please?"

"No, you will not be able to take care of it in a new place. You can take it on a walk later but not there. Right, how is Noemi doing?"

"How can else can she do? She is doing everything that cannot be said to be fine. You won't believe me mamma, what kind of a stupid thing she did two days ago. In our drawing class, teacher asked us to draw the colors for the next sketch as homework and said the best drawing will get a candy reward. The drawing was actually a small cute puppy. She was so stupid that she practiced the colors on her own pet several times before using the best outcome on the book. That poor little thing, I nearly cried for it in its place." It was wrong on my part to drink coffee while speaking on phone.

I spit it out after listening to what my son said. It was not just amusement but also disbelief knocked me out.

Noemi is truly -

No wonder her mom is always so worried and vexed by her actions. I wonder how that little girl get such ideas.

"How is the poor little thing now?" I asked after I finished laughing.

"Depressed, scared, traumatized and a little Noemi-like, acting crazy and lively. She is really exceeding my expectations on her stupidity this time. She is coming out with flying colors in stupidity."

"Stop calling her stupid. She is a child and children tend to be a little naughty. You should act like a child too, you know. I want you to be a little mischievous but within the boundaries." I scolded.

I also wish my Igses to be childish as per his age.

"Dream on, mamma. I'm never going to be as stupid as Noemi. That girl is my inspiration in many things of how not to be and do a certain things. Ah mamma, grandma is calling me for lunch. She made lamb chops today and it smells like it was delivered from heaven. Have a good day, mamma. I love you more than anything in this world."

"I love you more than anything in this world too. Bye, little guy." I cut the call with a smile.

Indeed, of all the tough journey in the past, Igses is the best fruit I got. He is the most precious one to me.

I now miss him more than I did a minute ago!

**~*~*~*~*~*~

Hello Sweeties,

Next