Our Accidental Forever
Chapter 103: Special Gift

Chapter 103: Special Gift

Ella’s POV:

The days were slipping through my fingers, each one faster than the last. It was now just a week before the wedding, and everything felt like a dream. Arec had been... different lately. A good different. Sweet, attentive, and surprisingly romantic.

I didn’t even realize he had this side to him, but every small gesture, his lingering touch, the soft way he spoke my name, the way his eyes stayed on me as though I were the only person in the world, made my heart ache in the best way. He was spoiling me with his affection, and I wasn’t complaining.

This wasn’t the Arec I thought I knew, he used to be: guarded, distant, and calculated. This was a man who, with every glance and every word, showed me how much he cared. And to my surprise, I found myself soaking in every bit of his attention. I hadn’t expected to fall so hard, but here I was.

I sat by the window, absently running a hand over my growing belly. Three days. Soon, I’d be walking down the aisle, starting a real new Chapter with Arec, and the realization hit me like a gentle wave.

Tomorrow, my mother would arrive. I could hardly contain my excitement. I hadn’t seen her in what felt like forever, and with everything that had been happening, the contract, the now-real relationship, the real wedding, the baby, her presence was the one thing I needed to steady my nerves.

Arec had insisted on picking her up from the airport. I’d protested at first, wanting to go myself, but he wouldn’t hear it. "You need to rest," he’d said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I’ll take care of it."

I’d given in, of course, because arguing with Arec when he was in his protective mode was like trying to move a mountain.

The thought of seeing my mother again brought a bittersweet lump to my throat. I’d missed her so much. There were so many things I wanted to tell her, to apologize for.

I thought back to all the times I’d been a difficult child, stubborn, impatient, always pushing her limits, at times. As a teenager, I’d been no better, challenging her at every turn.

But now... now, as I felt the life growing inside me, I finally understood. Being a mother wasn’t easy. It was a sacrifice, a labor of love, and she had done it all for me without ever asking for anything in return.

Tears stung my eyes as guilt and gratitude mingled in my chest. I’d taken so much for granted, and now I couldn’t wait to tell her how sorry I was. To thank her for everything she’d done for me.

The phone’s shrill ring cut through the quiet of the penthouse, pulling me out of my thoughts. With a small sigh, I made my way to the table where the phone rested.

My fingers hesitating before picking it up.

"Hello?" I answered, my voice calm but curious.

"Good afternoon, ma’am," the receptionist’s warm voice came through. "There’s a visitor here for you, a Miss Joanne. Should I send her up?"

Joanne? The name made me blink in surprise. I wasn’t expecting her, nor had she mentioned any plans to stop by. I wasn’t sure how to feel about it either.

I hesitated, my grip tightening on the phone. "Yes, send her up," I finally said, curiosity getting the better of me.

I hung up and set the phone down, smoothing my hands over my dress as I moved to the living room.

My thoughts buzzed as I tried to make sense of her sudden visit. Joanne and I had been making progress, yes, but this unannounced visit felt... strange.

Before I could dwell on it too much, there was a knock at the door. I took a deep breath, straightened my posture, and opened it.

Joanne stood there, her face lighting up with excitement as soon as she saw me. She wore a fitted emerald-green blouse that complemented her olive skin, paired with tailored black trousers and ankle boots with a slight heel. Her hair was pinned back into a neat bun, and her makeup was flawless, subtle but enough to make her features pop.

"Ella!" she exclaimed, pulling me into a hug before I could react. "Look at you! You’re glowing." She stepped back, her eyes flicking down to my bump. "And look at my godchild How are you both doing?"

I couldn’t help but smile, her enthusiasm catched me off guard but warming me nonetheless. "We’re doing fine thank you," I said, gesturing for her to come in.

Joanne’s heels clicked against the polished hardwood floor as she entered, her eyes scanning the penthouse with a whistle of approval. "Wow, Ella," she said, her voice tinged with awe. "This place is incredible. A penthouse, huh? I knew Arec had a thing for luxury, but this is next level."

I closed the door behind her, amused. "I didn’t expect you to visit," I said as I watched her wander further into the living area.

She turned to me with a small smirk. "Honestly? I wasn’t sure you’d even let me up."

That caught me off guard. "Why would you think that?"

She shrugged, her expression casual but her eyes betraying a hint of vulnerability. "The last time I came over, you met me downstairs. I figured maybe you weren’t ready to let me in just yet."

I blinked, taken aback by her assumption. "That was because we were in a rush," I explained quickly. "We had to get to the hospital, and it didn’t make sense for you to come up just to head back down again."

Joanne waved her hand dismissively, as if brushing off her earlier comment. "It’s fine. I just worried back then that maybe you hadn’t forgiven me yet."

Her words made me pause, guilt flickering in my chest. I crossed my arms, leaning against the armrest of the couch. "Joanne, we’ve talked about this already. I’ve forgiven you. Let’s stop dredging up the past and focus on moving forward, okay?"

She nodded, her lips curving into a small smile. "You’re right. Sorry. I just, never mind. Anyway, this place is gorgeous. Seriously, Ella, it’s like something out of a magazine."

I rolled my eyes, but her genuine awe made me smile. She was taking in everything, the high ceilings, the plush furniture, the floor-to-ceiling windows that framed the city skyline.

"So," I said, breaking the silence, "what brings you here? And without notice, no less?"

Joanne’s expression softened as she reached into the sleek black bag slung over her shoulder. "I know, I should’ve called. I’m sorry. But it was kind of an emergency. I wanted to give you something."

Curiosity sparked in my chest as she pulled out a large, beautifully bound photo album. The cover was rich leather, embossed with an intricate floral design.

"What’s this?" I asked, taking it carefully.

"Open it," she urged, her voice unusually gentle.

I flipped open the cover, and the first photo made me smile immediately. It was Arec as a little boy, his hair slightly messy and his grin impossibly wide as he held up a shiny gold medal.

The next page had him on a school trip, posing awkwardly with his classmates in front of some historical monument.

Page after page revealed snapshots of his life I’d never known, family gatherings, school events, moments of quiet joy. There were pictures of him as a teenager, laughing with friends, and even a few with Joanne herself, their faces painted at what looked like a carnival.

But as I flipped further, something stood out. There were no pictures of Arec’s parents.

"Joanne," I said softly, looking up at her. "These are amazing. But... where are Arec’s parents?"

Her cheerful demeanor dimmed slightly. "They passed away when Arec was young," she said, her voice quieter. "His grandmother raised him after that. She was everything to him."

My chest tightened. I’d known Arec’s parents were gone, but I hadn’t realized how young he’d been when he lost them. A wave of sadness swept over me as I looked back at the photos, now seeing them in a different light.

The boy in these pictures had lost so much at such a young age, yet he’d grown into the man I knew, strong, determined, and loving.

"He doesn’t talk about them much," Joanne continued. "I didn’t want to bring it up before, but I thought... maybe this would help you feel closer to him, to his past. To the people who shaped him."

Tears pricked the corners of my eyes as I traced a finger over a photo of Arec and his grandmother, their smiles radiating warmth and love.

"Joanne," I said, my voice thick with emotion, "this is the most thoughtful thing anyone’s ever done for me. Thank you."

Her smile returned, softer this time. "I just thought it might help. You’re about to start a family with him, and I wanted you to know more about his life. About the people who made him who he is."

I closed the album gently, holding it close to my chest. "It does help. More than you know."