THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRYBABY
Chapter 240: NEW LIVES

Chapter 240: NEW LIVES

"I can’t believe how much the matriarch and Gabby—" Fay’s words trailed when she heard soft tears.

The two women stopped at the same time to listen attentively to where the tears were coming from.

"That sounds like Dream," she said, and jumped into action.

She took a turn, and there Dream was, crying with her head down.

The girl beside her who Fay immediately thought was the news friend Sophie told her about, was doing her best to comfort her.

But there was only so much an equally little kid could do to comfort a kid her age.

Fay pushed forward, and bent so she was levelled with Dream.

"Hey baby, what is it?"

Dream didn’t answer immediately, but kept crying, as a cupcake dangled from her hands.

"We were playing, and one of the kids called for their daddy. Dream sat here, and started to cry," the other little girl explained.

Leighton picked her up, and signalled to Fay that she was taking her back to the party.

"Bye Dream. And please stop crying," she said behind her shoulders.

Not looking up, and through tears, Dream replied. "Bye Crystal."

Fay’s heart squeezed tightly against her chest.

She thought the day was going to end on a high note, judging by how smooth everything had been going so far.

As it would turn out, her mind had been playing fairy tales.

"Dreamy, talk to mummy. What is it?" She tugged on the little girl gently.

"Why didn’t daddy come?" She cried out.

"He—"

"He left you a message, Dream."

Both mother and daughter looked up on hearing Leighton’s voice.

Fay was amazed she had left, and returned so soon.

"Who are you?" Dream asked as she sat beside her.

"Yeah, everyone was trying to meet you, so we didn’t get the chance to meet yet. I’m Leighton. Your mother’s best friend when we were kids."

"Oh. You’re not friends anymore?" Dream asked innocently.

"We definitely are, Dreamy. There’s just been a lot of distance between us, that’s all. Right Leigh?"

"Right." Leighton nodded.

"I made a friend too. Did you see her, mummy?"

Fay nodded, and smiled. "She seems like a nice person. Crystal, right?"

"Yes. But I still want to see daddy," she said, and burst into tears again.

"And you will hear from him. Listen, he made you a video," Leighton said, bringing out the phone she had collected from Landon.

She exchanged a quick glance with Fay, who nodded for her to go on.

Pressing play on the video, she gave the phone to Dream.

Fay knew there was a voice note, but she didn’t know it came with a video.

When Ace’s face filled the screen, her heart skipped a beat.

He looked like he was in the studio he never let anyone go into.

"Hey Dream, it’s daddy. I want to wish you the best of birthdays. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it, but I promise, after this one, I’ll never miss another birthday. There are things I need to do, but when I’m done, you’re the first person I’ll come see, I promise. I love you baby. Take care of yourself, and your mummy."

The video went blank, and Fay’s eyes went to Dream.

Somewhere between the video, Dream had stopped crying.

She was smiling now. Practically grinning from ear to ear.

"Dad is busy. He’ll come back when he’s done, and we’ll live happily ever after," she stated confidently, with a hint of innocence.

Fay forced a smile when she turned to her. At least Ace had common sense to leave behind a video for her.

It still didn’t mean he was forgiven, but at least, her baby could enjoy the rest of her party.

"Are you ready to return to your party, Dream? I hear it’s time to cut your cake," Leighton asked.

"Yes aunty Leighton!" She chirped loudly.

"You call my name so well for your age. Come here, darling," Leighton said, carrying her into her arms.

She giggled, causing Fay’s eyes to sparkle pleasantly as she watched them.

Dream wasn’t alone. She was surrounded by friends and family who absolutely adored her.

Fay’s heart ached because she didn’t know when Ace would be present again.

However, for the time being, she was damn right satisfied with everything she had.

Six months later

"Dreamy, I told you there’s no time left, and you have to get up," Fay said, walking into Dream’s room.

She paused, her head doing a double take when she saw Dream was all prepared.

"How—"

Dream smiled, and shrugged. "I told you I won’t be late for my first day of school, mummy," she said.

Fay chuckled heartily. She loved having a smart kid, but she couldn’t believe that kid was finally starting school.

"You look beautiful, my Angel," she said, and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Did I hear someone say they’re ready? Because I’m ready to drive them to their first day at school," Seth said, coming into the room.

Dream giggled, as she hugged her Pawpaw.

Turning around, she picked up Ace’s picture Gabrielle had given to her.

"It’s my first day of school, daddy. I can’t wait until you’re done with work, so you can come back and take me to school."

She kissed the picture, before dropping it back on her table.

"I’m ready!" She said, turning around.

Fay looked at Seth, who gave her arm a comforting squeeze.

"Bye mummy!" Dream waved, as she was led out of the room by Seth.

"Say hello to Crystal for me," Fay replied at the top of her voice.

"Okay!"

Alone, she plopped on Dreams bed. Her eyes went to the picture on her table, and against her better judgement, she picked it up.

Her hands went to the picture, as she stroked it as if she was playing some chords.

"You’re so—"

She shook her head, and returned the picture immediately.

"I have enough on my plate," she said, as she rose to her feet.

An hour later, she drove out of the Luxe compound.

On her way to her destination, her phone beeped, signalling a message had dropped.

She ignored the message, making a mental note to check if when she got to the office.

Stopping the car in the parking lot of her destination, she came down, and shut the door behind her after grabbing her purse.

She was about to open the entrance door, when someone opened it from inside, and they bumped into each other.

Her purse fell to the ground, and they both reached out at the same time to grab it.

Their foreheads brushed slightly, causing a reflexive recoil.

The stranger grabbed the purse first, and rose to their feet.

Fay followed shortly after. She looked up, just as the man stretched out the purse to her.

"Oh, it’s you," he said. "Wow! How do you look even more stunning than the last time I saw you?" He asked.

Totally confused at the fact the total stranger knew her, she stared at him blankly.

"You don’t remember me?" He asked, a little hurt.

"Nope, I don’t." She shook her head.

"It’s me. The guy you cried on his shoulders a few years ago."

The more he described, the more confused she got.

She had cried a lot a few years back, so it could be anybody.

"Still doesn’t ring a bell." She shook her head.

"Oh common. It was at the deep blue sea hotel? Remember?"

A flicker of recognition instantly crossed through Fay’s eyes.

She did remember him now. It was the day she saw Ace kissing Makayla.

"Ohhh, it’s you." her eyes widened.

"Yeah, it’s me. I’m glad to see you again. You look absolutely stunning!" He said.

"Thank you, but can I take my purse now?" She asked.

"Oh sure," he said, stretching the purse towards her again.

"Thank you," she muttered.

"You’re welcome. So hey, fun fact, I swore I’d ask you for dinner if I ever saw you again. I didn’t think I would, but now that I have, would you mind going to dinner with me?"

Fay’s brow creased. She didn’t even know his name, and was too embarrassed to ask for it.

However, he had comforted her that day. It was only right she paid him back.

"Sure," she nodded. "I can do dinner."

"Really?" His eyes lit up.

"Yeah," she replied.

He quickly reached into his pocket, and brought out a card.

"Here’s my contact. Call me, and we’ll plan something, okay? If you call me, I’ll know you’re really interested in dinner with me, and not just trying to get rid of me politely," he said.

Fay laughed. "Alright, I’ll do that. Bye then."

He stepped out of the way, and allowed her to go in.

"Bye Fay!" He called, disappearing out of sight as she turned her head in shock.

"He knows my name?" She thought, and continued walking.

Intrigued by the encounter, her head was in the cloud, as she stopped by the door to the room she was headed.

She knocked once, and was immediately asked to come in.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open, and stepped into the room.

Her eyes went straight to the woman across a desk, and her name tag on the table.

"Doctor Vera."

She read in her mind, as her shaky fingers closed the door behind her.