Today, I decided to take Ben out shopping.
He had been asking for it for a while now, and honestly… I needed it too.
Maybe it would help clear my mind.
Maybe it would help me stop thinking about Justin.
Even if it was just for a few hours.
"Mom, can we go to the toy section first?" Ben asked excitedly the moment we entered the mall.
I smiled. "Of course. I knew that was your plan all along."
He grinned and grabbed my hand, dragging me along.
We spent hours going from one section of the mall to another.
Ben picked out toys, clothes, and even things he didn't really need.
"Ben, are you opening a shop?" I teased.
He laughed. "No, Mom. I just like them."
I shook my head, smiling.
Seeing him happy made everything feel lighter.
After a long time, we both got tired.
"Mom, I'm hungry," Ben said, holding his stomach.
"I was just about to say the same thing," I replied.
So we headed to a nearby restaurant.
We were about to enter the restaurant when I bumped into someone.
"I'm so sorry—" I started.
Then I looked up.
And my heart stopped.
Justin.
He wasn't alone.
Beside him stood a little girl.
My eyes moved from him… to her.
And something twisted painfully in my chest.
Is she… his daughter?
Is he married?
The thought alone hurt more than I expected.
We both just stood there.
Staring at each other.
Like time had stopped.
I don't even know for how long.
"Mom?"
Ben's voice pulled me back.
I blinked.
And that's when I noticed it.
A flash of something on Justin's face.
Disappointment.
But… maybe I imagined it.
"Mom, I know her!" Ben said excitedly, pointing at the little girl. "She's in my class!"
I looked at the girl again.
She smiled shyly.
"Her name is Kelly," Ben added.
Before I could say anything—
"Can we sit together?" Ben asked.
"What?" I said quickly.
I wasn't ready for this.
At all.
"I think it's a good idea," Justin said calmly.
I turned to him, ready to object.
But Ben looked at me with those pleading eyes.
"Please, Mom…"
I hesitated.
Then sighed.
"…Fine."
We all sat down together.
The kids talked happily like they had known each other forever.
While I sat there…
Trying to ignore the tension sitting right in front of me.
After lunch, Ben stood up suddenly.
"Mom, can we go to the playground?" he asked. "Me and Kelly want to play!"
"It's time to go home, Ben," I said.
"Please?" he begged.
Before I could respond—
"Let them play," Justin said. "It's not every day they meet like this."
I looked at Ben.
He was already nodding eagerly.
I sighed.
"Okay… but not too long."
"Yay!" Ben shouted, running off with Kelly.
Justin and I sat at a corner, watching them play.
Silence stretched between us.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Until—
"So… Ben," he said. "He's your son?"
I glanced at him.
"Kelly," I replied. "She's your daughter?"
He laughed softly.
"Still the same feisty girl I know."
I frowned.
"What do you want, Justin? why do you want to invest in my company?"
"No reason," he said. "I saw a potential business looking for an investor… and I went for it."
I didn't believe him.
Not even for a second.
"Look, princess—" he started.
"Don't call me that," I cut in immediately.
He paused.
"Call you what?"
"Princess," I said. "You have no right to call me that."
That was what he used to call me when we were still dating. "Why do you always call me princess?" I asked him that time although I loved that he called me princess "because you are one and you deserve to be treated as such" he had replied which made me blush. He always knew how to make me smile with his words and also hurt me with them too.
He smiled slightly.
"I know I hurt you," he said. "And I'm sorry."
I laughed bitterly.
"Sorry?" I scoffed. "You're sorry?"
"You're five years too late."
I stood up.
Ready to leave.
"Juliana, don't do this," he said quickly. "Just listen to me."
I turned to him, anger rising.
"You hurt me, Justin. Really hurt me. And whatever you have to say now isn't going to undo that."
His expression changed.
"Do you think it was easy for me too?" he snapped. "It wasn't. I thought about you every day, Juliana. Every single day. Wishing I could hold you… talk to you…"
"Then why did you push me away like I meant nothing?" I asked.
He went quiet.
Then sighed.
"Look… you don't have to accept me back," he said. "But don't let your pride get in the way. Your company needs this investment and I am advising you as an investor and not as someone I know. It would hurt me to know I had the opportunity to help and I didn't ."
And just like that—
He walked away.
Leaving me standing there.
Confused.
Angry.
Hurt.
I couldn't believe him.
I went to get Ben, and we headed home.
Later that night, I called Stacy over.
I told her everything.
Every single thing that happened.
She stayed with me.
Comforting me.
Until I finally fell asleep.