Divorced Heiress
Chapter 23

A shiver ran down my spine all the way to the back of my neck, when the private jet landed at the private airport in New York, my stomach churned and I had to drink a whole bottle of water to avoid throwing up right there. Back in New York.

"Are you okay?" Vincent asked by my side, he had been by my side throughout the entire trip with Tristan playing on his lap and now my little baby was sound asleep in my cousin's comfortable arms. "Yes, of course I'm fine." I blatantly lied, smiling.

I didn't feel completely well, it was inevitable to remember part of my life as Mrs. Lancaster, especially remembering as if it had been yesterday, the day I returned from my little vacation in Orlando with the pregnancy test in my hand and nervous to tell Alexander the news that he would be a father. Now I was landing in this place again, but with my son in my arms

It was alright, no one would know about Tristan's existence.

"Your pale face says otherwise." Vincent caught me lying and I chuckled as I got up from my seat after Vincent did.

"Don't worry, princess, nothing will happen to you as long as I'm by your side, you can use me publicly as you please, as your best friend, the father of your child, your new husband, or as your bodyguard, don't forget that."

I laughed again at his remarks, and we exited the jet where the others were waiting for us, we were the only ones left to exit due to my sudden discomfort.

"Vin, there's no need for me to pretend that you're my husband or the father of my child, it would lead to news about us and I don't want to harm your image, all your fans will be disappointed and hate me." I said. Vin laughed without humor and adjusted Tristan, resting his little dark-haired head on his shoulder.

"Besides, nobody needs to know about my private life, I won't show Tristan publicly."

"Fans? What's that? I've been alone for years and you know that very well, nobody will hate you. I leave the offer open for you, the last time the one who shall not be named saw us, he left thinking that you and I had something, so we can keep making him believe that there's something between us. Oh, look, the fruit of our love is waking up."

I laughed when my cousin spoke playfully upon seeing Tristan shift uncomfortably on his shoulder and then go back to sleep as if there was no tomorrow.

"False alarm."

"The fruit of our love? The trip affected you, didn't it? What will the media say when everyone finds out that I'm Leonardo's daughter? Everyone will know that I'm your cousin, and that will be frowned upon."

We walked slowly towards where my father was with the others, giving each one instructions on what to do and which car to take. Abby could barely stand, as she had attended a party last night and ended up very drunk. Jack left with Ms. Boyer and Vincent's assistant in one of the three parked cars.

"Nonsense, your father and my mother are only siblings by name, everyone knows that, so..."

"Vincent, you're coming with us, Abby, Sarah, Tristan, and Maga, you'll go in the other car." My father interrupted Vincent, which I appreciated. I didn't know where he was going with this conversation, but I already had an answer, and it was a resounding no. I wasn't going to involve anyone in future destructive gossip.

No one would know about my private life, the only thing they would know was that I was a divorced woman, and that was it.

"I'll go with Sarah, uncle, Tristan is asleep. Let Abby go with you." Vincent said, pointing to my son who was still peacefully sleeping. I looked at my father and subtly signaled him with my eyes, which he immediately understood.

"I need to talk about a few things with you, let's go, Vincent." My father insisted, and Vincent had no choice but to obey.

My cousin looked at me disappointed and skillfully left Tristan in the car seat, my son barely moved.

"Just keep it in mind, princess, I say this because I don't want you to get hurt again, you can always count on me." He said with a slight half-smile, and I nodded, not very sure, before he left with my parents.I let out a tired sigh and got into the car where Abby was waiting with her eyes closed and Maga in the passenger seat.

"I hate hangovers. I won't have a single drop of alcohol ever again in my life." Abby said with her eyes still shut as the car started moving.

Alcohol.

That was what I needed to alleviate my discomfort from returning to this place where I experienced the best and worst days of my life, but I wouldn't do it even if I needed to. I was a responsible mother now.

"Only you would get drunk the day before traveling, you're crazy." I told her as I made sure Tristan was securely in his seat, pulled out my phone, and glanced at my packed schedule for the week. I would barely have time to breathe.

"Tell me something I don't know." She said, settling into her seat with the intention of sleeping. I chuckled, at least she's aware of her craziness.

"Speaking of crazy..." I exclaimed when she raised her head as if she remembered something and took off her sunglasses, revealing her tired eyes.

"My brother is arriving tonight and we're all going out to have fun before starting the busiest week of our lives."

I turned my gaze away from my phone screen and looked at her with narrowed eyes. Another one affected by the trip.

"Abby, you just said you won't have a drop of alcohol ever again in your life and now you're planning to get drunk again, we haven't even finished arriving." I said in a low voice so as not to wake up Tristan as I frowned at her. "Besides, I can't leave my son alone so soon, I don't know how long I'll be without him all week."

"Miss Sarah, don't worry about Tristan, I'll take care of him, go have fun, it's been a while since you did, take advantage of this trip to relax." Maga said, surprising me as she joined the conversation from the front seat. "See! Maga, you're an angel fallen from heaven, you've become my heroine." Abby spoke excitedly, unable to contain her joy at Nana's offer, causing Tristan to stir as if he wanted to wake up, earning a stern look from me. "Oh, sorry."

We soon arrived at the mansion my father bought a few months ago. Now I understood why he was so interested in a property in New York even though I disagreed. Of course! He had already planned everything in advance, he would accept the invitation to Fashion Week that he had rejected for years and bring us all to be part of such an important event.

I carried Tristan in my arms to enter the ostentatious mansion, and he soon woke up, looking around curiously and fixing his gaze on me as if asking where we were.

"We've arrived, my love." I said, and he sleepily looked at the house that was completely unfamiliar to him, and to me too.

"Do you want some water?" He nodded, and I reached for his special water cup to give him a drink.

"Look who woke up, Sleeping Beauty." Abby approached me as she got out of the car and caressed Tristan's hair.

"Don't you give your mom permission to go out tonight and have fun? Don't you?" Tristan's honey-colored eyes turned to Abby and then to me, obviously not understanding what Abby was saying but still nodding his head while drinking his water, in response to my friend's last question.

"That's my nephew! Even Tristan agrees! High five!"

Tristan high-fived Abby and I playfully shook my head.

"I imagine I'm invited too." Vincent's voice made me turn to look at him, and I couldn't help but remember the strange conversation at the airport.

"But of course, I won't be the only one playing the violin for Sarah and Paul." Abby said, amused, and I discreetly nudged her with my elbow. "Ouch, no aggression, please."

"When is Paul arriving?" Vincent asked, ignoring the nonsense coming out of Abby's mouth as he ruffled Tristan's hair.

"Tonight, just in time for us to go have fun. I've already planned everything. We'll go to the most exclusive bar, and guess what? Thursdays are tango nights, and guess what day it is today? Thursday! Tonight, we'll show off our forbidden dance moves." Abby began dancing with her best tango steps, and Tristan let out a laugh that infected all of us.I admitted that I was enthusiastic about the idea, we both were passionate about tango, in the past we used to dance like professionals, but now I didn't know if I could dance like I did years ago.

"Before Abby leads them down the path of alcohol, let's settle in and review the activities we will have during our stay." My father interrupted our conversation. However, Abby continued dancing to imaginary music, at least I know she still danced as well or even better than before.

After bathing and feeding Tristan, I left him asleep in the bed my father prepared specially for him. I gave Maga instructions in case he wakes up, although she already knew everything, after all, she helped my mother take care of me since I was born and now she was helping me with my son.

I dressed in a tight black dress with spaghetti straps that reached to my knees with a slight opening on the left leg, it was the most comfortable outfit I found in case I feel like dancing tango tonight. Although if Paul was present, we would most likely remember old times with our best tango steps.

In the living room, an impatient Abby was typing quickly on her cellphone, and Vincent had his eyes closed in boredom.

"Did it take me long with Tristan?" I asked.

"We leaving?" I asked as I made sure I had everything I needed in my purse.

"Finally." Abby said, jumping up from the sofa to take my arm and pull me towards the exit. "Let's go quickly."

"Abby, can you calm down? We'll get there anyway." I heard Vincent, who was following us, say. Abby suddenly stopped, causing her body to collide with my cousin's.

"Crazy girl."

"Can you stop being so serious for a second? Thanks. And crazy my foot." My cousin retorted.

I watched their small argument and covered my mouth to suppress my laughter. Vincent looked at her with narrowed eyes, and for a moment I thought he would refuse to go anywhere with my friend.

"And you, stop making fun of me." Abby added.

My laughter subsided as Abby's seriousness returned, and she continued walking towards the car where the driver was waiting for us.

"What time does Paul arrive?" I asked when the car started moving, earning me a meaningful look from Abby and causing me to roll my eyes.

"How interested, Ms. Doinel. I'm sorry to inform you that I don't have that information. In any case, he will arrive at the bar at any time, so don't worry, you'll see your man soon." She said with a smirk. Vincent released a amused laugh next to Abby. "Vincent! You should defend me, not laugh at me." I said as my cousin raised his hands in the air as if he were innocent.

"Now one can't even ask a simple question."

Abby gave the driver directions to the bar, and after half an hour of talking about the impressive tango performance Abby was going to give with her best tango steps, the car stopped outside the bar that my friend had been talking about so much. I soon realized that it was Mr. Rehman's bar, Alexander's best friend, and a bad taste filled my mouth.

No matter, no one was going to disturb my night, nor my stay in New York.

Abby exchanged a few words with the guard, and despite the number of people waiting outside to get in, they let us in. We followed my friend into the place, and I smiled when I heard a tango piece that made me want to go straight to the dance floor, but I held back. Abby guided us to the second floor in the VIP area.

As soon as I set foot in the area where there was a sign with my friend's last name, I felt arms wrap around my waist, taking me by surprise.

"Ms. Sarah, long time no see." I heard the familiar masculine voice in my ear, and I quickly turned around in astonishment to see Paul's smiling face.

"Paul!" I hugged him excited and at the same time surprised.

I didn't expect him to be waiting for us, now I understood why Abby was in such a hurry. I couldn't deny that I missed him a lot, almost a year without seeing him and he looked so different, very attractive with his new haircut and his stubble, despite the tiredness on his face.

"I thought you wouldn't make it in time." I said playfully in his ear. He greeted his sister with a kiss and Vincent with a handshake, after breaking our hug, and turned his brown gaze towards me, without erasing the genuine smile from his face.

"Oh, just in time for what?" He asked playfully and knowingly, as he took my hand to play with my fingers.

He knew what I was referring to, we made the best dance couple when it came to tango.

"To propose to you, of course, now it's women who take the initiative, didn't you know? Women in power!" Abby spoke before I could say anything, and I looked at her with a sour face for interrupting our conversation with her jokes, at the same time that Paul let out a laugh. "Well, anyways, I'm leaving, I'll go with your boring cousin."

I opened my mouth to speak and remind him of the great couple we made in the past when dancing tango, but I closed it when a familiar and unpleasant female voice interrupted the moment.

"It can't be! The gold digger has returned."