Entangled forever.

I ran as fast as I could. It was pouring in Chicago. But I didn't care as my happiness new no boundaries. I waited so long for this opportunity and now it was finally here. My life had been so uncertain until this point. But now I was sure. "Good things are always coming your way."

I had been balancing college and work in the hopes of building a better life for my kiddo. She was my world, my everything. My Three year old daughter was my sole reason to survive.

A month after graduation I applied for job and as it goes I faced a lot of criticism for that "You won't make it."

"Don't apply. You will be rejected anyways."

It was disheartening indeed. But I had to do it. I had to take the leap of faith. I had to do it for my daughter. So I went ahead and applied. Without having any second thoughts.

"Thank you to listening to your heart, Mia." I said to myself. "Thank you for not giving up."

I was super proud of myself. So many people tried their level best to push me down so bad. But I never gave up. I held on to my faith. My little Angel gave me the strength to do that.

I closed the door behind me and removed my jacket. Drops of Water ran down from my hair drenching my shirt. Tiny arms enveloped my right leg. "Mommy!" My sweet little girl's voice filled my ears.

I picked her up into my arms and she placed a soft little kiss on my cheek. "Wet Mommy ! " She giggled. "What took you so long?"

"Yes ! What took you so long?" My mother's voice joined in. She took my princess into her arms giving me a towel and a sign to settle down on one of the dining chairs in our small Chicago apartment.

I wrapped the towel around my hair. "I got the job, Mama."

Mama stared at me for a moment, her gaze was transfixed on me. Then I saw her eyes moisten. She gave me a heartwarming smile and enveloped me into a warm hug with my baby daughter. "I knew it. I knew you would make it."

Tears streamed down her face as she placed a gentle kiss on my forehead. More and more tears escaped her eyes as she looked up and said "Merci Dieu."

"Don't cry, Nana." My little daughter wiped her Nana's cheeks.

"Aww, Ava." Mama kissed her granddaughter. "These are tears of happiness. Merci Dieu."

"Merci." Ava tried to mimic her Nana's French.

"Mama." I called her to sit beside me. She gently settled Ava down on the floor and she ran towards her room to play with her toys.

"What is it, Mia?"

"Mama, FH publishing House offered me two options. The Paris office and the London office. I chose the London one."

Mama let out a sigh. "Mia, we could have moved back to Paris. Your father wanted us to move back after college."

"Mon Dieu! How do you expect me to move back to Paris, Mama? Especially back with Papa. Till date he hasn't accepted Ava as his grand daughter."

"Things change, Mia."

"Are you serious?" I looked at her in disbelief. The happiness around us was now replaced by a tense air. "Dad considers my daughter as a bâtarde."

"Mia..."

"What, Mama?" I snapped at her. "You think Papa will welcome me and Ava with open arms ?"

"It will take some time."

"No, Mama. It will never change."

"Mia, try to understand."

"You understand this, Mama. Papa will never accept Ava. He hates me and my daughter. That's the truth."

"Mia...."

"Stop!" I interrupted her. "I am never going back to Paris. Not in this life. I don't want to go back to my father. Neither do I want to revisit those Memories that cause me nothing but pain."

I got up and walked towards my room ignoring my mother. I slammed the door behind me and reached my bed. I looked straight up at the ceiling. Tears clouded my vision as my memories from the past returned.

"Papa, I am pregnant." I whispered hoping for it to go unheard. But I was so wrong. His palm collided with my cheek and I could feel the throbbing pain. My mouth tested metallic as my own blood filled my mouth. What was I expecting?

He stared right at me clenching his moth shut. "la pute." His voice echoed through the room. Even though it was pouring outside I could hear his voice loud and clear.

Tears streamed down my face as I looked at my father in disbelief. My father who loved me and pampered me had just called me a whore. "Papa, d... do.. don't say that." I stumbled upon my words.

"You are a disgrace, Mia. I already warned you from the very beginning. Everything is destroyed now. My pride, My honour. You are responding for it." He pointed his finger at me. "You are responsible, Mia. I wish you were dead."

I looked at him. He was a completely different person. The love on his eyes was gone. All I could see was rage.

He stared at me with flames of anger burning in his eyes. "Yet, I can't even kill you. You are my only child. But I will stop loving you from this moment onwards." His eyes were empty as his words echoed in my ears. His empty eyes were all that was left.

"Mia." Mama's soft touch brought me out of my dreams.

I pushed myself up resting my back on a pillow. Mama sat down on my bed. She placed her hand on mine. "Mia, I am sorry."

"It's okay, Mama."

"I am, Mia. I didn't mean to hurt you again."

"It's okay, Mama. I am sorry for behaving like an unruly teenager out there." I gave her a weak smile in order to make her feel better. But she caught me.

"Mia, you have endured a lot of pain at a very young age. You are a strong woman and a loving mother, my darling." Mama rubbed Her thumb against my palm. It helped me relax as always.

"I will always support you. Remember, I am always proud of you and I will always love you and Ava."

"I love you, Mama." I smiled at her. This time the smile was genuine.

"But I will have to let your father know that I am not going back to Paris."

I gave her a puzzled look. "You mean to say.."

"I mean to say that" she interrupted me "I will be moving to London with you."

"Mama, you have been away from Papa for so long. You should go back."

"I can never forget that night, Mia." She looked away from me. "If I hadn't threatened your father to help you out, God !!! I am even scared to think." She placed her face in her palms.

"It's okay, Mama. Let's not talk about it." I placed a kiss on her head. "I am just grateful for everything."

"Even for all the heartbreak ?" She looked at me.

"Yes. Even for all the heartbreak." I smiled at her. "I have got you and Ava. Even though Papa is not himself anymore, I know somewhere he still loved me. Even if it's a little bit." I gestured with my thumb and index finger.

Mama gave a hearty laugh. She placed her palm against my cheek and leaned into her touch. " Good things.."

"Are always coming our way." I finished her sentence. She took me in her arms just like she used to when I was a little girl. Papa's arms were my safety net and her arms gave me comfort and strength. I no longer had my safety net but I had her. I was forever grateful for her.

"So when do we leave for London?"

"In three weeks."