Chapter 13

Anderson POV

Mommy?

The word echoed in my mind, over and over. What a woman. She stood there, her presence undeniable even amid the clamor of the high-profile event. The woman I once knew, Kelly Brooks or was it Kendra now?—was standing right in front of me, surrounded by a sea of luxury and power. My mind was clouded with thoughts of her. The woman who had once been nothing more than an opportunity to manipulate. The woman who had never really loved me, yet here she was, looking as stunning as ever.

But what truly stopped me was the realization. The way she had changed. She was more radiant now, a clear sign of wealth, success, and dare I say it—freedom. Yet, beneath the exterior, it was still her, Kelly.

And then my eyes found the man behind her. The piece of the puzzle clicked into place, I couldn’t help but feel the pull of jealousy rising in my chest. I could vividly remember him from way back, he was rude to me when we first crossed paths, he was