Uninhibited Fixation

Chapter 7 - Returned

I sigh out of relief as I now have everything ready for Orion's birthday.

I've got his gift, and I made sure I have the day free for that day although it's not really certain. I'm just hoping that the universe is on my side that day and I won't get a call saying I have to urgently go to the hospital.

I step out of the small grocery store from buying the ingredients for Orion's cake. It's a tradition that I came up with since the moment he turned two. I've baked him a chocolate cake every year since then and he loves it. Chocolate cake is his favorite. I'm the complete opposite. I prefer vanilla with maybe a light strawberry filling. Not that it matters though. My birthday has basically become nonexistent. That day solely belongs to Orion now and the attention is only for him. I don't mind it at all. I actually prefer it that way.

I've only taken a few steps before I completely stop. My face drops and my grip on the grocery bag in my hand almost loosens. I blink once to see if the person I am seeing is real. She is and I'm not hallucinating.

I look away from her since she isn't aware of my presence. I pretend to not notice her as I try to walk past her. It almost works but then I'm stopped.

"Catalina?" The older woman's voice sounds from behind me.

I hesitantly turn around, a fake smile on my lips.

"Caroline." I acknowledge her.

I drop the smile in an instant. She as always gives me a dirty look. It's a look she has given me since the moment she met me. The woman has always hated me with no actual motive.

Her being here in this city is not a good thing. At all. Why is she here?

"How are you? It's been so long." I act so fake that she can clearly tell.

"I've been as good as ever. Ever since my son decided that you were of no good use to him and he dumped you." Her words almost make me laugh.

She thinks her son dumped me? How interesting.

"Good to know." I clearly show that her words don't affect me in anyway.

"We've come back now. I'm taking this as an opportunity to advise you to stay away from Kane. I don't want you near him again." She tries to be threatening.

"Don't worry I have no plans of that but maybe the person you should be advising is your son." I give her another smile.

"He won't be looking for you. He has moved on and for good." She tries to convince me.

"I'm sure he has." I nod to agree.

She looks me up and down in such a judgmental way before turning around with her shopping bags. I watch her leave before I continue my way back to my car.

The moment I am driving everything comes to me. The whole family is back and obviously for good. This isn't good. This could put Orion in danger. Kane can find out about Orion and then he'll have questions and it will be a disaster. He will take Orion from me and surely brainwash him into being like him. That isn't a good thing. That whole family is mental.

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I walk into Lucia's house after Orion. My sister invited us over for dinner and Orion asked me to say yes and I can't say no to him so now here we are.

To be honest, I wasn't in the mood. I haven't been in the mood for anything since my little encounter with that woman earlier today. It makes my brain want to explode at the thought that she is my son's grandmother.

I greet Lucia and Marco after Orion. They are kind as always. Orion goes to watch a soccer game on the television as Dahlia sleeps. I'm in the kitchen with Lucia and Marco who are making me a drink.

I'm zoned out on a the bowl of fruit on the counter when Lucia speaks up.

"Cat?" She gives me a small smile.

"Is everything okay?" Her and Marco look at me in question.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I lie and Lucia clearly knows that because I don't put any effort into it.

She gives me a look as Marco goes to check on the food on the stove.

"You look anxious and you keep zoning out." She points out as she gives me my drink.

I sigh hesitating because it's my problem. I don't want to stress her out or anything.

"Kane-" I hesitate again.

"What about him?" She quickly questions, worry in her green pretty eyes.

Marco stands beside her in confusion on who I am talking about.

"Him and his family are back in the city. I ran into his mother this morning." I just tell her as she runs a hand through her slightly wavy light brown hair.

"I'm afraid that he will find out about Orion and then take him from me." I voice out my thoughts.

"Is Kane his father?" Marco asks and I nod.

I forgot that he doesn't know anything about this topic.

"But are they just vacationing or are they here for good?" Lucia asks.

"For good. I'm sure of it because his mother asked me to not look for him or go anywhere near him." I tell them my observation.

"If you are okay with it, I can provide you with guards and security around your house." Marco offers and Lucia nods.

I turn behind me toward the doorway to see Orion excitedly watching the soccer game.

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I walk into my father's office. A surprised look is on his face when seeing me.

I haven't seen him nor talked to him since our last fight. I wasn't planning to see him at all but I need to know if he knows anything about Kane and his family returning.

"Catalina." He acknowledges me with curiosity.

"Kane and his family are back. Do you know anything?" I get straight to the point.

He actually seems to be surprised at the revelation. "What do you mean they're back?"

He obviously isn't aware.

They had originally left because they were having some problems within their illegal businesses, so they had to flee. That is obviously over now and it's the reason they're back.

"I saw Caroline. She talked to me." I don't give him any details because it's unnecessary at the moment.

My father stays quiet appearing to be in deep thought. He doesn't seem happy with this new information. I'm glad we're on the same page about something for once.

"Don't worry. I'll investigate why they decided to return, and I'll make sure they won't find out about Orion."

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I promise they're finally meeting again in the next chapter and the story will pick up from there :,)