Found

N/B : I still haven't signed the contract to make the chapters paywall

Music recommendation : Found by Nick Youre.

(Author's POV)

Saturday,

12 :30 pm,

Sanchez Residence.

'Ma, I'm heading out. Jacob gave me an invite to his little sister's birthday.' Matty yelled from where she sat on the floor.

A hand patted his shoulder heavily. It belonged to his sister.

'Sorry.' He said. She was braiding his hair. Finally, a solution was found for his stubborn hair. He attempted shaving it down to his scalp but his sister freaked out about it. To his sister, he said. 'You know? You could come if you want.'

She shook her head.

'Please.' Matty made a sign with his hand and pouted his lips.

She shook her head again, refusing his offer. While patting his shoulder, she lent him a small mirror.

'Thanks. You're really good at this.' He made a sign with his hands.

She replied with a smile.

'I'm heading out, ma.' Matty calls loudly again and leaning over to kiss his sister's cheek. 'I'll be right back, Bella.'

Bella walked him to the door and waved till she could no longer see his cycling shadow.

The same day at Rivera Mansion,

12 : 45pm.

'The waiter didn't book our table.' Mr Rivera chuckled softly as a young attendant refilled his wine glass.

Peter Rivera is 55 years old. His ash-brown hair is pulled back tight in a ponytail. His olive skinned face was satiny and without blemish neither were there stubbles nor blotches on his jaw. He was as neat-looking as he was handsome. He had on a navy blue tuxedo with gold rims. His almond orbs brightened up as he spoke. The man exuded a foreign confidence that left his guest in awe as he spoke. Why wouldn't they? He was a major shareholder at Palmer, one of New York's largest business enterprise.

'That's rude. Don't he know who you are?' A slim rosy skinned lady scoffs as she put her wine glass to her lips, taking a sip of 1945 Romanée-Conti.

'Guess what Peter did the next day, Tina?' Alianne, a fair skinned lady withdrew her glass from her lips after taking a sip.

Tina who had piqued interest in the story sat up. 'Oh please, tell me.' She looked at Peter and the man cleared his throat.

'I bought the restaurant 5 seconds later. The next day, I had it demolished. I'm currently building a department store there.' Peter twirled in the wine in his glass. Pride exuding from his voice.

'Wow. As expected.' A robust man in a stripped suit applauded.

'Yes. Indeed.' Tina smiles a beautiful smile and runs her hand down her thigh seductively.

Alianne chuckled. 'You're not gonna get my husband, Tina.'

Tina pouts. 'Why not? Everyone here has slept with each other's husband.'

'Well, not my husband and I.' Alianne locked lips with her husband before disappearing downstairs.

On her way, she hears low muffled sounds coming from the cellar. Slowly, she reached underneath her slitted gown and untaped the knife hidden in her thigh. Without asking, she lunged forward.

'Jesus! Mom!' Scott dropped the bottle and it crashed to the floor, leaving a stain of crimson glass shards.

'What's wrong with you? I could've stabbed you?' Alianne's hand flew to her chest.

Scott rolled his eyes. 'I should be asking what's wrong with you. You carry a knife around?

'Yes. In case an intruder walks in which is what you look like right now.' Alianne pushed the bell on the wall. 'Clean up needed in the wine cellar.'

Scott shrugs indifferently. 'I'm not intruding. I'm just borrowing some wine for a party.'

'Do you know how long your father waited to buy this? He'll have your head.' Alianne said tight-lipped.

'I'm sorry?' Scott put his hands together as though he wanted to pray.

'You're lucky you're my son.' Alianne exhales softly.

'Thanks, Ma.' Scott leans over to kiss her cheek. 'I'll go grab another one.

'No. You will not!' Alianne yelled.

West Residence,

1pm,

Noon.

Gracie is doing a one-armed handstand when her father walks into the room.

'It's 1pm sharp. You're gonna be late for the party.' He reminded her.

'Oh shit.' Gracie gets off the wall and rush to her closet, rummaging through her hung clothes.

Mr West chuckled softly as he leaned against the jamb of the door.

'What's funny?' Gracie pouts at her dad.

'Nothing.' He waved it off.

Gracie found a black jeans ripped at the knees and a black crop top to match. 'These look good?' She raised them for her dad to see and he gave a thumbs-up.

'They'll look A-okay if you hide that belly button of yours in a jacket.' Mt West adds softly.

'Of course.' Gracie rolled her eyes.

West watched his daughter bury her head into the closet only to groan a few seconds later. 'Is anything wrong?'

'Everything! I left my jacket at mom's.' Gracie winced as though she was in pain.

'Well, you can go to her place and get it back.' West makes a suggestion and she declined.

'No. Mom's not in town. That's what she told me.' Gracie palmed her face. 'If you both weren't divorced, my jacket would be here with me.'

West had a worried look on his face. 'I'm sorry, pumpkin. But I had no choice.'

'You could've just….' Before Gracie would complete her sentence, he enveloped her in a hug.

'It's okay, pumpkin. I'll take care of you.' West pats his daughter's hair softly and they both pulled away.

Gracie wiped her eyes with the heels of her palm. 'Fuck. I hate crying.' She sniffled then begins to laugh.

Her father joins her.

Gracie looks at her dad as he laughs. His messy brown hair was fading to ash-white and wrinkles appeared underneath his eyes even though he hid them behind his glasses. She pictured him 5 years ago when he was still a musician - happier and more carefree than she is. Now, he's more like a grown up who isn't all grown up. He owns a record label and writes songs for singers who want hits and cartoons that wanna make sales. He's got it going but without her mom in his life, he was miserable and he knows it but can't accept it.

'I'll drop you off at the Wright's.' He offered.

'No.' Gracie shook her head. 'I'll drive myself please. I'm 18.'

'Fine. But don't crash my car.' West leaves Gravise to get dressed.

She calls back. 'If I do, you'll get a new one before Tuesday.'

The Wright's residence,

1 : 15pm.

(Charlotte's POV)

'Happy birthday, Layla.' echoes repeatedly in my head. I was standing in line. A line which majority of the standers are adult men. I thought of them as lolicons or it could be that Layla's really famous. I once saw her in a cereal commercial.

I handed her my gift box. 'Happy Birthday, Layla.'

She beams a sweet smile at me and I returned it. Dammit! She's prettier than I am.

Standing beside her in the living room is her dad. He keeps the gift where the rest were piled up. Woah. Way to go, Layla.

Once the gifting ceremony is over, next in the order of arrangement is a dance with the princess. The DJ played a classical for it. Everyone offered to dance with her but only a selected few were opportune. Including Jacob who was smiling from ear to ear. I thought Sophie was his crush now it's Layla? Speaking of Sophie. I stuff my hand in my bag and take out my phone. I capture the moment — Layla's dance, when she cut her cake, even when she struggled to hit her pinata. It was fun. I sent them all to Sophie. Yeah. We reconciled last night. But it took me alot of crying and pleadings to make Sophie forgive me.

She had a frown on her face when she answered the video call.

'Be quick. I'm busy.' She had said.

'I'm sorry.' I did as Nurse Amie told me.

Sophie had folded her arms over her chest. 'So?'

'What?' I had been so confused.

'You're sorry. That's it?' Sophie took her phone in hand.

'My word. I just said I'm sorry. What else do you want to hear?' I got angry.

'Fine. You can resume not talking to me. You've got American friends, right? Go talk to 'em.' Sophie tried to end the call but I had yelled at her to stop.

'Please, I'm sorry.' I had wiped my damp eyelids with my sleeves. 'Remember when she first met, we promised not to fight over boys.'

Sophia smiled at recalling the memory. 'Yeah. We were little shits back then.'

I laughed. 'Yeah. Boyfriends might break up but besties are for life.'

Her face fell. 'Now, we're arguing over that asshole.'

'I'm sorry. I thought…..' I hadn't finish my sentence when she stopped me.

'I know. It's difficult to get over a first love. I've been there. But I didn't want you to get hurt okay. Long distance never works, trust me on this one. You can find love in America. Levi's just next door.'

'Hey.' I scoff.

'Tis true.' She went on. 'You talk about him all the time. If someone else listens to you, they'll think you're his girlfriend.'

'Apparently, he's got one.' I sigh.

'You can date his brother.'

'Nah. I'll pass.'

Back on track, Doctor David is giving a toast. 'Today, we celebrate our daughter, Layla Wright, who's turning out to be a big lady overnight. They all grow up so fast, don't they….

'Dad, hurry up.' Layla whines and the guests erupt into laughter. I drank in that moment. The atmosphere was filled with mirth. Every face had a smile. A genuine smile. I almost forgot I had a heart disease. I almost forgot I almost died at the last H. A. S. But the moment I saw his face, I knew I will forget our kiss.