Once His Mate Now His Rival (by Lord Browny) novel Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

SIX YEARS LATER

Amber’s lips curled into a smile the moment she stepped into her son’s room. Her smile grew even bigger when she saw her little angel still fast asleep in his little bed.

She gently closed the door behind her and walked quietly to his side.

“Hey, sweetheart,” she whispered softly, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. “It’s time to wake up.

“Not yet, Mummy. I wanna sleep a little more,” the boy mumbled, his voice muffled by the pillow.

Amber laughed quietly to herself. No matter how early he went to bed, her little boy just wasn’t a morning person, something he’d definitely inherited from his…

She paused, her smile faltering for a moment before she shook her head, refusing to let the thought in.

“But if you don’t get up now, you’ll be late for school.”

With a dramatic sigh, the boy pulled the bedsheet over his head.

“Then let me skip school today,” he muttered from beneath the fabric.

Amber grinned. “Even if I told you I’ll be driving you to school today?”

The boy instantly opened his eyes and sat up straight.

“Really, Mommy?”

She chuckled and nodded. “Really.”

“Then let’s get ready for school!”

With that, Amber led her son to the bathroom, where she gently bathed him. Afterward, she wrapped him in a soft towel and dried him off before handing him his clothes.

It wasn’t a secret that the little boy was at that age where he wanted to do everything on his own, eager to prove he was a big boy. Sometimes she let him, standing nearby to supervise and offer help when needed. Other times, like today, she did it for him, enjoying the rare moments of closeness while they lasted.

Once he was dressed, Amber took his hand and led him to the kitchen.

Emma, the boy’s nanny, had already prepared breakfast. All Amber had to do was dish out the food. A few minutes later, they were both seated at the table, quietly eating.

“Mummy,” Jason said between bites, “I had that dream again today.”

Amber’s hand paused midair, her spoon hovering over her plate. She frowned slightly but kept her voice gentle.

“Really?”

Jason nodded.

“Was it any different this time?” she asked.

He shook his head. “No, Mummy. It was the same. I was playing with a little girl who looked just like me. She started crying when I was about to leave… and then I woke up.”

Amber inhaled sharply, blinking away the sudden sting behind her eyes. She managed a soft smile, trying not to let the emotion show.

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Chapter Severy

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There really was nothing different about the dream. For the past two months, her little boy had been having the same dream, of a girl who looked just like him.

Amber didn’t need anyone to tell her who the girl was.

She already knew.

It was his twin sister.

She had spoken to her closest friend about it, who had gently explained that it wasn’t unheard of in their world. It was rare, but not impossible. Twins, especially those with strong bonds, could share a psychic connection. Sometimes, even when separated, their souls reached out to each other in dreams.

Amber didn’t know if the other twin was dreaming about Jason too, but deep down, she believed it. And she also knew the dreams wouldn’t stop until the two of them finally met.

She took a deep breath and looked at her son, her heart full of love and quiet pain.

“It’s okay, sweetheart,” she said, reaching out to tuck a loose curl behind his ear. “Sometimes dreams are just… reminders.”

“Of what mama?” Jason asked, his curious eyes locking with hers.

Amber hesitated, then smiled.

“Of someone very special you haven’t met yet.”

Jason tilted his head, thinking, but eventually nodded and returned to his food.

After he finished eating, Amber led him outside to the car parked in the driveway. She started the engine and drove to his school.

The ride felt longer than usual, the quiet hum of the engine giving her too much space to think. When they finally arrived, Amber parked and stepped out, opening the backseat door to help him down.

“I miss you already,” she said with a soft smile, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead just as his teacher approached.

Jason grinned and waved back at her as he walked off hand–in–hand with his teacher.

Amber stood there for a moment, watching until he disappeared into the school building. Her smile slowly faded as she turned back to her car.

Sighing as she sat in the driver’s seat, Amber exhaled and started the engine once more, this time heading toward MPK, the company she had built from the ground up over the last several years.

As she drove, her mind drifted. And the memories came uninvited.

The pain.

The betrayals.

The loneliness.

The endless nights of tears and quiet rage.

She had fought hard to survive. And twice harder to build a life for her son and… to wait.

For six long years, she had been planning. Strategizing. Preparing for the day she would take back what was stolen from her.

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Chapter Seven

Every day she told herself the same thing, that it was not time yet.

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But after hearing Jason talk about the dream again this morning, after seeing the look in his eyes, Amber knew the time had finally come.

She couldn’t postpone it any longer.

It was time.

Time to put her plans in motion.

Time to return to New York.

Time to reclaim the child she had lost.

And this time, she wouldn’t beg. She wouldn’t plead.

This time, she would show them hell.