"Thanks for today, Iris," Meryl said, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"Do you mind if I drive you home in my car?" he asked, his tone was serious.

"I would love to," she started to say, but then stopped short. Two cars pulled up and Tyrson stepped out of one of them, arm-in-arm with Julia. They looked cozy together, and Michelle felt a pang of jealousy.

Had he finally moved on? she wondered, a bitter taste in her mouth. But then she shook herself out of her

She couldn't believe what she was thinking. She told herself that she didn't care if Tyrson had moved on. But still, the thought of him with someone else stung.

"What the hell was I thinking?" she muttered under her breath, shaking her head. She turned to Iris, who was looking at her expectantly. "Let's go," she said, trying to put on a brave face.

She didn't know why she said yes, was she trying to make Tyrson jealous or catch his attention.

She wasn't sure why she'd said yes. Was she trying to get Tyrson's attention? Or was she just feeling jealous?

Iris wrapped his arm around her shoulders, guiding her to the car. She saw Tyrson in the distance, and he seemed to be watching them.

Iris opened the door for her, and she got into the car. He got in after her, and they drove away. She couldn't help but wonder if Tyrson had seen them together.
                                      

"Could you please drop me off here?" Meryl asked halfway to Winter Spring.

"But I'd like to drop you off at home," Iris said, sounding confused.

"I'm not heading home straight away," she said, her voice low. "It would be great if you could drop me here."

The car came to a stop, the tires squealing as he hit the brakes.

"Thank you, Iris," she said, a small smile playing on her lips.

"You don't have to thank me," he replied, his own smile warm and reassuring. She felt her cheeks grow hot, realizing that her flirtation had been a bit obvious.

She stood and watched him drive away, making a U-turn in the road. Meryl stood on the curb and hailed a taxi, which took her to Michelle's school.

Meryl entered the grounds of Winter Spring and saw Michelle waiting for her by the playground. She looked happy, but her expression darkened when she saw Meryl.

"Let's go home," she said as soon as Meryl reached her. She took her hand, but Michelle pulled away, her eyes filled with anger.

Meryl's heart broke at the sight of her daughter's face. She knelt in front of her, reaching for her hand. "I'm sorry, my dear," she said softly. "I'm so sorry."

"Please don't be sad, mom," she said in the softest voice. Meryl wrapped her arms around her daughter, holding her close.

After a moment, she let go and they began to walk towards the street. "Today, mom, I met Mr. Philanthropist," Michelle said.

"What kind of person is Mr. Philanthropist?" Meryl asked, intrigued by this mysterious person.

"He's a man who came to our school to donate some money," she replied. "He saw me at the playground today and came over to talk to me. He's the nicest man I've ever met, mom. I wish he sounded more like dad," she said, babbling on about the man.

Meryl lifted her up on her shoulder, "and he also bought me a Knickerbocker glory" she added, she seemed so happy talking about the stranger.

"But didn't I tell you not to accept gifts from strangers?" Meryl asked.

"Well, he said it wouldn't be polite to refuse a friend's offer," Michelle replied, sounding quite grown-up for her age.

                   ****FLASHBACK****

Meryl turned around, seething with anger at the handsome stranger who was following her. "What's your problem?" she demanded, her voice shaking with rage. "Why won't you leave me alone?"

His smile was dazzling, the kind that could make any woman weak in the knees. But Meryl was made of stronger stuff. She had been burned before, and she wouldn't let it happen again.

"I wasn't following you here on purpose," he said, his eyes pleading with her to believe him. "I've been trying to get your attention since you were in the grocery store. You have something that doesn't belong to you."

Meryl stared at him, completely bewildered. "Are you accusing me of stealing?" she asked, her voice icy with anger.

"Yes!" he replied without hesitation.

"What do you mean? I didn't steal anything from you," Meryl shot back, her voice rising. "I'm not a thief."

"Oh, but you are," he said with a smug smile. "You stole my heart."

Meryl couldn't believe her ears. "You're crazy!" she shouted. Before she knew it, her hand had reached out and slapped him across the face. The sound reverberated in the air, the silence that followed deafening.

But he wasn't affected by the slap but instead he smiled at her in return,"asshole did you think that was funny" she muttered angrily.

"If you're trying to impress a lady with your words, couldn't you just find a better way instead of making them look like a fool.

"But he wasn't taken aback by the slap," he said, smiling at her. "Did you think that was funny?" she growled, her anger rising.

"If you want to impress someone, you could try a different approach instead of making them look foolish," she shouted.

"Sorry, I got caught up in the moment," he said sheepishly. "I didn't mean to upset you."

"Excuse me" she said trying to play hard to get knowing he's going to follow if she leaves.

"Wait! I'm sorry"

"It's okay, I should leave" she uttered and he licked his pink lips cutely,"are you going to leave without saying anything" he inenquired and Meryl furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.

"Say what?"

"I just confessed my feelings to you and you're going to leave without giving me a reply" he stated.

"You call that a confession?" She laughed at his words and he pouted,"and I can't just tell you I like you when I don't even know you" I
She added.

"Then be my friend," he demanded, looking at her expectantly.

She sighed. "He's such a pain in the ass," she thought to herself. "I'm Meryl Channell," she replied.

"Tyrson Griffen," he said, extending his hand for a handshake.

"So now that we're friends, can I buy you lunch?" he asked.

"No thanks," she said, refusing his offer.

"You know it's not polite to turn down a friend's offer," he said, not giving in an I gave up.

       ****END OF THE FLASHBACK****

"Mummy!!!" Michelle's voice broke her train of thought, and she was transported back to that fateful day when she first met Tyrson. She smiled to herself as she recalled the memory.

As she thought about it, she couldn't help but notice how familiar those words sounded. A strange feeling crept over her, a sense that there was some connection between Michelle and the mysterious stranger.

Michelle had never been interested in men. Her father was the only man she cared about, and she longed to see him.

"Mom, what's wrong?" Michelle asked, worried by her silence. "Did you thank Mr. Philanthropist?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Of course I did," she replied with a smile. "He was so excited to hear me say it!" she said, chuckling.

It made Meryl happy to see her daughter smiling like that. She just wished Michelle would stop thinking about her father, who had never even acknowledged her existence. She wanted her to be happy.

"Don't worry, Mom. You'll meet Mr. Philanthropist one day, and he'll treat you even better than he treated me," she said, trying to comfort her mother.

"I can't wait to meet my dad one day, and I hope he's as nice as Mr. Philanthropist," she said, her eyes sparkling with hope.

"Why don't you make a wish on a shooting star tonight?" Meryl suggested, trying to cheer her daughter up. "Maybe it'll come true."

"Thank you, Mom," Michelle said, giving her a big hug. "You're the best!" she added, planting a kiss on her mother's cheek.

Meryl's heart melted at her daughter's affection. No matter what happened, she would always love and protect her little girl.
*********
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