As soon as the chauffeur opened the door, they got out. Anna looked around, admiring the place. It was a skyscraper.

    "You live here?" Anna asked, looking up at the building.

     "I do. The hotel is part of my dad's venture, I stay in one of the pents." He told her, wrapping an arm around the sleeping Isla who slept on his shoulder.

    Anna nodded, following him inside the building. She noticed that people were staring at her, especially the staff. Everyone gave Scott a respectful greeting as he and Anna headed for the private elevator. What was she doing here again? Anna frowned. Why had she followed Scott to his place? No idea.

    After a while, Scott led her to his pad. Anna couldn't help but admire the whole place, from the white marble flooring to the splendid chandeliers hung up in almost every part of the place, the high windows and floating glass stairs. The whole place was magnificently breathtaking.

   She was tempted to say nice place but she would never give him the satisfaction he was looking for, so, she kept on secretly admiring.

    "It's not much." Scott told her, as they walked up the stairs.

    "Don't you get lost?" Anna wasn't necessarily asking for a reply. For a penthouse like Scott's, it was unavoidable to get lost. God, the house had so many features. Wow.

    He chuckled at her statement. "At first. I got used to it." He said walking into a room, his room.

     His musk scent filled her nose, the whole place smelt heavenly. She suddenly wondered what cologne he was using, it was so alluring and intoxicating.

    "I hope you don't mind me putting her here." Scott turned to Anna who's eyes were on the chandelier nearly above the bed.

     "Wherever is fine." Anna said. Looking at the well made, perfect bed.

    Scott carefully placed her on the bed, although Isla slightly opened her eyes, she slept back almost immediately.

     "I can give you a tour." Scott smirked at her.

     "There's no need for that." Anna shook her head, walking out of the room.

     "I insist." Scott grinned taking her by the hand.

    Anna immediately tried to pull away. "Don't touch me Mr Ontario." She glared at him.

    "Okay first of all it's Scott, second stop glaring at me, it makes me want to kiss you, got it?" Scott kept a serious face.

    Anna swatted his hand away. "You're crazy."

     "Yeah I know, crazy for waiting for you to show up all these years." Scott told her.

   Anna scoffed, rolling her eyes at him. "This again?" She walked past him. "Give me a break."

     "What would I do to make it up to you?" Before she could answer, Scott spoke again. "Staying away from you and Isabelle is out of the option." He knew Anna would probably bring it up again.

    "Where am I?" Anna looked confused, she didn't even know where she was going. She turned back, bumping into Scott's chest. Anna groaned. "Get out of the way." She looked up at him.

    Scott looked down at her. "Wow, you grew so much than I remember." He placed his hand on her head, patting it.

    "And you grew stupider than I can remember." Anna went around him, getting him out of her way.

     Scott clicked his tongue at her. "What's with you and your sharp tongue? What happened to my little Anna bear, the innocent, shy, intro—"

   Anna turned back to him abruptly. "She died long time ago, now, can we drop it?" She frowned at him.

   He raised his hand in surrender. "I was only trying to be friendly."

    "Don't be." She said deadpan, before turning.

   "You're always so serious. Jeez, we have a kid together." Scott ran his hand down his hair.

    Soon they heard a piercing scream. It was Isla.

    "Isla!" Anna's eyes widened, before taking to her heels. Scott followed up too.

   They both ran into the room, seeing Isla sitting up on the bed.

    "What happened?" Anna rushed to her daughter's side. "Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?" Anna inspected around Isla's body. "Peaches, talk to me." She panicked waiting for Isla to talk.

    Isla's face lit up with a smile. "It's nothing mommy. I wanted to know if I was alone." Isla smiled at her.

    Anna chuckled, hugging her. "You almost gave me a heart attack." Anna heard Isla's giggle.

      Scott stood at the foot of the bed, with his hand in his pants pockets. "Hi." He said when Isla looked at him.

     "Mommy, Scott's here." Isla said looking at him.

     Anna glanced at Scott before turning to Isla. "Do you wanna go home now?"

    Isla's face fell. "Are we in Singapore already?"

    "Singapore? N-no. We're still here, here in DC." Anna smiled.

     "Singapore? You wanted to take my daughter to Singapore?" Scott frowned at her.

    "Can you not talk, okay? Isla's talking to me and not you, so don't butt in." Anna was still angry at him.

     Scott frowned at her rudeness but he knew he deserved it.

  "Isla and I are leaving. Munchkin, let's go." Anna said, helping Isla off the bed.

   Scott stared at Isla who was looking at him. He smiled down at her. "I told you we were best friends."

     Isla frowned at him. "Why do you look a lot like Dee?"

    Scott went closer to Isla squatting down to her level. "Why do you and I look alike?" Scott held her small hand.

    "Okay that's it." Anna pulled Isla away. "We're leaving now, come on peaches." Anna said to her daughter.

     Scott stood up, putting his hands into his pants pockets. "Just know you can't leave the country." He reminded her.

     Anna frowned at him. "Do you... Do you really have to do this?" She asked him. Isla slipped away, going into the dressing room.

     "It's all on you. You're making it seem like I am a stranger to her. I want Isabelle to know I am father, but you don't think I am good enough." Scott shrugged his shoulders. "Can you imagine? You wanted to run away."

      "I am saving my daughter from you don't you see? She's better off not knowing you." Anna said to him.

    "Anna how many times do you want me to say this, I would never turn my back on her. For goodness sake, Isabelle is my kid." Scott said, frowning.

    Anna shook her head. "Whatever you say now doesn't matter. Isla does not need you, end of story." She turned to the dressing room. "Isla sweetie, let's go!" She yelled out. She turned back to Scott. "We'll meet in court Mr Ontario." She told him before her daughter came running in.

    "Mommy!!" Isla grinned at Anna.

   "Let's go." Anna took her by the hand, leading her out of the room.

   Isla glanced over her shoulder, she smiled at Scott who smiled back, following them behind.

      "Let me drop you off." Scott offered as soon as they got to the parking space.

   "Whoa!! This place is huge!!" Isla squealed, running freely around.

   "Sweetie get back here!" Anna called out to her before turning to Scott to answer him. "There is no need for that."

    "Mommy, mommy," Isla ran back to Anna. "Can we go around? Please mommy please." She begged.

     Before Anna could object, Scott spoke. "Of course gorgeous, where do you wanna go?" He stepped between Anna and Isla.

    "Everywhere!" Isla's eyes sparkled.

   "Awesome! Why don't I take you touring?" Scott suggested, hoisting Isla into his arms.

    "No, no, wait. Drop her." Anna stretched her arms out to receive her daughter but Isla wrapped her arms around Scott's neck. "What are you doing?" Anna gaped at her daughter, a little surprised.

   "She knows you're such a spoilsport, and no fun. So she wants to be with me." Scott smirked at Anna.

    "Peaches, Dee will soon be here, we'll have to go." Anna told her.

     Isla smiled, turning to Scott. "You should come by our place, I'm sure mommy won't mind."

    "What?" Anna frowned. "Of... Of course I do mind! He is not welcomed at all. Scott put her down." Anna slightly glared at him.

    Scott made a long sigh, lowering Isla down. To his surprise, Isla buckled her arms firmly around his neck.

   "I don't want to." Isla said to both of them.

    "She doesn't want to." Scott raised a brow at Anna, straightening his back.

    "What do you mean? Isla I mean it." Anna tried to pry Isla's body off Scott.

    "Uh-uh." Isla wrapped her legs around Scott like a monkey.

    "Wow. I think she really likes me." Scott chuckled, holding Isla.

    "Okay, fine we'll go touring." Anna reluctantly gave into her daughter's request.

      She turned to her mother and smiled. "Yay!" She loosened herself from Scott, trying to get down.

     "Whoa whoa easy, ease there tigress." Scott landed her on her feet.

    "Come on, come on," Isla pulled Scott and Anna along, holding them with each of her hands.

   "This is all your fault, you indulged her." She whisper-yelled, glaring at Scott.

     Scott chuckled softly... "Stop glaring, please."

    "Oh my God! It's Scott Ontario!"

  They heard some girls yelling. Before Anna and Scott knew what was happening, they were surrounded by a group of ladies.

    "Oh smokes!!" One of them squealed.

   They literally pushed Anna aside, circling Isla and Scott.

     "Let's get a selfie!!"

    "Gosh, she's so cute and adorable."

   "Aww, you both look alike. What's her name?"
 
     "Can I get your autograph?"

     Anna gaped, speechless at the women as they fired endless questions at Scott. She didn't like the way Isla was part of the attention so she push aside two women, making her way to their midst.

       "Sorry ladies, I think you should give us some space." Anna gave them a tight smile.

    The ladies turned to her. They were all about her age.

     "Excuse me, we were here first." One of the blondes gave her a bad eye.

    "Can you get lost!" Another snapped at Anna.

    "And you are?" One of the ladies frowned, bitching at Anna.

   They were so rude. Anna glanced at all five girls who were primped like mannequins, almost hideous. She finally cleared her throat. "No one in particular, but you're suffocating my daughter with your cheap perfumes." She deadpanned, making the ladies' jaws drop.

   Anna pulled Isla closer, shouldering her way out of their midst. She soon saw security coming to Scott's rescue.
  
    Scott jogged over, catching up with her. "Anna..."
    
   She let out an exasperated sigh. "Can you just stop following us?"

     "Mommy it's Dee!!" Isla slipped away from her mother's hand, running forward to meet Daniel halfway.

    "Right, your boyfriend is here." Scott scoffed sarcastically as he watched Isla and Daniel become mushy and sappy. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think Daniel is Isabelle's father."

    "Isla considers him as one." Anna said to him.

    Scott pinched the bridge of his nose, bowing his head with his eyes closed. "Don't say that in front of me again." He said, before looking at her. "No matter how angry I am at you, I can't get mad, you know why? Because you're Anna." He exhaled. "I don't want to be here when he comes, I'm not sure I can hold myself." Scott turned back, walking out.

    Anna watched him leave. She felt a little empathy for him but when she remembered he was trying to take Isla, her heart turned cold and hard again.

     "What is it?" Daniel asked as he noticed Anna staring at the leaving Scott. "What did he say?"

    Anna looked at him, putting on a forced smile. "Nothing."

    "How about Isla... Do-does she know that Scott is—"

    "Not yet. He didn't tell her." Anna told him.

    Daniel was surprised. "He didn't?"

   "He didn't." Anna shook her head.

    "I wonder how he found out about our plans? It's a good thing you texted me where you were." Daniel gave a small smile.

    "Are we still going touring?" Isla asked them.

    "Touring?" Daniel frowned.

    "Scott, mummy and I were going to tour the whole place." Isla said to him.

    "We'll tour next time I promise." Anna told Isla.

     "I can take you somewhere else, just name it." Daniel told her. "But for now, let's get you home first." He said.

     Isla nodded. "Okay."

   They walked silently to the car. After Daniel opened the door to the backseat for Isla, he slammed it shut and then turned to Anna.

    "I know Scott said something to you, it's the reason why you're quiet." He said to her.

    "Apart from him filing for custody, he didn't say much." Anna lowered her lashes when she remembered their kiss, she bit the corner of her lip.

    "What is it?" Daniel watched her reaction.

     Anna moved closer to him, burying her face in his chest. "It's not important." She muffled out.

    Daniel wrapped his arms around her body. "O-okay."

      Scott could see them at a distance. He was upset, but not angry. His brother just happens to be his rival.
🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼
    

     Daniel entered the Ontario Mansion to talk to Rhonda, his mom. Just as he entered the study, he saw Scott already seated.

    "You're here, it's good you came." Rhonda went over to him, giving him a hug and a peck on the cheek. "We have to talk." She gestured for him to sit.

    When her sons were waiting for her to speak, she gave a long sigh.

    "Everything that has been going on recently is truly heartbreaking, I, as a mother, would never want my sons fighting. You both have to sort this issue now, here, once and for all." Rhonda looked at them.

    Scott and Daniel remained silent. Rhonda rolled her eyes. "Scott you should apologize for what happened at the dinner, Daniel you should apologize for lying to him."

     "An apology can't make everything better mom, he can keep his apology to himself. I don't need it." Scott said shaking his head in disagreement. "He plotted with Anna to take my daughter away."

  Daniel turned to him. "I would never have done that if you didn't want to forcefully take Isla."

    "Why do you keep sticking your nose into other people's business?" Scott looked at him. "This matter is between Anna and I."

     "When it comes to Anna, I am automatically involved. I am sorry we turned out like this, but you just keep making matters worse. Just leave her alone, she doesn't need you." Daniel told him.

     Scott scoffed at him. "I swear to god, once I have custody of Isabelle, you're going to get a restraining order." He clenched his fist.

    "Scott stop, that's your brother you're talking to." Rhonda frowned at Scott.

    "Don't you see mom? I've lost Anna, I can't lose my daughter to the same person." Scott said to her.

      "Don't think I don't know what happened between you and Anna seven years ago, she told me all about it." Daniel said, staring at Scott. "You did not lose Anna, you left her. Scott, please, let's not drag this issue anymore. You're hurting her with what you're doing." Daniel pleaded with him.

     "I can't tell Isabelle that I am her father, you don't know how hurting that is. I might not know her, but I already love her." Scott narrowed his eyes at Daniel. "Yes, I made a mistake in the past, I know Anna would probably never forgive me for it. But heaven knows I tried to correct that mistake a long time ago."

    "Would fighting for Isabelle make everything better? It would just worsen it." Daniel said to him.

     "It may not make it better, but I do know it would partially make up for what happened. I am not running from my responsibilities as a father, rather, I want to show Anna that I have indeed changed. I want her to know that I will not abandon my daughter for anything." Scott spoke confidently.

     "You're not... You're not doing this to win Anna back?" Daniel made a surprise frown.

    "She made it clear that she doesn't want me." It was the bitter truth he had to accept. "And honestly, it's been years. I'm not sure of what I feel for her anymore." Scott admitted to his brother. True, he thought he would feel complete and happy if Anna eventually came back, but now, he didn't think he was complete or happy. What was missing? Although, he couldn't help but be attracted to her, she was a fucking goddess to die for. He knew he was probably only lusting after her and that if she eventually gave into him, it was possible he'd lose interest.

    Was it? Or would he keep wanting more?
🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼

   
   After the whole meeting with their mom, Rhonda was able to understand Scott's reasons for filing for custody.

   "Did you... Did you really mean what you said back there?" Daniel asked, stopping Scott from getting into his car.

     Scott faced him. "Which part?"

   "What you said about your feelings for Anna, do you really mean it?" Daniel asked him.

    "I don't have feelings for her." Scott decided to clear the air. "Most of the reasons for being angry at you were because of how close you were with Isabelle." Scott gave a long sigh. "Why did you bring it up again?"

    Daniel stared at his brother. "Because... Because I love her. I'm in love with Anna." Daniel revealed to Scott.

     Scott's eyes lit up in surprise, parting his lips to speak, but then he reserved his comment.