Chapter 11

I entered the room through the back door so that I could get away from the media. The last thing I want to happen right now is for them to gossip about my personal life. I don't want them to meddle with my life and ask why my eyes are red and restless.

"Mom! Where have you been? It's almost an hour since you left!" Jared hugged me tightly when he noticed me walking to their table.

I tried to smile a little at him. I witnessed some people near us looking at us. When they met my eyes, they slowly smiled awkwardly at me.

"Let's go back to our table now, baby," I softly whispered at him.

He looked up at me and blinked his eyes innocently at me. He then nodded, and I held his hand as we walked back to our table.

Jess looked problematic, but when he saw us approaching, he sighed heavily and in relief.

"We've been looking at you! Where did you go?" The sincerity was evident in his voice.

"I just retouched my makeup," I answered in a soft voice.

He narrowed his eyes at me, but then he nodded