She looked at her outfit and naively asked, "Are we going to a party?"

"Nope, you'll see." Clifford winks at her.

And before Ingrid could react, her husband already scooped Clark in his arms and told him that his daddy and mommy will be going somewhere and that they'll bring him to his grandparent's. Clark protested but his father whispered something in his ears that made the child shriek in glee.

"Really daddy?" Clifford nodded and then placed his point finger on his lips. Ingrid is puzzled at their deal.

"Hey, why am I excluded?" Ingrid pretended to be annoyed.

"Mommy… you don't have to, because it's for the boys thing, besides you left me and dad earlier so it's a tie.." Clark reiterated what his dad told him to say to his mom after he said their deal. The child then covered his mouth while laughing.

Ingrid then glared at Clifford but he just shrugged and pretended to be innocent, s.h.i.+fting his gaze to the shopping bags, he asks.

"Are these presents for us, love?" Ingrid nodded.

Clark had already rummaged the shopping bags to look for his presents and then put his aside. After getting their presents they all went to their bedrooms to refresh themselves. Clifford a.s.sisted Clark to take a bath while Ingrid arranged for their things. When she opened her walk in closet, she remembered Liane's present to her on her wedding day. Glancing at the big shopping bags, she staggered when she saw what's inside and then she thrust it back again to its place.

Lost in her wild thoughts and with wobbly hands, Ingrid packed some clothes as though they'll be gone overnight. She's awaken by what she's doing and she stopped packing. She also shook off the temptation of looking at Liane's gift again. She swallowed her spit at her imagination wearing it which makes her face turn sour. But her wild thoughts are interrupted by knocks on the door which makes her jumps in surprise.

"Love, are you ready now?" it's Clifford. Her hands trembled more upon hearing her husband's voice.

"Ju-just a minute…" her heart raced as if she's caught doing something illegal. So to calm herself, she shakes off her body and her arms, gently, she closed her eyes and heaved some deep breaths and then she counted up to ten.

Without delay, they leave the house and went straight to the Briggs' mansion. The grandparents were so excited to have Clark around that Helen planned to bring her grandson to an amus.e.m.e.nt park with lots of bodyguards of course, just in case.

After that Clifford and Ingrid left the mansion and went straight to their destination. Halfway through, Clifford unexpectedly stopped on the side of the road.

"Wait, why did you stop?" Ingrid is mystified at her husband's action. But he did not respond, but just opened a box which contains a black silk sleep mask and then placed it on her.

"Hey! What's this for?" she complained while Clifford chuckled.

"Don't peak, please. This is part of the surprise and we're almost there. Just be patient, love." Clifford then stole a kiss on her lips before he started the engine of the car.

"That's a crime! You keep on stealing a kiss I'll get bankrupt before we get old." Ingrid said chuckling.

"Just what did I do to deserve a woman like you, Ingrid." Clifford sighed deeply, "…you're simply amazing and you deserve simply the best of everything I have…" he took hold of her left hand and intertwined on his and he kissed her knuckles.

"You're worth it, Cliff, you just don't know how blessed I am to have you… Ever since we met, I already feel safe, not just feel it but I know with you around, me and Clark is out of harm's way." Ingrid did not see that Clifford's eyes sparkled with tears of joy.

Twenty minutes have pa.s.sed, at last they've arrived. Clifford opened the car's door and then went to Ingrid to a.s.sist her to get out from it. The place is so quiet. The fresh and gentle wind brushed through her face as though it washes her face gently.

Birds are happily chirping and the hush of the trees is so clear to her that it gives her some tingling sensation. She grip tighter on Clifford's hand and prevented him to carry her because she just want to listen to the music the nature is whispering in her ears.

"This place is so lovely and the sound of the surrounding is so familiar to my hearing, have I been here before, love?" she asks.

"Hmm…I guess so, yes…" he shortly replied and "…oh careful…" swiftly he pulled her waist not to fall. Ingrid felt the heat emitted from Clifford's body.

"Where are we now?" she's so full of curiosity with her surroundings that it itches her to take away her blindfold.

"We'll be climbing on almost thirty steps… are you ready?" She only nodded.

At that moment, they simultaneously climbed the stairs and when they reached the top, Clifford turned her body around and then he takes away her blindfold. Ingrid scratches her eyes and when she looked at the view, she gasps.

"Gos.h.!.+ This is so beautiful. Was this the place where we went last time?" Ingrid recalled the chaotic time when they knew about the DNA result.

"Is this your surprise?"

"Nope. This is not my surprise. That is…"