Chapter 18~ Bedtime Stories

"Good night," Nina said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lucas inclined his head from the couch, his expression unreadable in the dim light.

"Good night, Nina."

She lingered for half a second, feeling the weight of his gaze, then turned and walked down the short hallway toward the bedroom, Ethan's small hand wrapped securely in hers. His fingers felt warm and trusting against her palm.

The bedroom light clicked on, flooding the small space with a gentle glow.

The room was simple, almost spartan in its furnishings. A small bed stood against the wall, a nightstand with a lamp beside it, a modest dresser, and a narrow window overlooking the city lights outside. Through the glass, the distant buildings twinkled like scattered stars against the dark sky.

Nothing luxurious. Nothing fancy. Just comfortable, a safe haven carved from what little they had. Nina pulled back the blanket and patted the mattress, the fabric soft from years of washing.

"Alright, champ," she said with a grin, trying to inject some playfulness into the moment.

"Up you go."

Ethan climbed onto the bed with the determined scramble of a child half his age, then immediately bounced, testing the springs with delight.

Once.

Twice.

Three times, each bounce higher than the last.

The mattress squeaked slightly in protest, the old springs singing their familiar song.

Nina burst into quiet laughter, the sound bubbling up from somewhere deep in her chest. It felt good to laugh, even if just for a moment.

"Okay, okay!" she said, reaching out to steady him.

She climbed onto the bed after him, the mattress dipping under her weight as she settled beside him. The warmth of his small body next to hers made her heart ache with a fierce protectiveness.

"Sorry," she said gently, brushing his hair away from his forehead with tender fingers. His dark locks felt silky against her skin. "It's not exactly like the big soft bed you probably have at home."

Ethan didn't answer.

Instead, he leaned forward suddenly and wrapped his small arms around her neck, pulling himself close with surprising strength for such a little boy.

Then he gave her a quick peck on the cheek, his lips soft and warm against her skin.

Nina froze, her breath catching in her throat.

She sat completely stunned, unable to move or speak.

Her heart squeezed so tightly it almost hurt, a wave of emotion washing over her that she hadn't expected. When had she last felt this kind of pure, uncomplicated affection? When had anyone shown her such simple, honest tenderness?

Slowly, she smiled, blinking back the sudden moisture in her eyes.

"You know you're adorable, right?" she whispered, her voice thick with feeling.

Ethan nodded proudly, a grin spreading across his face. The boy clearly already knew that fact about himself, and he wore the knowledge with the confident charm of someone who had been told it many times before.

Nina chuckled, the sound breaking the emotional tension in her chest. "Alright, Mr. Adorable," she said, reaching over to turn on the bedside lamp.

Its warm glow filled the room, casting soft shadows that made the space feel cozy and safe, like a haven from the world outside.

"How about a story before bed?"

Ethan nodded again, this time enthusiastically, his eyes lighting up with anticipation.

Nina leaned back against the pillows and thought for a moment, searching through her memories for just the right tale.

It was an old story… one her adoptive mother used to read to her years ago when she was still a little girl, curled up beneath quilts that smelled of lavender and safety.

"The little fox lived deep in the forest, where the trees were tall enough to touch the sky…" Her voice softened as she spoke, taking on the gentle cadence she remembered so well.

Ethan listened intently, his eyes wide with wonder, reflecting the lamplight like tiny stars.

Nina acted out the voices with theatrical flair. She deepened her tone for the grumpy old bear, making it rumble from somewhere low in her chest. She made the rabbit squeaky and nervous, its words tumbling over each other in anxious haste.

At one point Ethan giggled, a real laugh that bubbled up spontaneously from somewhere deep inside him. The sound warmed the entire room, filling the shadows with something precious and rare.

But as Nina continued the story, her mind drifted for a moment, pulled by invisible threads to another time. To memories she usually kept locked away. Her adoptive parents… their patient smiles, their unwavering belief in her, even when she'd given them every reason to doubt.

It had been so long since she had seen them. Too long, and the distance wasn't measured in miles alone.

She knew exactly why she hadn't gone back, though she rarely admitted it even to herself. Shame. Pure, crushing shame that sat heavy in her chest like a stone.

She had abandoned them.

Abandoned the people who raised her, who had sacrificed so much to give her opportunities they'd never had. The ones who loved her unconditionally, who asked for nothing in return but the occasional visit, a phone call, some small sign that she remembered where she came from.

All for the Hale family and their glittering world.

For money that never felt like hers. For status that sat on her shoulders like borrowed clothes, never quite fitting right. For the illusion of belonging to something grander, something that would finally make her feel worthy.

And worst of all, for a man who never even noticed her… not really. Adrian had looked through her more often than at her, his gaze sliding past as if she were merely part of the furniture, another fixture in his perfectly appointed life.

He never loved her. The truth of it burned like acid in her throat.

He never cared beyond what she could provide: a suitable wife, an acceptable companion for charity galas and business dinners, someone who knew how to smile at the right moments and fade into the background when required.

She had traded genuine love… the kind that asked nothing and gave everything, for a life where she existed as nothing more than a convenient transaction. A merger of families. A checkmark on someone else's list of accomplishments.

Her chest tightened, the familiar ache spreading through her ribs like cracks in ice. Nina closed her eyes briefly, pressing her fingertips against her temples as if she could physically push the thoughts away.

Not tonight, she told herself firmly. Not here, not now, not while Ethan needed her steady.

She pushed the memories away and continued the story.

Ethan's breathing gradually softened, each exhale growing slower and more rhythmic. The tension melted from his small frame as sleep began to claim him.

Soon, a faint snore drifted up from beside her, barely audible in the quiet room.

Nina glanced down. The boy had surrendered to exhaustion at last, his face peaceful in a way it hadn't been all evening. His arms remained looped tightly around her neck, as though even in sleep he feared she might disappear.

A tender smile crossed her lips. "You're just as clingy as a koala," she murmured, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead.

Minutes slipped by in comfortable silence. Perhaps an hour passed, she couldn't be certain.The weight of Ethan's trust, expressed through his unwavering grip, filled her with a bittersweet warmth she hadn't expected to feel again.

Eventually his arms loosened their hold, his body relaxing deeper into sleep's embrace. Nina felt her own eyelids growing heavy, the day's emotional toll catching up with her. But she knew she needed to freshen up before surrendering to rest herself.

Moving with deliberate care, she began untangling Ethan's arms from around her neck. Each movement was measured, gentle. The boy shifted slightly, mumbling something incoherent, but didn't wake. She held her breath until his breathing settled once more.

Nina pulled the blanket up to his shoulders, tucking it around him with maternal instinct.

"Sweet dreams," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Then she slipped quietly from the room, leaving the door slightly ajar behind her.

A warm shower later, Nina stepped out of the bathroom feeling refreshed, the steam still clinging to her skin. She toweled off and changed into soft sleepwear, the cotton fabric a welcome comfort after the day's tensions. As she tied her damp hair loosely at the nape of her neck, she caught her reflection in the mirror… tired eyes, but calmer now.

The apartment had gone completely silent, save for the distant hum of the refrigerator. Lucas was probably asleep on the couch by now, she thought, picturing him sprawled out with one arm dangling off the edge like he always did.

Nina padded quietly toward the kitchen, her bare feet making no sound on the cool floor. Her throat felt parched, and she craved the simple relief of cold water.

"All I need now is a glass of water…" she murmured to herself.

She rounded the corner, and walked straight into something solid.

THUD.

"Ah—!" The impact jarred her, sending a sharp sting across her forehead. Nina jumped back, clutching the tender spot and blinking rapidly. "What the—?! What the fuck!!!"

She stared upward in confusion, her vision still adjusting to the dim hallway light. Her brain scrambled to process what had just happened, struggling to make sense of the obstacle that shouldn't be there.

When did a wall get here?