로그인Ethan refused to let me leave his side. I had tried explaining that I needed to go home, but he didn't seem interested in understanding. He held my hand and followed me around the sitting room. "Mommy, stay." I bent down. "Sweetheart, Mommy has to go." "No." I smiled sadly. "I'll see you again." "No go!" He wrapped his arms around my legs. Daniel watched us. "He's not going to make this easy for you." I laughed softly. "He never does." Daniel crouched beside him. "Come on, champ. Let Mommy breathe." Ethan shook his head. "Mine Mommy." Daniel smiled. "Yes, she's your mommy." He looked at me. "He's been saying that all day." I brushed Ethan's hair. "He has missed me." Daniel nodded. "I think we all have." I looked at him. He quickly looked away. For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then Daniel said, "You know you can visit whenever you want." I smiled. "I know." "You're always welcome here." I wanted to ask whether he meant it. But I didn't. Victoria en
I should have known that Ethan's birthday would not go smoothly. He had barely finished his cake when he decided that the entire garden belonged to him. He ran between the tables, carrying a small dinosaur toy and shouting. "ROAR! Run!" The guests laughed as he chased one of Daniel's friends around the garden. Daniel watched him with amusement. "That boy has too much energy." I smiled. "He hasn't even finished his birthday." "Exactly. I'm already exhausted." I laughed. Victoria stood beside him, looking increasingly irritated. "Daniel, perhaps someone should take him inside." Daniel looked at her. "Why?" "He's disturbing the guests." "He's a three-year-old celebrating his birthday." "That doesn't mean he should run everywhere." Daniel shrugged. "He's having fun." Victoria sighed. I watched her expression. She was trying very hard to appear pleasant, but Ethan was making it difficult. He ran towards us. "Daddy!" Daniel bent down. "Yes, birthday boy?" Ethan he
I heard Ethan before I saw him."Mommy!"My heart stopped.I turned towards the staircase.He was running down, his little legs moving as quickly as they could."Ethan!"He reached me and threw his arms around my legs.I immediately bent down and lifted him."My baby!"He wrapped his arms around my neck."Mommy! Mommy!"I kissed his cheeks repeatedly."Happy birthday, sweetheart!"He pulled away and looked at me."Birthday!""Yes! You're three years old today!"He held up three fingers, although one of them was folded incorrectly."Three!"I laughed."That's right."He pressed his little hands against my cheeks."Mommy come!""I came.""You stay?"My smile weakened.I brushed his hair away from his forehead."I'm staying for your birthday."He frowned."Only birthday?"I kissed his forehead."Let's enjoy today first, okay?"He nodded, apparently satisfied with that answer.Daniel watched us from a short distance."He has been asking about you all morning."I looked at him."I've misse
The hospital smelled of antiseptic and cleaning products.I lay on the bed with my eyes closed while a nurse checked my blood pressure.Daniel stood near the foot of the bed, looking impatient."How long before the doctor comes?""Sir, the doctor will be here shortly," the nurse replied.Victoria sat in a chair near the window.She had barely spoken since we arrived.Martha stood beside me, her expression carefully arranged into one of concern.Only she knew what was happening.Only she knew that I wasn't injured.Daniel approached the bed."Lily, can you hear me?"I opened my eyes slightly."Yes, sir.""How are you feeling?""My head hurts."He frowned."Don't try to move."I nodded.The doctor arrived a few minutes later and examined me."She appears stable," he said. "We'll run a few checks to make sure there isn't an underlying injury."Daniel nodded."Please do everything necessary."Victoria stood."Daniel, I think we should go home. The doctor has said she's stable."He looked
Ethan's birthday was only three days away.The mansion had slowly begun preparing for the occasion. Daniel had instructed the staff to arrange a small celebration in the garden, and Mrs Adams had already started making arrangements for the decorations.I stood in the kitchen, listening as two maids discussed the birthday cake."Mr Hayes wants a dinosaur cake," one of them said."Really? I thought little Ethan liked cars.""He likes everything. Last week, he wanted a dinosaur driving a car."I smiled.That sounded exactly like my son.My son.Sometimes, I still struggled to believe that I had to hide behind a disguise just to remain close to him.I had missed so much of his life. I had missed his first steps, his first words, and countless little moments that a mother should never have to miss.I wasn't going to miss his third birthday.Not this time.I had already spoken to Martha about my plan. She knew what I intended to do, and although she had warned me about the risks, she had ag
I knew something was wrong the moment I entered the mansion that morning. The security guards were speaking quietly near the entrance. Mrs Adams was standing beside the reception table, looking worried, while Martha kept glancing towards the staircase. "What's happening?" I asked. Mrs Adams looked at me. "Miss Victoria has been asking everyone to gather in the sitting room." "Why?" "She says something has gone missing." My stomach tightened. "What?" "She hasn't told us yet." I exchanged a glance with Martha. Another accusation. Another attempt to create trouble. I followed Mrs Adams into the sitting room. Victoria was standing beside Daniel. Richard was seated on the sofa, looking irritated. A small velvet jewellery box sat on the table. Daniel looked at the box. "What exactly is missing?" Victoria turned towards him. "My mother's bracelet." Richard frowned. "Victoria, are you certain you brought it here?" "Of course I am." Daniel sighed. "Then why are you gath







