Haley’s POV:
For once in a very long time, I felt… happy. Not the quiet, fragile kind of happiness that feels like it will disappear if you breathe too hard. This was different. Strong. Real.
Today was the day my children would meet my mom. Their grandmother.
The thought made my chest swell with excitement.
“Mom, how long till we get there?” Lily piped up from the back seat, bouncing on the car seat with her stuffed bunny.
“Not long, sweetheart,” I said with a grin, glancing at her in the mirror.
Jordan leaned against the window, though his eyes were sparkling with curiosity. “So, she’s really our grandmother? Like… she’s your mom?”
“Yes.” I nodded, feeling a thrill rush through me. “She’s my mom. And that means she’s your grandmother.”
Jordan gave a small smile. “That’s… kinda cool.”
Lily clap
Haley’s POV:The morning of my wedding felt like a dream.When I opened my eyes, sunlight streamed through the curtains, soft and golden. My heart raced the moment I realized what day it was. Today. Today, I was marrying Logan.I sat up slowly, pressing my hand to my chest. I couldn’t believe how far life had brought me. From pain and fear, to finding my mother, to learning the truth about my past… and now, standing at the edge of a brand-new beginning.“Mom!” Lily burst into the room, wearing a little white dress with flowers pinned in her hair. “You’re awake! You have to start getting ready!”I laughed nervously. “Good morning to you too, sweetheart.”She hopped onto my bed, her eyes sparkling. “You’re going to be the most beautiful bride ever. Dad is going to cry.”My cheeks flushed. “Is that so?”Jordan appeared at the door, wearing h
Haley’s POV:Life had finally slowed down after the storms we had been through. For the first time in so long, I felt… happy. I had my work, I had peace, I had the children smiling around me, and most of all—I had Logan.But lately, something about him and the kids felt a little suspicious.Whenever I walked into the room, I would catch Logan whispering something to Jordan, and Jordan would smirk but never tell me what it was. Or Lily would giggle and run away when I asked her what secret they were keeping. Even Erin at the office had been teasing me with her little grins.I tried not to overthink it, but my curiosity kept growing.That Friday evening, Lily barged into my room with her usual energy. “Mom! Hurry up, get ready!”I looked at her in confusion. “Ready? For what?”Her grin widened. “We’re going out!”Jordan appeared behind her, leaning against the doorframe
Haley’s POV:For once in a very long time, I felt… happy. Not the quiet, fragile kind of happiness that feels like it will disappear if you breathe too hard. This was different. Strong. Real.Today was the day my children would meet my mom. Their grandmother.The thought made my chest swell with excitement.“Mom, how long till we get there?” Lily piped up from the back seat, bouncing on the car seat with her stuffed bunny.“Not long, sweetheart,” I said with a grin, glancing at her in the mirror.Jordan leaned against the window, though his eyes were sparkling with curiosity. “So, she’s really our grandmother? Like… she’s your mom?”“Yes.” I nodded, feeling a thrill rush through me. “She’s my mom. And that means she’s your grandmother.”Jordan gave a small smile. “That’s… kinda cool.”Lily clap
Haley’s POV:The house had never felt so quiet.When we walked in, carrying Jordan between us, everything seemed the same—the lights glowing softly in the hallway, the smell of fresh flowers the nanny had placed on the table, Lily’s drawings taped on the fridge. But nothing felt normal to me. My arms still ached from holding Jordan so tightly, my chest still hurt from fear, and my head spun with every “what if” that had almost happened.Jordan was safe. He was here. But part of me couldn’t stop trembling.“Mom?” Jordan’s little voice broke me out of my thoughts.I looked down at him. His eyes were tired, red from crying, but he held my hand so tightly as if I might vanish if he let go.“Yes, sweetheart?” I knelt down so I was eye level with him.“Can I sleep in your room tonight?” His lips quivered.“Of course you can,” I said immediately,
Haley’s POV:The world outside the car felt like it was closing in on me. The streetlights blurred past, but I couldn’t see them clearly because my eyes were full of tears. My chest felt heavy, every breath uneven, and my fingers wouldn’t stop trembling in my lap.Jordan.The thought of him being alone, scared, possibly crying for me—it made my stomach twist so badly I thought I would throw up.Logan drove fast, his jaw tight, his eyes cold on the road ahead. His knuckles were pale on the steering wheel, but his voice was calm when he spoke.“Haley.”I turned to him, blinking rapidly.“We’re going to get him back. Nothing is going to happen to him.”I swallowed hard. “How can you be so sure?” My voice cracked. “Susan is… she’s not normal, Logan. What if she already hurt him? What if he thinks we abandoned him?”Logan reached over and grabbed my hand, pressing it firmly. “Stop. Don’t do this to yourself. He knows us. He k
Haley’s POV:The ringing of my phone cut through the quiet buzz of the office. I didn’t think much of it at first—I thought maybe Erin was calling me from the next room about some meeting. But when I saw the nanny’s name flashing across the screen, a cold feeling ran through me.I picked it up quickly. “Hello? Is everything alright?”Her voice came fast, shaky. “Haley, I—Lily is home, but Jordan isn’t.”For a second, I didn’t even understand. “What do you mean, he isn’t?”“He… he didn’t come back from school. I thought he was with Lily, but—she says she hasn’t seen him since this morning. I called the driver, but he never picked Jordan up.”The phone nearly slipped from my hand. My breath came in sharp, broken gasps.“No, no, no…” I whispered, pressing a hand against my chest. My heart was poundin