POV: HENRY
Her words lingered with me. Casting an intrigued glance at Margareth, I turned my attention back to Lauren, who was cradling Theo with an almost natural care.
Before she could continue, I quickly intervened, taking Theo from her arms.
“Let me handle this. He’s getting heavy,” I said, holding Theo securely as he rested his head on my shoulder, visibly exhausted. I glanced back at Lauren, who hesitated, her timid eyes avoiding mine, her expression carrying a hint of sadness. Perhaps it was because of my earlier harsh tone.
I stepped closer and whispered so only she could hear:
“You really are a fairy, aren’t you? You managed to make him stop crying.”
Lauren’s eyes widened, her lips forming a small “O.” She slowly shook her head, still surprised, while gently stroking Theo’s back as he began to yawn.
“Mr. C
POV: HENRY“You’re right...” she nodded, trembling, holding back tears. “I... I’ll stand by her... by both of you... And Carter?”“Yes?” I replied over my shoulder, already walking away, with no intention of dragging out the conversation.The tone of Amélia’s voice made me pause, if only for a second. It was shakier than before, more fragile. Almost breaking.“I know that...” she took a deep breath, her voice choked, stumbling over the words, “I know none of this can be easy for you... I...”She swallowed hard, averting her gaze.“I’m sorry... for accusing you before...” Her voice broke again, her tear-filled eyes trembling. “And I’m grateful. Grateful that you love my daughter so much...” she took another deep breath, holding back tears, “and... for taking care
POV: HENRYShe squeezed her own arms tightly, and I noticed the slight tremor in her hands—a clear sign that she was trying to hold herself together.“It doesn’t feel right.” She looked straight at me. “Having another baby... here in the house.”I closed my eyes for a second, taking a deep breath, forcing my body to stay in control even though my mind was screaming.“I know you just want to protect my daughter...” Her voice faltered halfway through, becoming softer, more fragile. “That you just want her to feel okay, to not feel... to not feel alone.”She took a deep breath, and her pause was long and heavy, as if she were choosing each word with extreme care.“But I...” Amelia swallowed hard, and her eyes welled up with tears, and her breathing became shorter. “I don’t think that making her take care of someone else&
POV: HENRYHer voice dropped, hoarse, choked, and full of pain.“And what if someone shows up wanting that baby back? Are you going to make my daughter lose another child, Henry?” Amelia held her accusatory gaze. “Are you going to let her be shattered all over again?”I closed my eyes for two seconds, pressing my temples with my fingers. The exhaustion was destroying me from the inside out. My shoulders felt as if they were carrying tons. And, for the first time in years, I tasted that bitter flavor in my mouth… the unacceptable taste of failure.“I couldn’t stop it, Mrs. Amelia.” I spoke, every word bitter, harsh. I took my hand off my forehead and looked at her, steady, with the same look I used at negotiation tables when I tore apart any CEO who dared to confront me. “I failed.” I admitted, coldly, letting the words fall heavy.“I failed
POV: HENRYHis look… damn that look. Full of fear, but also of courage. In a way no child should ever have to carry.I swallowed hard. I couldn’t soften it; there was no room for that.“Theo…” I held my tone steady. My eyes stayed fixed on him. “The babies… were switched at the hospital.”There. I said it.The silence that followed was deafening. Theo’s chest heaved immediately. His hands trembled, and he hugged his arms so tightly against his body that his shoulders lifted. His eyes widened, red and brimming with tears.Amelia stayed frozen. Her mouth parted slightly, but no words came out. Just a choked sound, a mixture of a gasp, pain, and disbelief. Her body shook.“Dear God…” Amelia brought her trembling hands to her mouth, her face losing all its color. She started fannin
POV: HENRY“Uncle Henry… that baby…” Theo turned to me, frowning, pressing his little fingers together, his big, tear-filled eyes locked on mine. “He… he’s not my sister… is he?” His voice came out low, choked, filled with confusion and such pure fear that, for a second, I felt a strange discomfort in my chest.I took a deep breath, ran my hand through my hair, gripping the back of my neck, trying to hold on to some shred of rationality. Damn it. How exactly do you explain to a child that his newborn sister was kidnapped? That she was ripped from her own mother’s arms, and in a cruel theater, they forced a premature birth and, as if that weren’t enough, left another baby at the hospital… like something disposable?I looked at Theo. His breathing was rapid, his little chest rising and falling too fast. Sweat was beading at his temples. He was trembling, clearl
POV: LAURENI turned on impulse, looking at the baby now sleeping in Kate’s arms, freshly changed and carefully wrapped in a light blanket. He looked peaceful, his little face calm, with long eyelashes resting on his rosy cheeks.But my heart was in complete despair.Theodor…He was waiting for us. Waiting for us to come back with Alice in our arms. He imagined that scene. He planned it. Furthermore, he drew it with that sweet and innocent little mind of his. And we… we weren’t coming back with Alice.“He’s going to ask,” I whispered, feeling a knot forming in my throat. “He’s going to look at me with those big, bright eyes and ask why his little sister isn’t here…”The sentence died, stuck in my throat along with the pain that tightened even more in my chest. Henry stepped closer, touching my chin