Library
Search
Home / Romance / The Algorithm of Her Heart / Chapter 14: First Supervised Visit

Share

Chapter 14: First Supervised Visit

Author: Titan
last update Last Updated: 2025-11-27 02:03:28

The Riverside Family Center was designed to look cheerful and welcoming, but Elena thought it felt institutional. Bright primary colors, educational posters on the walls, shelves full of toys and games that had been touched by hundreds of children. It smelled like cleaning solution and old carpet.

Elena arrived fifteen minutes early for her scheduled two o'clock visit. The receptionist checked her identification and had her sign in on a clipboard.

"You can wait in the lobby. Ms. Chen will come get you when it's time."

Elena sat in an uncomfortable plastic chair and tried to calm her racing heart. This was her first official supervised visit with Lily since the custody arrangement had been formalized. Two hours, once a week, in this neutral location with a social worker watching everything she said and did.

It felt wrong. Artificial. Like her relationship with her own daughter needed a referee.

But this was what the court had ordered, so this was what she would do.

At exactly two o'clo
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Locked Chapter
Previous Chapter Next Chapter

Latest chapter

  • The Algorithm of Her Heart   Chapter 36: The Letter

    Lily sat at her desk Wednesday evening, trying to focus on homework. Math problems that should have been easy felt impossible. Her brain was foggy with exhaustion and the pain medication for her arm.She needed colored pencils for a science project due tomorrow. She'd forgotten to bring them home from school and didn't want to ask Vivian for help finding any.Lily opened her desk drawers one by one, searching. The top drawer held regular pencils and erasers. The second had notebooks and loose papers. The third drawer stuck slightly when she pulled it, crammed too full.She tugged harder and it opened. Inside was a jumble of old school projects, drawings from when she was younger, random papers she'd shoved in there and forgotten about.Lily dug through the mess, looking for the colored pencils she thought she'd stored there. Her fingers touched an envelope tucked beneath everything else. She pulled it out, curious.The envelope was cream colored and had her name written on it in her m

  • The Algorithm of Her Heart   Chapter 35: The Shift

    Marcus picked Lily up from Elena's apartment the next afternoon. His daughter was quiet on the drive home, cradling her purple casted arm carefully against her body."Does it hurt?" Marcus asked."A little. The medicine helps.""Your mother texted me the follow-up appointment information. I'll make sure you get there.""Okay."Marcus tried several times to start conversation, but Lily's answers were all short. Single words or brief phrases. No elaboration. No engagement.At home, Vivian was in the living room with Cameron. She looked up when they entered, her expression shifting to concern when she saw the cast."Oh my goodness, Lily! What happened to your arm?""I fell at school. It's broken.""You poor thing! Does it hurt terribly?""It's fine."Vivian stood and approached, reaching out to examine the cast. Lily stepped back slightly, keeping distance between them."Well, we'll have to take extra special care of you while it heals," Vivian said with exaggerated sweetness. "Whatever

  • The Algorithm of Her Heart   Chapter 34: The Breaking Point

    Elena was reviewing quarterly reports when her phone rang. St. Mary's Academy. Her heart immediately started racing."This is Elena Cordova.""Ms. Cordova, this is Nurse Martinez at St. Mary's. I'm calling about Lily. She had an accident on the playground and we need someone to come get her immediately.""Is she okay? What happened?""She fell off the climbing structure and we believe she's broken her arm. She's in quite a bit of pain. We need a parent here right away to authorize medical treatment and transport.""I'm coming. Fifteen minutes. Tell her I'm on my way."Elena grabbed her purse and keys, already moving toward the door. She called out to Dominic's assistant as she passed. "Family emergency. I have to go."She was in her car and pulling out of the parking garage within two minutes, her hands shaking on the wheel. Lily was hurt. Lily needed her. Nothing else mattered.Elena made the drive in thirteen minutes, pushing speed limits and running one yellow light. She parked hap

  • The Algorithm of Her Heart   Chapter 33: The Overheard Conversation

    Lily couldn't sleep. Her throat hurt, and her head felt hot. She climbed out of bed and walked down the hallway toward the kitchen, hoping Rosa had left some water in the refrigerator.The house was dark except for a light coming from Miss Vivian's sitting room. The door was open just a crack.Lily heard Miss Vivian's voice. She was talking on the phone, laughing about something."No, seriously, Karen, I didn't sign up for this," Miss Vivian said. Her voice sounded different. Sharper. Not the sweet voice she used around Daddy.Lily stopped walking. Something in that tone made her stomach feel strange."I didn't sign up to raise Marcus's daughter too," Miss Vivian continued. "She's so needy. Always wanting attention. Always following me around. It's exhausting."Lily pressed herself against the wall, her heart beating fast."I wish Marcus didn't have a kid from before," Miss Vivian said. "Honestly, Karen, sometimes I look at her and think about how much easier this would be if it was j

  • The Algorithm of Her Heart   Chapter 33: Elena's Concern

    Lily arrived for her Saturday visit looking even more exhausted than usual. The dark circles under her eyes had deepened, and she moved slowly, like every step took effort."How are you feeling, sweetheart?" Elena asked, immediately concerned."Just tired.""Did you sleep okay last night?""Not really."They settled on the couch to watch a movie, something light and easy that didn't require much energy. Elena made popcorn and hot chocolate, trying to create a relaxing afternoon.Twenty minutes into the movie, Elena felt Lily's weight shift against her side. She looked down and saw her daughter had fallen asleep, her face peaceful but drawn with exhaustion even in sleep.Elena sat very still, not wanting to wake her. Lily clearly needed rest desperately. But this level of exhaustion wasn't normal for a seven-year-old on a Saturday afternoon.After an hour, Elena carefully extracted herself and carried Lily to her bedroom. Her daughter barely stirred, just settled deeper into sleep.Ele

  • The Algorithm of Her Heart    Chapter 32: Lily's Regression

    Lily woke in the dark, feeling wetness beneath her. For a moment, she didn't understand what had happened. Then the realization hit with crushing horror.She'd wet the bed.She was seven years old. Almost eight. Far too old for this. She hadn't had an accident since she was four.Lily lay very still, tears sliding down her face, terrified of what would happen when someone found out. She knew she should get up, should tell someone, should change her sheets.But she was too scared to move.Eventually, she heard the nanny moving around in Cameron's room. Morning was coming. She couldn't hide this forever.Lily got up carefully and changed into dry pajamas. She pulled the wet sheets off her bed and bundled them up, trying to hide the evidence.But Rosa, the housekeeper, came in to wake her for school and immediately noticed."Oh, Lily. Did you have an accident?"Lily's face burned with shame. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I was sleeping and I didn't wake up and...""It's okay, sweetheart.

More Chapters

You may also like

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status