Mia stood by the edge of her bed, her gaze resting on the small shape curled up under the blanket. Aiden’s chest rose and fell in the soft rhythm of sleep, his little face peaceful and unaware of all the storms in her head.
*15
She should wake him soon. School starts in less than an hour. She has to get him dressed, pack his bag, and try to get some breakfast in him
before they rush out the door.
But for a moment, she just stood there, staring.
Her chest tightened. She had made her decision.
They were staying.
She could only hope she wouldn’t look back one day and call this the worst decision she ever made.
If she was being honest with herself… she was already halfway there.
The thought of going to that company made her stomach twist. It felt less like starting a new job and more like walking into a death trap with a smile plastered on her face.
She didn’t know what was waiting for her, and how this will turn out in the end
God, what was she doing?
Her mind kept flashing through the same fears–like a movie she couldn’t turn off.
She imagined bumping into him. She imagined his eyes meeting hers, the flicker of recognition, how will he react?What about her own
reaction?
Will he look at her and smile or glare?
God she can already feel that stupid part of her that won’t let go of something she has been fighting to kill for years.
Will he pull her to himself and melt their lips together?
Stop being stupid and delusional Mia..
She sighed.
The truth was simple. She really needed that money.
That is one of the things keeping her from packing up their lives into a suitcase again and disappearing.
A light knock on the door pulled her out of her thoughts. She blinked, straightening a little, her eyes darting once more to Aiden’s sleeping form before she moved quietly toward the door.
She twisted the knob and opened it.,
Her brother stood there, leaning against the frame. His arms were folded across his chest, his expression somewhere between brotherly concern and pure judgment.
“Good morning,” Ethan said, his voice calm
“Good morning,” Mia replied, her tone polite but tired.
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Chapter 195
Chapter 195
“Are we leaving Mama?”
The words hit her in a different way than she expected.
¥86%
She turned around instantly, and there he was, her little baby…standing in the doorway with those wide, innocent eyes. There was no anger in them, just a question. Just quiet curiosity.
An overwhelming wave of emotion rushed through her.
She didn’t even think–she crossed the room in quick steps, scooped him up into her arms, and hugged him tight. She pressed her face against his small shoulder, breathing him in.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “So sorry for ignoring you earlier”
The first tear slipped from her eye and slid down her cheek.
Aiden’s tiny arms wrapped around her neck, holding on just as tightly.
He patted her back, soft little pats, like he thought he could comfort her the same way she always comforted him. The gesture made
something inside her crack open.
Mia let out a small chuckle, but it was tangled with her tears. “It’s okay, Mama,” he said in his little voice, so calm,.
She pulled back just enough to look at him and carried him to the bed. Sitting down, she settled him on her lap, feeling his small weight against her legs. It grounded her in a way nothing else could right now
Aiden pulled away from the hug and tilted his head, looking at her closely. Then, with a seriousness far too big for someone so small, he lifted- his tiny hands and wiped at her cheeks.
“Don’t cry, Mama,” he said softly.
Mia chuckled again, but this time it sounded like she was right on the edge of breaking completely.
She wiped her face quickly, trying to hide the tears, because if she kept crying, Aiden would worry. And if he worried too much, he might start crying with her, and she can’t let that happen.
“Bad man made Mommy cry,” Aiden said suddenly, the words so matter–of–fact that Mia almost didn’t process them at first.
Her hands froze where they rested on his tiny back. For a moment, she just sat there.
She sniffed once, her eyes still locked on his face. She was confused, did she miss something?
“What bad man, baby?” she asked softly, her voice gentle but filled with concern.
Aiden’s little voice was calm when he replied, “The bad man on Mommy’s laptop.”
Mia choked on air. Literally. Her throat caught, and she had to swallow hard, her body jolting slightly from the shock.
Oh, God.
He saw Alex’s picture on her laptop?
Her heart pounds painfully, her mind racing a hundred miles a minute. She had left the screen up when she was having a meltdown… his
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12:50 Thu, 14 Aug DJ
Chapter 195
Aug 6
curious eyes off course caught the face she was trying so hard to hide.
Oh God…
What was she supposed to tell him now?
86%1
She looked down at him, her little boy’s eyes wide and curious, waiting for her to say something. He didn’t look angry. He didn’t even look scared. He just looked like he was ready to believe whatever came out of her mouth next.
And that was the worst part.
It hurt, physically hurt…to think about lying to him again.
+15.
But how could she tell him the truth? How could she explain Alex Blackwell and everything in between to a child who still thought monsters only lived under the bed?
Her throat felt tight. She cleared it, her voice low and uneven.
“He is not a bad man, baby.”
Aiden tilted his head to the side, studying her like he was trying to solve a puzzle. His small brows squeezed together in the most adorable expression of confusion.
The sight of it nearly broke her. She wanted to scoop him back into her arms, hug him so tightly the world couldn’t touch him, shield him forever from anything that could hurt him.
“But he made Mommy cry,” he said simply, as if that fact alone proved his point.
Mia shook her head quickly, blinking back the tears that threatened to fall. She had to hold them in. Crying now would only make him think he was right.
“He didn’t make Mommy cry, baby,” she said, forcing a little smile onto her face. Her voice was gentle but it wavered slightly at the edges.
Aiden stared at her for a long moment. His eyes were so trusting, so open…it was almost too much to take.
“Okay baby?” she added softly.
After a second, Aiden nodded, as if that settled it.
Then, without missing a beat, he asked, “His Mommy friend?”
Mia blinked. The question caught her off guard, and she coughed lightly, trying to hide just how strange and uncomfortable the moment suddenly felt.
She had no idea what exactly he meant by “Mommy friend” in his little head, but she didn’t want to dig too deep into that. She just hummed in response, pretending she understood and brushing past it before he could ask anything else.
She needed to change the subject. Quickly.
“Baby, about what you asked before,” she began carefully, “about us leaving…” She paused for a moment, making sure she had his full attention. “We are not leaving, baby. Okay? Mommy is sorry for worrying you, okay?”
Aiden’s eyes softened, and he nodded again. Then he suddenly threw his little arms around her in a fierce hug, like he was the one trying to protect her now.
Mia’s chest ached in the best and worst way at the same time. She hugged him back tightly, pressing her cheek against his soft hair.
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12:50 Thu, 14 Aug T
Chapter 195
Aug
86%1
“I will protate you, Mama,” Aiden said with such seriousness in his tone that it made her lips tremble with the urge to smile. “Aiden won’t let
bad man hurt Mama.”
A soft chuckle escaped her lips despite everything.
She pulled back slightly, holding his small face gently in her hands. “It’s protect, baby,” she corrected with a smile.
“Protet,” he repeated proudly, grinning up at her.
Mia’s smile deepened. She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his cheek, making him giggle loudly, that pure, unrestrained sound that
always made her heart feel lighter no matter how heavy her thoughts were.
But then her eyes lingered on him, really lingered…and the smile faded just a little.
Her son’s first impression of his father’s face… was that he was a bad man.
Her stomach sank. This was so wrong. Completely, painfully wrong.
How on earth was she supposed to fix this?
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12:50 Thu, 14 Aug (PD
Chapter 196
Chapter 196
3+00%!
Mia stood by the edge of her bed, her gaze resting on the small shape curled up under the blanket. Aiden’s chest rose and fell in the soft rhythm of sleep, his little face peaceful and unaware of all the storms in her head.
15
She should wake him soon. School starts in less than an hour. She has to get him dressed, pack his bag, and try to get some breakfast in him before they rush out the door.
But for a moment, she just stood there, staring.
Her chest tightened. She had made her decision.
They were staying.
She could only hope she wouldn’t look back one day and call this the worst decision she ever made.
If she was being honest with herself… she was already halfway there.
The thought of going to that company made her stomach twist. It felt less like starting a new job and more like walking into a death trap with a smile plastered on her face.
She didn’t know what was waiting for her, and how this will turn out in the end
God, what was she doing?
Her mind kept flashing through the same fears–like a movie she couldn’t turn off.
She imagined bumping into him. She imagined his eyes meeting hers, the flicker of recognition, how will he react?What about her own
reaction?
Will he look at her and smile or glare?
God she can already feel that stupid part of her that won’t let go of something she has been fighting to kill for years.
Will he pull her to himself and melt their lips together?
Stop being stupid and delusional Mia..
She sighed.
The truth was simple. She really needed that money.
That is one of the things keeping her from packing up their lives into a suitcase again and disappearing.
A light knock on the door pulled her out of her thoughts. She blinked, straightening a little, her eyes darting once more to Aiden’s sleeping
form before she moved quietly toward the door.
She twisted the knob and opened it.
Her brother stood there, leaning against the frame. His arms were folded across his chest, his expression somewhere between brotherly concern and pure judgment.
“Good morning,” Ethan said, his voice calm
“Good morning,” Mia replied, her tone polite but tired.
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12 50 Thu 14 Add U
Chapter 198
He didn’t even bother to hide the way his eyes scanned her face. “Did you get any sleep at all?”
Mia nodded quickly, maybe a little too quickly. “Yeah, I did.”
Ethan’s stare didn’t waver. His lips twitched into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “Liar,” he said flatly. “Your eyes are telling me all I need to know.”
She let out a long sigh, leaning her shoulder against the doorframe. “It’s so early, Ethan. What do you want?” she asked, letting a tired yawn.
“Well…” he began, rubbing his chin like he was about to deliver a lecture. “I needed to be sure if I still have to talk some sense into you or
not.”
She smirked faintly. “Save your breath. I’m staying.”
Ethan’s face lit up instantly. A grin spread across his face, wide and almost boyish.
“And the job?” he asked, his voice carrying a little too much hope.
“Worst decision of my life,” Mia said without missing a beat, “but I’m starting today like I’m supposed to.”
That was all he needed to hear.
Ethan threw his hand up in the air like a man celebrating a winning goal. “Yes!” he said, his voice breaking into that too happy tone that made
Mia chuckle under her breath.
Then, as quickly as it came, the excitement seemed to drain out of him. He dropped his hand awkwardly, gave her one last glance, and just turned on his heel to walk away.
Mia stood in the doorway, shaking her head with a small smile.
“Weirdo,” she muttered, still smiling as she closed the door again.
There was too much to do this morning for her to stop and think about how tired she was.
She moved around quickly, packing Aiden’s lunch while glancing at the clock every few seconds. At the same time, she was mentally running through her own checklist for her first day at work.
Her son’s sleepy voice broke her focus. “Mama, where’s my other sock?”
She turned from the kitchen, holding up the missing sock in her hand. “Right here, mister,” she said with a small smile, crouching to help him put it on. She straightened his collar, smoothed down his hair, and told herself to keep smiling so he wouldn’t see how nervous she was.
By the time she was slipping into her own clothes, Aiden was almost ready. She hurriedly brushed her hair back and put on light makeup, trying to make herself look more awake than she felt.
Ethan appeared in the doorway, already dressed to go out. “I’ll drop him off,”
Relief washed over her. “Thank you,” she said, her voice soft but full of genuine gratitude.
Aiden was grinning ear to ear, excited at the idea of going to school and seeing his new friends. She probably scared him yesterday when he thought they might be moving.
Even if she regrets this decision tomorrow, at least she made her son happy staying back.
She bent down to hug him tight, breathing in the faint smell of his shampoo. “Have fun today, baby,”
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12:50 Thu, 14 Aug OrO
Chapter 196
“Bye, Mama!” he called as Ethan took his hand and led him out.
As soon as the door closed behind them, her smile faded.
She grabbed her bag, double–checked that she had everything, and called a cab.
Her heart was already pounding in her chest by the time she stepped outside.
She stood outside shifting her weight from one foot to the other, her fingers playing with the strap of her bag.
Still doubting her decision.
༤ ཏཱི 86%°
The cab pulled up, and she climbed in. The city rolled past outside the window. Her fingers wouldn’t stay still..fidgeting with her nails, her sleeves.
She was nervous.
No, more than nervous.
She felt like her stomach was twisting itself into knots. If it got any worse, she might actually faint before she even reached the building.
Deep breath. Deep breath. She told herself the words over and over.
If Mr. Felix, a senior worker, hardly ever saw Alex, then how much less would she? She was just a lower–tier employee, and a brand–new one at that. Someone like her wouldn’t have any reason to speak to the CEO.
Obviously, she would report to her direct superior. That superior would talk to their director, and only then would something reach Alex. There was a whole chain of people between her and him.
So yeah, she wouldn’t see him. Not at all.
She just needed to get through a few months here. That was all. A few months, save some money, and then..who knows?
Maybe she will even land another job before then and wouldn’t have to stay here for more than a week.
That was her plan, work hard, keep her head down, and start searching for something else as soon as possible.
Her heart was pounding when the cab came to a stop.
She paid quickly, then stepped out…
She stood there for a moment, staring up at the huge skyscraper. Her throat tightened.
She felt like throwing up.
This is insanity
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