Chapter 110
Faith’s Pov….
+25 Points
The sound hit me like a physical blow, a sudden, sharp coldness in my chest. Isabella. She was talking about going home. My breath hitched. No. Not yet.
spun around, my eyes locking onto her small, sweet face. Her brow was furrowed a little, a hint of sadness in her big, innocent eyes. My heart, already aching, felt like it was crumbling into a million tiny pieces. I never want my presence to make her feel like that.
My legs moved on their own, carrying me quickly to her side. I knelt down, my knees hitting the tiles crouching to her level.
My voice was gentle but a little shaky. “Sweetheart, is something wrong? What makes you want to go home?”
. Already, I was cursing Astor, wishing he had woken me up the second they arrived. Every single minute missed felt stolen, and I wanted to soak up every single second I could with her. If only I had known. If only I hadn’t lost those years.
Isabella looked down at her shoes for a moment, then back at me, her voice a soft murmur. “My mom… she told me not to talk to you.”
My blood ran cold, then boiled. Alice. That witch. How dare she? How dare she have the audacity to say something like that, especially after everything she’s done? She kidnapped my daughter, kept her from me for five years, and now she’s trying to poison her against me? A wave of anger washed over me and it made my hands clench into fists. I wanted to march up to her and demand answers.
But then I looked at Isabella again, her small face so serious, so innocent. I couldn’t. I couldn’t let my anger show. I couldn’t make her feel like something was wrong. Not with her. My only goal right now was to get to know her, to bridge the massive, painful gap between us. I took a deep, shaky breath, forcing myself to calm down, pushing the anger deep, deep
inside.
A quick lie, that’s what I needed. Something simple, something she could understand. I forced a warm, gentle smile onto my face, trying to make my eyes sparkle with a make–believe story. “Oh, sweetie, there’s a little misunderstanding,” I said, my voice soft and loving. “Your mommy and I, we’re sisters.” I paused, watching her face for any sign of doubt. She just looked at me with wide, curious eyes.
“But I had to leave for a while, a long, long time,” I continued, choosing my words carefully. “And your mommy, she didn’t like it that I left. She was very angry with me.” My heart ached at
173
<Chapter 110
+25 Points
having to twist the truth, but it was for her. “She’s still a little mad. But I’m hoping to convince her, you know? To show her we can be good again.” I leaned in a little, making it a secret between us. “But you and I, we can be very good friends right now, can’t we? Even if your mommy is a little grumpy with me.” I gave her my most hopeful look. “Sometimes grown–ups make mistakes, you know?”
She stared at me for another second, her little head tilted. Then, a small smile touched her
lips, and she nodded “Okay,” she said simply.
My smile felt real now after seeing hers. “You’ll stay and play with Marco for a while then?” | asked, my voice light with joy.
“Yes!” she chirped, her eyes brightening.
“And this will be our very own secret, okay?” I whispered, winking at her.
She giggled, a sweet sound that made my heart swell. And then, she reached out, her little arms wrapping around my neck. It was a small hug, soft and quick, but it was everything. Every single ounce of worry, of fear, melted away in the warmth of that tiny embrace. It was a feeling of pure completeness, just like the way Marco made me feel.
And then, the pain hit again, sharp and fresh. Five years. Five years I had missed this. Five years I didn’t even know she existed. My precious, cute, wonderful daughter. My heart broke all over again.
Swallowing my pride, pushing down the anger I was feeling, I knew what I had to do. I stood up, taking a deep breath. “Ovelia, Sander,” I called out, trying to sound calm and welcoming despite our earlier conversation.
“Please, stay for lunch. We have plenty of food, and it would be lovely to have you. You can use the guest room downstairs to freshen up if you like.” My real reason for doing it was simple, if they left, Isabella might want to leave too. And I couldn’t risk that. Not now.
I can tolerate the woman who hates me for a couple of days.
They agreed, a little surprised but relieved, and Isabella, bright–eyed and full of energy, already went running off to find Marco again, their excited squeals echoing through the house.
Moments later, Astor came up behind me. I felt his arms wrap around my waist, his chin resting on my shoulder. I leaned back into him, my body trembling slightly. The dam I had held up for Isabella finally broke.
“I can’t take it, Astor,” I whispered, my voice raw, tears pricking at my eyes. “I can’t survive another day like this. Having her so close, being unable to tell her… it’s tearing me apart.” A sob caught in my throat. Every minute with her felt like a blessing and a torture.
2/3
<Chapter 110
+25 Points
He turned me around gently, making me look at him. His eyes were full of understanding, his thumb brushing a tear from my cheek. “I know, Faith,” he said, his voice low and steady. “I know how much this hurts you. But I’m going to fix it. Tonight.”
My heart pounded with a mix of fear and hope. “Tonight? What are you going to do tonight?”
He pulled me closer, holding me tight. “Don’t worry about it. Just know that this nightmare will be behind us by tonight. For good.”
A crazy thought popped into my head. “What if we just… leave for a while? Maybe then Alice would have to confess, if she really cares about Isabella.”
Astor shook his head. “Kyle is probably watching us, Faith. If we leave, he’ll know and the he’ll follow. And that would put our children’s lives at risk.”
A sudden, sharp fear pierced through me. “Oh god,” I gasped, my eyes wide. “What if they already know? What if they know that we know? What if they try to do something to her?” My breath came in short, panicked gasps.
He held me tighter, trying to absorb my fear. “I know Alice is evil, Faith. She’s done the unimaginable to us by taking our daughter away. But I’ve seen her, just like you have. I’ve seen her raise that little girl with love. She might be a monster to us, but I honestly don’t think she would ever hurt Isabella.”
I hate Alice, hate her with every fiber of my being, but I know, deep down, that Astor is right. If Alice wanted to hurt Isabella, she would have done it a long time ago. Still, my anxiety for tonight, for whatever Astor is planning, soared.
“Please,” I pleaded, pressing my face into his chest. “Please, be careful tonight. Whatever you’re planning. You’re just as important to me as Isabella is. You both are my whole world.”
He kissed the top of my head with a silent promise. “I will be okay,” he murmured, his filled with a certainty that calmed me down a bit. “And by tomorrow, Faith, by tomorrow, I’ll bring our baby back to you.”
