Judy\u2019s\u00a0POV<\/p>\n
After\u00a0how\u00a0I\u00a0spoke\u00a0to\u00a0my father\u00a0and how\u00a0hurt\u00a0my\u00a0mother\u00a0was\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0left,\u00a0the\u00a0last\u00a0place\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0right\u00a0now\u00a0was\u00a0home.\u00a0Nan\u00a0went\u00a0to\u00a0spend\u00a0the\u00a0evening\u00a0with\u00a0Chester,\u00a0leaving\u00a0Irene\u00a0and\u00a0me\u00a0alone\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0baby.\u00a0I\u00a0already\u00a0made\u00a0the\u00a0decision\u00a0to\u00a0spend\u00a0the\u00a0night\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0figure\u00a0out\u00a0the\u00a0rest\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0morning.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s\u00a0been\u00a0a\u00a0good\u00a0sleeper,\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0told\u00a0me\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0cradled\u00a0the\u00a0baby,\u00a0rocking\u00a0her\u00a0back\u00a0and\u00a0forth. \u201cI\u2019m\u00a0actually\u00a0surprised\u00a0by\u00a0it.\u00a0Aren\u2019t\u00a0newborn\u00a0babies\u00a0supposed\u00a0to\u00a0cry more?\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0must\u00a0be\u00a0doing\u00a0something\u00a0right,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told her.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0baby\u00a0was\u00a0adorable,\u00a0I\u00a0hated\u00a0to\u00a0admit\u00a0that\u00a0considering\u00a0she\u00a0was the\u00a0offspring\u00a0of\u00a0Ethan\u00a0Cash.\u00a0But\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0also\u00a0so\u00a0innocent,\u00a0and<\/p>\n
she\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0ask\u00a0to\u00a0have\u00a0that\u00a0monster\u00a0as\u00a0a\u00a0father.<\/p>\n
Irene\u00a0smiled\u00a0thoughtfully;\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0fixed\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0baby\u2019s\u00a0face.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe doesn\u2019t\u00a0look\u00a0like\u00a0him,\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0said\u00a0softly.\u00a0\u201cMaybe\u00a0some\u00a0of her\u00a0features\u00a0look\u00a0like\u00a0him\u2026\u00a0but\u00a0she\u00a0looks\u00a0more\u00a0like\u00a0Stella\u00a0hand<\/p>\n
anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0good\u00a0thing,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0light\u00a0laugh.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0lean\u00a0back\u00a0on the\u00a0couch\u00a0as\u00a0Irene continues to rock\u00a0the baby\u00a0until\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0completely\u00a0asleep.\u00a0After\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0minutes\u00a0she\u00a0stands\u00a0and<\/p>\n
takes\u00a0a\u00a0deep\u00a0breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be\u00a0back,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0tells\u00a0me.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0put\u00a0her\u00a0down\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0crib.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gavin\u00a0had\u00a0some\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0maids\u00a0go\u00a0out\u00a0and\u00a0buy\u00a0a\u00a0bunch\u00a0of\u00a0baby\u00a0supplies;\u00a0they\u00a0pretty\u00a0much\u00a0created an\u00a0entire\u00a0nursery\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0mansion.\u00a0Which\u00a0was\u00a0crazy\u00a0because\u00a0this\u00a0was\u00a0only\u00a0a\u00a0temporary\u00a0arrangement.\u00a0There\u00a0was\u00a0no\u00a0way\u00a0Gavin\u00a0was going\u00a0to\u00a0let Irene have\u00a0his\u00a0baby\u00a0forever.\u00a0He\u00a0was\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0find\u00a0a family\u00a0to\u00a0adopt\u00a0her,\u00a0feeling\u00a0Irene\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0burden\u00a0of\u00a0this\u00a0motherhood.<\/p>\n
As\u00a0Irene\u00a0went\u00a0to\u00a0put\u00a0Emalyn down\u00a0to\u00a0sleep,\u00a0I\u00a0wandered\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0kitchen.\u00a0It\u00a0was quiet\u00a0without\u00a0the\u00a0bustling\u00a0of\u00a0staff\u00a0wandering\u00a0around.\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0Chester\u00a0was\u00a0most likely\u00a0in\u00a0his room\u00a0at\u00a0this\u00a0hour,\u00a0with\u00a0Nan\u00a0wrapped\u00a0around\u00a0him.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0went\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0wine\u00a0pantry\u00a0and\u00a0poured\u00a0a\u00a0couple of\u00a0glasses\u00a0of\u00a0wine.\u00a0I\u00a0certainly\u00a0needed\u00a0a\u00a0drink\u00a0this\u00a0evening\u00a0to\u00a0get\u00a0my\u00a0mind\u00a0off\u00a0things.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0was\u00a0emotionally\u00a0and\u00a0mentally\u00a0exhausted and\u00a0I\u00a0just\u00a0needed\u00a0to\u00a0have\u00a0a\u00a0little\u00a0girl\u00a0time.\u00a0I\u00a0needed\u00a0to\u00a0talk\u00a0to\u00a0Irene\u00a0about\u00a0some\u00a0stuff,<\/p>\n
but\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0really sure how\u00a0to\u00a0bring\u00a0it\u00a0up.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t\u00a0my\u00a0place\u00a0to\u00a0tell\u00a0her\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0secretly\u00a0having sex\u00a0with her\u00a0father.\u00a0But\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0also\u00a0my\u00a0friend,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0keep\u00a0lying\u00a0to\u00a0her\u00a0about\u00a0this, especially\u00a0because I\u00a0needed someone\u00a0else\u00a0to\u00a0talk\u00a0to\u00a0about\u00a0it.<\/p>\n
What\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0expecting\u00a0was\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0question Irene\u00a0would\u00a0ask\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0returned\u00a0ot\u00a0the\u00a0living\u00a0room.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0smiled\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0saw\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0got\u00a0her\u00a0a\u00a0glass\u00a0of\u00a0wine.\u00a0She\u00a0picked\u00a0up\u00a0the\u00a0glass\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0sat\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0love\u00a0seat\u00a0and\u00a0took\u00a0a\u00a0deep\u00a0sip,<\/p>\n
letting\u00a0out a\u00a0breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0had\u00a0a\u00a0drink\u00a0if\u00a0days,\u201d\u00a0she with\u00a0a\u00a0content\u00a0sigh.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0been\u00a0able to\u00a0with this baby\u00a0attached\u00a0to my\u00a0hip.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0took\u00a0a\u00a0sip\u00a0as\u00a0well,\u00a0my\u00a0mind\u00a0wandering.\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0so\u00a0lost\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0own\u00a0world that\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0notice\u00a0Irene\u00a0watching\u00a0me\u00a0carefully\u00a0from the\u00a0couch\u00a0in\u00a0front\u00a0of\u00a0me.\u00a0Her\u00a0eyes\u00a0were\u00a0narrowed,\u00a0and\u00a0her\u00a0face\u00a0showed almost curiosity\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0tilted\u00a0her\u00a0head\u00a0and\u00a0took\u00a0a\u00a0better\u00a0look<\/p>\n
at\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan\u00a0I\u00a0ask\u00a0you something?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0asked\u00a0me,\u00a0drawing\u00a0my\u00a0attention\u00a0to\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf\u00a0course,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0answered\u00a0without\u00a0missing\u00a0a\u00a0beat.\u00a0\u201cEverything\u00a0okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
She nodded\u00a0and\u00a0nibbled\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0lower\u00a0lip;\u00a0now\u00a0it\u00a0seemed\u00a0as\u00a0if her\u00a0mind\u00a0was\u00a0racing.\u00a0I\u00a0furrowed my brows,\u00a0waiting\u00a0for\u00a0her\u00a0to\u00a0ask\u00a0her<\/p>\n
question.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0finally\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0took\u00a0a deep\u00a0breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre\u00a0you\u00a0in\u00a0love\u00a0with\u00a0my\u00a0father?\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0nearly\u00a0dropped\u00a0the wine\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0ground\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0candid\u00a0question.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0sorry,\u00a0what?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked\u00a0her,\u00a0my\u00a0voice\u00a0coming\u00a0out\u00a0almost\u00a0hoarse.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0gave\u00a0me\u00a0a\u00a0sheepish\u00a0smile\u00a0before she\u00a0asked\u00a0again.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre\u00a0you\u00a0in\u00a0love\u00a0with\u00a0my\u00a0father?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0asked\u00a0again.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0know\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0not\u00a0really\u00a0any\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0business\u2026\u00a0but\u00a0I mean,\u00a0he\u00a0is\u00a0my\u00a0father,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0do\u00a0have\u00a0a\u00a0right\u00a0to\u00a0know.\u00a0He\u2019d\u00a0never\u00a0tell\u00a0me\u00a0if\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0having\u00a0a\u00a0relationship\u00a0with\u00a0somebody,\u00a0so that\u2019s\u00a0why\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0asking\u00a0you\u00a0and\u00a0not\u00a0him.\u00a0You\u2019ve\u00a0become\u00a0one\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0best\u00a0friends,\u00a0Judy,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0would\u00a0like\u00a0it if\u00a0you\u00a0were\u00a0honest\u00a0with\u00a0me\u00a0about\u00a0your\u00a0true\u00a0feelings.\u201d<\/p>\n
My cheeks\u00a0flushed at\u00a0her\u00a0words,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0found\u00a0myself\u00a0staring at\u00a0the\u00a0glass\u00a0of\u00a0wine,\u00a0wishing\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0shrink\u00a0myself\u00a0and\u00a0drown\u00a0in\u00a0it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u00a0makes\u00a0you think\u00a0I\u00a0love\u00a0him?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked\u00a0my\u00a0tone\u00a0much\u00a0lower\u00a0than\u00a0expected.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0shrugged\u00a0one\u00a0shoulder,\u00a0leaning\u00a0back\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0seat.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0the\u00a0ay\u00a0you\u00a0look\u00a0at\u00a0him\u00a0when\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0around,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0tells\u00a0me.\u00a0\u201cThe\u00a0way\u00a0you are\u00a0always\u00a0with\u00a0him.\u00a0Even\u00a0the\u00a0way\u00a0your\u00a0face\u00a0lights\u00a0up\u00a0and\u00a0your\u00a0cheeks\u00a0flush\u00a0when\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0brought\u00a0up\u00a0in\u00a0conversation,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0pointed\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0face,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0see\u00a0my\u00a0very<\/p>\n
emotions\u00a0embedded\u00a0on\u00a0it.<\/p>\n
There\u00a0was\u00a0no lying\u00a0to\u00a0her;\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0terribly\u00a0liar\u2026\u00a0plus,\u00a0I\u00a0just\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0to.\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0exhausted\u00a0holding\u00a0onto\u00a0this\u00a0secret\u00a0for\u00a0so\u00a0long\u00a0and<\/p>\n
it\u00a0was time that\u00a0I\u00a0came\u00a0clean.<\/p>\n
Sara is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland\u2019s breathtaking cold.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 497 Judy\u2019s\u00a0POV After\u00a0how\u00a0I\u00a0spoke\u00a0to\u00a0my father\u00a0and how\u00a0hurt\u00a0my\u00a0mother\u00a0was\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0left,\u00a0the\u00a0last\u00a0place\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0right\u00a0now\u00a0was\u00a0home.\u00a0Nan\u00a0went\u00a0to\u00a0spend\u00a0the\u00a0evening\u00a0with\u00a0Chester,\u00a0leaving\u00a0Irene\u00a0and\u00a0me\u00a0alone\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0baby.\u00a0I\u00a0already\u00a0made\u00a0the\u00a0decision\u00a0to\u00a0spend\u00a0the\u00a0night\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0figure\u00a0out\u00a0the\u00a0rest\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0morning. \u201cShe\u2019s\u00a0been\u00a0a\u00a0good\u00a0sleeper,\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0told\u00a0me\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0cradled\u00a0the\u00a0baby,\u00a0rocking\u00a0her\u00a0back\u00a0and\u00a0forth. \u201cI\u2019m\u00a0actually\u00a0surprised\u00a0by\u00a0it.\u00a0Aren\u2019t\u00a0newborn\u00a0babies\u00a0supposed\u00a0to\u00a0cry […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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