Chapter 31\u00a0<\/p>\n
Oliver\u2019s POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stayed perfectly still under the heavy mahogany desk, hardly daring to breathe as Daddy\u2019s footsteps faded down the hallway. My heart was pounding like crazy, but I managed not to make a sound even though the carpet was super dusty.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCome out.\u201d Aiden\u2019s cold voice cut through the silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I froze. The office remained completely quiet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Aiden took two deliberate steps toward the desk. \u2018If you don\u2019t want this to end badly, come out now, Oliver.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hmph, you\u2019re no fun at all!\u201d I complained, pushing aside the chair and crawling out from under the desk. \u2018I was hiding so perfectly! How\u2019d you even know I\u00a0<\/p>\n
was here?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Aiden\u2019s dark eyes fixed on me with that unnerving stare that made him look like a miniature version of Daddy. \u201cNext time you eat mint chocolate remember to rinse your mouth afterward. I could smell the mint from across the room.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
C\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hunter, standing quietly by the bookshelf, looked apologetic. \u201cMy apologies, young Master. I should have reminded you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I rubbed my tongue against the roof of my mouth, tasting the lingering bitterness of the chocolate I\u2019d snuck earlier. Stupid mistake.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDaddy would never have noticed, I muttered, crossing my arms. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t even know what snack I like. He doesn\u2019t care about anything except work and rules and punishing us! He\u2019s so annoying. If Mommy hadn\u2019t stepped in just now, he would\u2019ve made you stand in the corner again, wouldn\u2019t he?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A flicker of emotion crossed Aiden\u2019s face\u2013something sad that disappeared so quickly I almost missed it. He straightened his already\u2013perfect posture.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSterling family members don\u2019t criticize their elders behind their backs,\u201d he said flatly. Then his eyes narrowed. \u201cAnd why did you call that woman\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mommy?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Oh no! I slapped my hand over my mouth, eyes widening in horror. My stupid mouth always got me in trouble!\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2026 I didn\u2019t,\u201d I stammered, backing toward the door. \u201cYou misheard me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018I heard perfectly,\u201d Aiden insisted, his voice dropping lower. \u2018Father said our mother is dead. Who is that woman to you, Oliver?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I glanced desperately at the exit, calculating my chances of escape. Not good with Aiden blocking the way,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Suddenly, an idea hit me. I let a sly smile spread across my face. \u201cMaybe I know something you don\u2019t, big brother.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That got his attention. Aiden\u2019s perfect composure cracked just a little.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you know?\u201d he demanded, taking a step closer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s make a trade,\u201d I suggested, bouncing on my toes with newfound confidence. I\u2019ll tell you about Mommy if you give me control of Nest Design.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Aiden\u2019s face hardened. \u201cAbsolutely not.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThen I guess you\u2019ll never know,\u201d I shrugged, trying to look mysterious and important.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
3:58 pm M DM\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 31\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018I could tell Father about your secret,\u2018 Aiden threatened, his voice cold.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a moment, I almost gave in. Part of me wanted to tell Aiden everything\u2013that the nice lady who stood up for him today was actually our mommy, and that she was alive, not dead like Daddy said. Maybe if Aiden knew, he wouldn\u2019t look so sad all the time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But then I remembered how Mommy had protected Aiden today. How she\u2019d looked at him with such kindness. If she knew Aiden was her son too, she\u2019d probably love him more than me. Aiden was perfect at everything, and I was just\u2026 me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGo ahead and tell Daddy,\u201d I said, lifting my chin defiantly. He won\u2019t believe you anyway.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I darted around him toward the door. \u2018I have important things to do. Bye, Aiden!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOliver! Aiden called after me, frustration evident in his voice, but I was already gone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Later that afternoon, I was sitting cross\u2013legged on the couch in Mommy\u2019s apartment, pretending to be deeply engrossed in a thick architecture book when I\u00a0<\/p>\n
heard her key in the lock. Quick as lightning, I adjusted my position to look extra studious, even furrowing my brow like Aiden does when he\u2019s\u00a0<\/p>\n
concentrating.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Oliver? I\u2019m home!\u201d Mommy called as she entered, setting down her portfolio and shopping bag.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked up with my most angelic smile. \u201cHi, Mommy!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her face softened as she took in the sight of me surrounded by books. I\u2019d strategically placed several around the couch to enhance the effect.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy little scholar,\u201d she said warmly, coming over to kiss the top of my head. \u201cDid you have a good day?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The best!\u201d I fibbed. \u201cI\u2019ve been reading and waiting for you to come home.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She sat beside me. \u201cI\u2019m sorry I came home later than planned. I stopped by the supermarket to pick up some special ingredients\u2013thought we could have a\u00a0<\/p>\n
little celebration dinner tonight. Guess what? I got the design director position!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMommy, that\u2019s amazing! I knew you could do it!\u201d I exclaimed, throwing my arms around her, even though this was all part of my plan. We stayed like that\u00a0<\/p>\n
for a moment, her happiness warming the room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBy the way,\u201d she began, gently stroking my hair, \u2018I\u2019ve been thinking about your education, sweetheart. I need to be busy adapting to the new job recently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So I\u2019m afraid that you would feel lonely here,\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Something in her tone made me sit up straighter. I didn\u2019t like where this was going.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a wonderful preschool near the company,\u2018 she continued, \u201cI thought maybe you could start next week. You\u2019d make friends your own age, learn new things-\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo!\u201d I interrupted, louder than I meant to. \u201cI don\u2019t need preschool! I\u2019m already smart!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mommy looked surprised at my outburst. \u201cOliver, it\u2019s not about being smart. It\u2019s about socializing with other children, developing\u2014*\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re all babies there, I protested, scrambling for excuses. \u201cThey\u2019ll just play with toys all day. I need to learn real things!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLike what?\u201d she asked, her voice gentle but firm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
3:58 pm D M\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 31\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Like\u2026 like math and science and architecture! I gestured dramatically at the book in my lap.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mommy tried to hide her smile, which only made me more determined.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Social development is important too,\u201d she insisted. \u2018You need friends, Oliver.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I felt panic rising in my chest. If I went to preschool, what if Daddy found me? What if he took me away?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then a brilliant idea struck me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Sky Remembered the Touch of Our Uninished Goodbyes by Lysa Orion Rehn 31 Chapter 31\u00a0 Oliver\u2019s POV\u00a0 I stayed […]<\/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 center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[88],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30430","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-zero-stars-for-daddy-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30430","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30430"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30430\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30430"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30430"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30430"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}