We Want Mommy, Not You, Daddy!\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 54\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedar\u2019s POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
The gala at Marshall Estate had finally concluded. After hours of networking and professional smiles, my cheeks hurt, and my feet protested against the elegant heels Aiden had gifted me. Standing at the hotel entrance, I glanced at my watch \u2013 8:15 PM. The night air felt refreshing after the stuffy ballroom, but finding transportation back to Wicker Park at this hour from Marshall Estate would be\u00a0<\/p>\n
challenging.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I pulled out my phone to call a rideshare service when a sleek black Bentley pulled up to the curb. The window rolled down to reveal Ridley Sterling\u2019s impassive face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGet in. I\u2019ll drive you home,\u201d he said, his tone making it sound more like a command than an offer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not necessary,\u201d I replied quickly. \u201cI can get a cab or-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAt this hour, from Marshall Estate?\u201d He raised an eyebrow. \u201cYou\u2019ll be waiting at least thirty minutes. Get in.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hesitated, calculating my options. Oliver would be waiting at home, probably anxious by now. The practical choice was clear, despite how\u00a0<\/p>\n
uncomfortable it made me feel.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFine,\u201d I conceded, moving toward the car as Albert opened the door.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I slid into the backseat, pressing myself against the door to maintain maximum distance from Ridley. The leather seat was buttery soft,\u00a0<\/p>\n
but I sat rigid, staring straight ahead.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong? Do I smell?\u201d Ridley\u2019s voice cut through the silence, tinged with irritation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Albert, sitting in the driver\u2019s seat, let out a small laugh before quickly composing himself when Ridley shot him a warning glance through\u00a0<\/p>\n
the rearview mirror.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I\u2019m just tired,\u201d I mumbled, keeping my gaze fixed on the passing cityscape of Chicago\u2019s Gold Coast.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The ride continued in uncomfortable silence, the tension in the car almost palpable. When we finally arrived at my apartment building in\u00a0<\/p>\n
Wicker Park, relief washed over me. I reached for the door handle before Albert could come around.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you for the ride,\u201d I said hastily, eager to escape.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As I stepped out, I felt a sharp tug, My dress had caught in the door. I pulled instinctively, lost my balance, and tumbled forward onto the\u00a0<\/p>\n
sidewalk.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCedar!\u201d Ridley was out of the car in an instant, crouching beside me. His hands were surprisingly gentle as he opened the door and freed\u00a0<\/p>\n
my dress. \u201cAre you hurt?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 54\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cJust my pride,\u201d I muttered, accepting his hand as he helped me to my feet. The warmth of his palm against mine sent an unwelcome flutter through my stomach.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis neighborhood isn\u2019t well\u2013lit. I\u2019ll walk you to your door,\u201d he stated, leaving no room for argument.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We walked in silence until we reached the old oak tree in front of my building. The streetlight cast dappled shadows across his sharp features, softening them somehow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you for tonight,\u201d I said, preparing to say goodbye when Ridley suddenly reached toward my face. I froze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His fingers gently adjusted a hairpin that had come loose during my fall. \u201cIt was about to fall,\u201d he explained, his voice unusually soft.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Time seemed to slow as he leaned closer, his eyes focused on my forehead. Was he going to\u2026? My heart raced, thoughts scrambling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Suddenly, with perfect comic timing, the building\u2019s automatic sprinkler system activated. A jet of water shot directly at us, drenching us both in seconds.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I gasped as the cold water soaked through my elegant gown. Ridley\u2019s custom suit wasn\u2019t faring any better.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so sorry,\u201d I sputtered, wiping water from my eyes. \u201cThe sprinkler system must be malfunctioning. Do you need a towel to dry off?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ridley\u2019s expression darkened as water dripped from his hair. \u201cNo need,\u201d he said coldly, removing his wet jacket. \u201cI\u2019ll handle it in the car.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As he walked back toward the Bentley, a black cat suddenly darted from the bushes and leapt through the open car door. I watched in horror as the animal made itself at home, scattering fur across the immaculate interior.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSir,\u201d I heard Albert call out, followed by a sneeze. \u201cThis cat seems to have claimed your vehicle as its territory.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ridley\u2019s cold voice carried through the night air: \u201cOpen all the doors and get it out. I don\u2019t care how.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I took the opportunity to slip inside my building, feeling both relieved and strangely disappointed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Oliver\u2019s POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
After causing that big scene at the fancy party, Hunter and I sneaked out super fast. I was so proud of how I protected Mommy from that mean lady! Hunter said we had to leave right away before Daddy spotted us. We drove back home, and I thought Mommy would follow\u00a0<\/p>\n
soon after,\u00a0<\/p>\n
We Want Mommy, Not You, Daddy!\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 55\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sara Lili 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
The Sky Remembered the Touch of Our Unfinished Goodbyes by Lysa Orion Rehn 54 We Want Mommy, Not You, Daddy!\u00a0 […]<\/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-30453","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\/30453","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=30453"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30453\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30453"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30453"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}