Chapter 68\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere can\u2019t be children here,\u201d he said, his focus still unnervingly on me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
*Mommy! Where are you, Mommy!\u201d The crying grew louder.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is definitely a child out there,\u201d I insisted, setting down the files. \u201cI should check.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hurried out before he could object, escaping the suffocating intensity of his presence. In the hallway, I spotted a small figure huddled in the corner, crying loudly. He wore an oversized trench coat and a cap pulled low, but I\u2019d recognize that little form anywhere.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I rushed over, and before I could even see his face clearly, he launched himself into my arms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMommy! I finally found you!\u201d he wailed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tilted his cap back slightly to see his tear\u2013streaked face, my heart twisting at the sight. \u201cOliver, sweetie, didn\u2019t I leave you in the building\u2019s playroom? How did you get up here?\u201d I frowned, noticing something odd about his voice. It sounded\u2026 put on, as if he were forcing the sobs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Oliver\u2019s eyes darted around. He sniffled dramatically. \u201cI just missed you sooooo much, Mommy. I wanted to sleep in your arms. Can I stay with\u00a0<\/p>\n
you while you work? I\u2019ll be super quiet, I promise\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I glanced at my watch\u20139:00 PM. Usually, he\u2019d be in bed by now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWait here, sweetie. I\u2019ll tell my boss we need to leave.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo!\u201d He tightened his grip around my neck. \u201cI don\u2019t want to be away from you even for one second!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t help but smile at his persistence. \u201cAlright, but you need to be on your best behavior.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As I carried him back toward the office, Oliver adjusted his cap and wrapped himself tighter in the coat, leaving only his eyes visible.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When we entered, Ridley was smoking, a rarity I\u2019d only witnessed when he was particularly agitated. His expression darkened when he saw\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Sterling, I\u2019m sorry, but I need to leave early,\u201d I explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His eyes narrowed. \u201cDon\u2019t tell me you\u2019re playing Good Samaritan and taking this random child home?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He extinguished his cigarette. \u201cSecurity can handle this. Have them call the police.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMommy, I don\u2019t want to leave you!\u201d Oliver mumbled against my neck.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The word hung in the air between us.\u00a0<\/p>\n
9:45 Thu, Nov 6 B\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 68\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mommy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
95\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ridley\u2019s expression transformed from irritation to shock, then something darker. The temperature in the room seemed to plummet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I felt Oliver trembling in my arms and held him tighter. \u201cIt\u2019s okay, baby. We\u2019re going home now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking up, I met Ridley\u2019s intense stare with calm determination. \u201cAs you can see, Mr. Sterling, my child needs me. I\u2019ll email the corrected client list to you before midnight.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His face hardened. \u201cYou\u2019re saying this is your child?\u201d Each word was measured, tightly controlled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Oliver shivered against me, and I instinctively tightened my hold.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, this is my son,\u201d I replied evenly. \u201cIs there a problem, Mr. Sterling?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYour r\u00e9sum\u00e9 states that you\u2019re unmarried,\u201d he said coldly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI am unmarried.\u201d I blinked innocently. \u201cIs there a rule that says unmarried women can\u2019t have children?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His mouth opened, then closed. For once, the great Ridley Sterling seemed at a loss for words.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a moment, he spoke again, his voice deceptively casual. \u201cHow old is he? When did you have him?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Sterling, that falls under personal information I\u2019m not obligated to share.\u201d I picked up my bag. \u201cIt\u2019s getting late. We should go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWait.\u201d His command filled the room with authority.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I paused but didn\u2019t turn around, feeling Oliver curl tighter against me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst time meeting your son,\u201d Ridley said, his tone slightly softer. \u201cI should give him a welcome gift.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He picked up a small model airplane from his desk. \u201cBoys like these things, don\u2019t they? Take it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hesitated, then stepped forward. \u201cThank you, Mr. Sterling, but\u2014\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet your son take it himself,\u201d he interrupted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Oliver went rigid in my arms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Mr. Sterling. My son isn\u2019t feeling well,\u201d I said, pulling Oliver closer protectively. \u201cThe gift is too generous. We couldn\u2019t possibly\u00a0<\/p>\n
accept.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ridley\u2019s gaze remained fixed on the bundle in my arms. I could see the curiosity\u2013or was it suspicion?-burning in his eyes. He reached\u00a0<\/p>\n
toward Oliver\u2019s back, his fingers grasping for the coat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 68\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heart hammered against my ribs. What was happening here? Why was this man so interested in Oliver?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Sky Remembered the Touch of Our Unfinished Goodbyes by Lysa Orion Rehn 68 Chapter 68\u00a0 \u201cThere can\u2019t be children […]<\/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-30467","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\/30467","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=30467"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30467\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30467"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30467"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30467"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}