Chapter 83\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedar\u2019s POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
My cheeks burned with embarrassment. \u2018Mrs. Petrovich, it\u2019s not what you think. He\u2019s not-\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSay no more,\u201d she winked, turning to Ridley. \u201cYou two look perfect together\u2013like you were made for each other. Those matching good looks must be why your son is such a handsome little boy! Don\u2019t go home tonight, stay here where you belong.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She shuffled toward the garbage can with her, leaving us in awkward silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t bring myself to look at Ridley, mortified by Mrs. Petrovich\u2019s assumptions. When I finally gathered the courage to glance his way, I was shocked to\u00a0<\/p>\n
see his usual stern expression had softened into something almost like amusement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI take it your son\u2019s father hasn\u2019t visited this place?\u201d he asked, his voice lighter than I\u2019d ever heard it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would he?\u201d I muttered, fighting the urge to explain that Oliver wasn\u2019t even my biological son.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Strangely, my response seemed to please him. His lips curved into a subtle smile, and his steps became almost buoyant as we continued up the stairs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I had no idea what to make of his reaction. Why would he be happy about my neighbor\u2019s embarrassing misconception? And why did he seem pleased that\u00a0<\/p>\n
Oliver\u2019s \u201cfather\u201d hadn\u2019t been to my apartment?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tonight was already bizarre enough\u2013finding the CEO of Sterling Design Group standing outside my door was just one more surreal moment in an increasingly complicated relationship.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finally reaching the door, I fumbled for my keys and unlocked it. The familiar click was always a relief after a long day.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere we go,\u201d I murmured, flipping on the light switch. My small apartment bloomed into view\u2013modest but cozy, with its blush\u2013colored loveseat, glass coffee table, and wooden dining set creating the humble haven I\u2019d worked hard to make. The balcony was covered with a foam play mat, and building blocks\u00a0<\/p>\n
were scattered across it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ridley paused at the threshold, his tall frame filling the doorway as his eyes swept across my space with calculating precision. I could almost feel him cataloging every detail, every evidence of my life beyond work.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Where\u2019s your son?\u201d he asked, his deep voice breaking the silence as he stepped inside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHome,\u201d I answered automatically, then realized my mistake.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His eyebrows furrowed. \u201cHome? Isn\u2019t this his home?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I kept my expression neutral. \u201cHe\u2019s with his father. Is that a problem?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before he could respond, I quickly headed to the kitchenette. \u201cMr. Sterling, please have a seat. Would you like some water? I\u2019ll grab the project files.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I slipped into my bedroom, rummaging through my dresser until I found my pepper spray. I tucked it securely into my pocket before returning to the living room with a professional smile and my portfolio.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHere are the proposals, Mr. Sterling. If you have any work\u2013related questions, I\u2019m all ears.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
pi\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 83\u00a0<\/p>\n
My stomach chose that exact moment to grow! loudly. I pressed my hand against it, mortified.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ridley\u2019s gaze dropped to my midsection. You haven\u2019t had dinner.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cJust been busy,\u201d I tried to laugh it off. \u201cLet\u2019s focus on the project details.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019d rather not be interrupted by\u2026 bodily sounds. Go eat something first.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He settled back on my sofa, crossing his legs as if he owned the place. The audacity of this man! It was almost ten o\u2019clock, and here he was, making himself comfortable in my apartment. Was this some kind of power play? Thank goodness for the pepper spray in my pocket.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fine. I\u2019d play along and see just how far the mighty Ridley would go.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then please make yourself comfortable, Mr. Sterling. I\u2019ll make myself some noodles.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the kitchen, I filled a pot with water and set it to boil, listening to the sound of his footsteps as he moved around my apartment. I could picture bim examining everything, judging my modest living conditions. When I heard him approach the kitchen, I tensed slightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNeed any help?\u201d he asked, leaning against the doorframe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The offer was so unexpected I nearly dropped my chopsticks. Ridley, CEO of Sterling Design Group, offering to help in my tiny kitchen? Was this, some\u00a0<\/p>\n
alternate universe?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Well, if he was offering\u2026 \u201cSince you asked, could you wash those vegetables?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He hesitated for just a second\u2013enough for me to catch it\u2013before rolling up the sleeves of his custom shirt. The sight was almost comical: this imposing man in his thousand\u2013dollar outfit, standing awkwardly in my cramped kitchen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then it happened. Two enormous cockroaches scuttled down the water pipe toward the sink where Ridley was washing vegetables.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The chaos that followed was spectacular.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In one swift motion, he upended the entire colander of vegetables onto the counter, sending several dishes crashing to the floor. The sound of breaking ceramic filled the kitchen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you doing?!\u201d I shouted, staring at the mess in disbelief.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ridley pointed stiffly toward the sink, his composure completely shattered. \u201cCockroaches.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what? Was that worth destroying half my kitchenware?\u201d I couldn\u2019t believe it. This was an old building in Wicker Park\u2013pests were part of the package\u00a0<\/p>\n
deal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To prove my point, I kicked open the cabinet beneath the sink. Several roaches scattered out, and I stomped them efficiently, one after another.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The look of horror on his face was almost worth the broken dishes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ridley\u2019s POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
The narrow apartment complex walkway reeked of stale cooking oil and cheap cleaning products. By the time we reached her unit, I was questioning my decision to follow Cedar Wright to her apartment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
2:51 pm P\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 83\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her modest living space revealed more than I\u2019d expected. Signs of a child were everywhere\u2013toys, tiny clothes, building blocks scattered about. The apartment had an undeniable warmth despite obvious budget constraints.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When she mentioned her son was \u201chome with his father, something didn\u2019t sit right, Oliver had just come back too. Was that really just chance? Her stomach chose that moment to growl loudly, snapping me back to reality.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After insisting she eat dinner, I found myself offering help in the kitchen\u2013completely out of character for me. In thirty\u2013one years, I had never washed a vegetable. My homes came with staff, my restaurants with chefs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But I\u2019d spoken, and I wouldn\u2019t back down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then I saw them\u2013two massive cockroaches crawling down the pipe toward the sink. Toward my hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My reaction was instinctive and catastrophic. Dishes crashed, shattering on impact.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To my absolute horror, Cedar kicked open the cabinet beneath the sink, causing more roaches to scatter. Then she stomped on them one by one with casual efficiency, as if killing cockroaches barefoot was perfectly natural.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stood frozen, feeling utterly out of place. In my world\u2013Sterling mansion with its pristine surfaces and controlled environments\u2013this would never happen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Sky Remembered the Touch of Our UnfiAnished Goodbyes by Lysa Orion Rehn 83 Chapter 83\u00a0 Cedar\u2019s POV\u00a0 My cheeks […]<\/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-30482","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\/30482","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=30482"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30482\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30482"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30482"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30482"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}