Chapter 95\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedar\u2019s POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
68%\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWould you like me to accompany you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ridley\u2019s question caught me off guard, his dark eyes studying me with unexpected intensity. My heart skipped a beat as something unfamiliar\u00a0<\/p>\n
stirred in my chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I quickly suppressed whatever that feeling was. \u2018If you have a prior relationship with Mr. Wright, attending his birthday celebration would make sense. But if you\u2019ve never even met him, there\u2019s really no need. It\u2019s your decision to make, not mine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could clarify further, Selena interjected, \u2018Mr. Sterling, women often say one thing while meaning another. What my sister is really saying is that she hopes you\u2019ll offer to accompany her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at her in disbelief. How could she possibly interpret my words that way?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFine,\u201d Ridley said, accepting the invitation. \u201cI\u2019ll attend,\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After Selena said her goodbyes and drove away, I felt heat creeping into my cheeks. What just happened?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Sterling, if there\u2019s nothing else, I should head home now,\u201d I said awkwardly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Suddenly Aiden spoke up, pulling Oliver closer to him. \u201cDad, would you mind driving Cedar home? I can go back with Henderson.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ridley\u2019s lips curved slightly. \u201cLet\u2019s go. I\u2019ll take you home.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s really not necessary, I protested, \u201cI can just take a cab!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The thought of being alone in a car with him made me inexplicably nervous.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018I promised Aiden 1 would see you home safely,\u201d Ridley replied evenly. \u201cIf fail to keep my word, what would that teach him about integrity?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I had no response to that. Reluctantly, I slid into the passenger seat of his sleek Audi.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As we drove through Chicago\u2019s evening streets, cool air blowing through the slightly opened windows, I found myself stealing glances at Ridley\u2019s profile. My mind kept drifting to Aiden and Aria, and strangely, I found myself wondering what his third child might be like.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was definitely losing my mind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The car finally pulled up in front of my aging apartment building in Wicker Park. I unbuckled my seatbelt and turned slightly toward him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you for the ride home, Mr. Sterling,\u201d I said softly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ridley suddenly turned his head toward me. His eyes were dark as midnight, like storm clouds across an evening sky, making it impossible to read what he was thinking. He just stared at me silently, then gradually leaned closer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The confined space of his luxury car and the ambiguous atmosphere made my cheeks flush hot. I should have known better\u2013nothing simple ever happened when I was alone with this man.\u00a0<\/p>\n
|||\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
11:15 Mon, Feb 2 DB B\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 95\u00a0<\/p>\n
I pressed myself against the door, trying to create distance. \u201cMr. Sterling, What are you doing?\u201d I managed to ask.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou now know I have three children,\u201d he said, his voice low. \u201cDon\u2019t you have any questions about that?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
68%\u00a0<\/p>\n
He moved even closer. The distance between us narrowed to mere inches.could feel the warmth of his breath against my cheek.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I swallowed hard, avoiding his intense gaze. Why would his three children have anything to do with me? Sure, I adored Aiden and Aria, but\u00a0<\/p>\n
that didn\u2019t give me any right to pry into Sterling family matters.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My hand fumbled for the door handle. \u201cI\u2013I should go. We\u2019re at my place, stammered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAiden and Aria both like you very much,\u201d he said, his hand moving to block the door. \u201cAnd if I\u2019m not mistaken, my other child would probably\u00a0<\/p>\n
like you too. Don\u2019t you have anything to say about that?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His voice maintained its cool detachment, but I detected something else beneath it\u2013some emotion I couldn\u2019t quite identify. A feeling I didn\u2019t\u00a0<\/p>\n
understand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I pressed my lips together, lowering my eyes. If I had to ask something\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Sterling, if you don\u2019t mind me asking\u2026 are all three of your children from the same mother?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ridley nodded slowly. The beautiful line of his jaw tightened as he pressed his lips together without elaborating.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMay I ask how old your third child is?\u201d I held my breath waiting for his answer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSix.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My mind exploded. Six years old! Three children, all six years old!\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre they triplets?\u201d I blurted out. That would be some impressive genetics,\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re not triplets,\u201d Ridley said, finally releasing his hold on the door. He pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly frustrated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sat there in shock, my jaw practically hanging open. Same mother, all born in the same year, but not triplets? How was that even possible?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tried to compose myself, swallowing hard. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, but I don\u2019t understand\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018I don\u2019t fully understand it myself,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cSo how could you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ridley leaned back against the seat, unable to hide his frustration. He lifted his dark eyes to meet mine and spoke in a low voice, \u201cAiden and Aria have grown up without a mother\u2019s care. Maternal love is something missing from their lives, which is why they\u2019ve become so attached to you. He paused, his expression softening slightly. \u201cI know the children have caused some disruption in your life, but as their father, I selfishly hope that when you have time, you might give them the affection they need.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Of course I will, I responded without hesitation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking at Ridley\u2019s face, I caught a glimpse of vulnerability beneath his controlled exterior. In that moment, I felt a surge of sympathy for this man. Three children, no mother, and even with household staff to help, he must have shouldered an enormous burden.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No wonder Aiden was so mature for his age. As the eldest brother, he\u2019d taken on responsibilities no six\u2013year\u2013old should have to beat. The weight on his small shoulders was probably heavier than what many adults carried, including myself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
273\u00a0<\/p>\n
11:15 Mon, Feb 2 DB B.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 95\u00a0<\/p>\n
68%\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heart ached for Aiden and I adored little Aria. These children had brought unexpected joy to my life. If they needed me, I would gladly be\u00a0<\/p>\n
there for them, anytime.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Sterling, it\u2019s getting late. I should head up now,\u201d I said, opening the car door. \u201cDrive safely on your way home.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As I walked toward my building, I could feel his intense gaze burning into my back. I didn\u2019t dare turn around, just hurried through the entrance\u00a0<\/p>\n
doors and into the lobby.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Sky Remembered the Touch of Our UnfiAnished Goodbyes by Lysa Orion Rehn 95 Chapter 95\u00a0 Cedar\u2019s POV\u00a0 68%\u00a0 \u201cWould […]<\/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-30494","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\/30494","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=30494"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30494\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30494"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30494"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30494"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}