My heart filled 139

Chapter 139

-25 Bonus

“Are you olay, Mommy?” Ava asked, her innocence cutting straight to my core

“I’m okay, baby,” I lied, forcing a smile even though they couldn’t son me. “I’m jest working on a few things, but I’l see you both soon. I love you so

much”

“Love you too,” they said in unison, their little voices filling me with both joy and sorrow.

Alex came back on the line after a beat. ”

“They miss you,” he said quietly

“I know,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

“I’ll make sure they stay safe, Raina,” he assured me.

I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. “Thank you,” I uttered, the words laced with genuine gratitude.

“When are you planning to do the tests?” I asked, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me.

“Tomorrow”

Alex replied

The line went quiet for a beat, the weight of everything hanging between us like a hravy fog. Then he broke the silence. “Are you okay, Raine?” he asked gently. “And how did your family take the news?”

1 glanced over at Dominic, who was sitting across the room with his arms crossed, watching me intently. “I told them,” I said softly, turning my back slightly for privacy. “But I can’t shake this fear, Alex. What if Nathan finds out about the tests? What if he..” I trailed off, the possibilities too terrifying

to voice aloud

Dominic shifted in his seat,

, his brows knitting together. Without a word, I hit the speaker button, motioning for Dominic to listen in

“We have proof,” Alex said firmly, his voice grounding me. “The tone is enough to pin Adelaide as the one behind this, for murder. Once she’s arrested, the family can proceed with the tests without drawing any suspicion. It’s sader this way, Raina Adelaide would already be in custody–a bird in hand, so to speak

His words struck a chord, and I felt a flicker of hope ignite in the chaos of my thoughts. 1 looked over at Dominic, whose expression softened as he nodded in agreement.

“That’s….. exactly what I was thinking.” I admitted, my voice tinged with disbelief.

Dominic leaned forward, his hands resting on his knees. “It’s a solid plan,” he said. “We’ll make the report first thing tomorrow morning. By the end of the day, Adelaide’s name will be all over the news.”

I nodded, determination hardening my resolve. “This should be after she gets back from her short break. Make sure it’s airtight,” I said, meeting Domink’s gaze. “We can’t afford for anything to go wrong”

“I’ll handle it,” Dominic assured me

Alex’s voice softened on the other end of the line. “Raina, just focus on keeping everyone safe: We’ll get through this

“Thank you, Alex,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Anytime,” he replied.

As the call ended, I leaned back against the wall, my mind racing. Dominic stood, his expression unreadable as he approached me.

“We’ll handle this, Raine,” he said, his tone steady and reassuring. “One step at a time.”

I nodded, though the knot in my stomach remained. This plan had to work. It was our only shot at protecting the family and exposing the truth.

The decision to wait until Adelaide returned from her break wasn’t one I made lightly. Timing was everything now. The next morning, I forced myself to focus on work. It was strange how, for a few hours, I managed to push the chaos of my personal lile to the back of my mind.

Huried i

dmyself in emails, reports, and meetings. For a brief moment, I almost felt normal, as though the weight of my family’s struggles wasn’t pressing on my chest like a heavy stone. But as soon as the workday ended, the illusion shattered.

I was on a mission. There was no time to waste.

As I stepped into the parking lot, my phone pressed to my ear, I called Alex “Can I speak to the kids?” I asked, eager to hear their voices.

“They’re doing great,” Alex replied. “Give me a second. I’ll put them on

“Baina,” a volce called from behind me.

The phone nearly slipped from my grasp. My heart sank. I turned slowly, dread pooling in my stomach.

+25 Nonus

It was Nathan

Standing alone in the dim light of the parking lot, his figure cast long, menacing shadows. His eyes were fixed on me, and his expression was unreadable.