Chapter 7000
I knelt to her level, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. “Not today, sweetheart,” I said gently. “Tomorrow morning. Would you with me to pick him up?”
Ava’s face lit up, and she nodded eagerly. “Yes! I can’t wait to show him my toys!”
I smiled, leaning in to peck her cheek. “He’ll love that. You’re the best sister he could ask for.”
like to come
Later that evening, after dinner, I tucked Ava into bed, smoothing her blanket and kissing her forehead. “Goodnight, my love,” I whispered
“Goodnight, Mommy,” she replied sleepily, already snuggling deeper into her pillows
When 1 left her room, I finally checked my phone. A text from Nathan lit up the screen:
“Goodnight, beautiful. I hope you have the sweetest dreams. Can’t wait to see you again soon.”
I couldn’t help but smile at his words, warmth spreading through me.
That night, I lay awake in bed, unable to sleep. I should have been excited–after all, I was finally bringing my boy home–but a gnawing unease settled in my chest.
Alex
The thought of him fingered in my mind, an unwelcome shadow I couldn’t shake. I knew he wasn’t done causing trouble, and the idea of him interfering with Llam’s return made my stomach churn
The next morning, I arrived at the hospital with Ava and Dominic by my side, ready to bring Liam home. But when I opened the door to his room, my heart dropped
The bed was empty
Panic set in immediately, my chest tightening as a thousand worst–case scenarios flashed through my mind. Had he been kidnapped?
I turned on my heel and bolted toward the reception, my mind racing with the worst possibilities. Frantle, I demanded answers from the nurse stationed nearby. “Where is my son?” I asked, my voice trembling with fear. “Why isn’t he in his room
The nurse looked startled, fumbling with her clipboard before answering. “His father picked him up this morning. They left just a few minutes ago.”
Her words hit me like a blow Speechless, It cannot be. I stared at her, struggling to process what I’d just heard. He took Liam Alex took him without relling me—without thinking about Llam’s needs or what this could do to him.
Anger surged through me, hot and unrelenting. What is wrong with him? How could he be so crust, so selfish? Liam needed his mother, and Alex knew that. Yet he still took him, as if I didn’t matter at all.
Dominic’s voice broke through my spiraling thoughts. “Why didn’t anyone inform his mother before letting him leave?” he demanded, his tone cold and
sharp
The doctor nearby stepped forward, but even he didn’t have a proper answer. By then, I was already walking out of the hospital, my Ests clenched and my jaw night with rage.
“Raina!” Dominic called after me. I heard his hurried footsteps as he caught up, Ava perched in his arms. “Calin down. We’ll get Liam back. Just breathe.”
I turned to him, my voice trembling with fury. “How can you expect me to calm down, Dominic? He’s your nephew! You have a child. You should understand how utterly selfish and wrong this is“.
Dominic hesitated, his expression conflicted, but I didn’t have time for reassurances. “We’ll get Liam back,” he said firmly. “But you can’t just rush in blind-”
“Watch me,” Leut him off, climbing into the car.
Dominic sighed heavily as he followed, securing Ava in her seat before sliding behind the wheel. He gave me a long look. “Raina, are you sure about this?
you’re not driving me to the Sullivan mansion,” I shot back,
ack. “I’ll find my ow
own way
there
Without another word, he started the engine.
The drive to Alex’s home felt like an eternity, my anger building with every passing second. By the time we arrived, I was practically vibrating with rage.
The house stood just as it always had–cold, imposing, and filled with memories I wanted to forget. Memories of arrogance, betrayal, and the pain endured within those walls.
The last time I was here, I was in labor, desperate and heartbroken, leaving everything behind for the sake of my kids.
Funny, wasn’t it?
I had walked away from this house to protect them. And now, here I was again, back for Liam.
I tightened my fists, swallowing the lump in my throat, and pushed the heavy door open without knocking, my voice echoing through the grand hall as shouted, “Alex! Get out here!”
I didn’t care about decorum or appearances. My son needed me, and I wasn’t leaving without him.
“Alex!” I yelled again, my voice cracking with emotion. “Where the hell are you? Face me, you coward!”
His voice, calm and infuriatingly snug, came from the top of the staircase, “I thought you’d be here sooner
1 whipped around, my eyes locking onto him. He looked down at me with an infuriating smirk, and in that moment, I realized something I hadn’t wanted to admit
Alex Sullivan was truly unhinged
