"What did you say?" My voice quivered, scarcely louder than a whisper. My heart raced so loudly in my chest that I questioned if Janet could hear it.
Janet's remarks lingered in the atmosphere like a dense mist, difficult to comprehend yet unavoidable. I gazed at her, my throat parched, while my mind struggled to comprehend her shocking disclosure.
Janet's lips opened once more, but before she could say anything again, a piercing voice cut through the tension.
"What are you both murmuring about?"
The noise startled me, and I turned my head toward the origin. Granny West stood there, her cane lightly tapping against the tiled floor, her piercing eyes narrowing in suspicion. Her presence was commanding, as always, her stature small but her aura towering.
Janet visibly froze, her face draining of color as though caught in some grave act. "I... I was just..." Her hands fidgeted nervously with the hem of her apron, her voice faltering. "I just remembered something I needed to do... urgently." She curtsied clumsily and bolted, her footsteps echoing down the hallway.
Granny West's gaze lingered on the spot where Janet had been before settling on me. Her brows knitted in suspicion. "What were you two discussing so secretly?"
My breath caught, yet I compelled a smile onto my face, attempting to conceal the storm of feelings surging inside me. "Oh, it's nothing important," I replied, waving my hand as though brushing the question aside completely. "Janet just wanted to know what I'd like for dinner. She forgot to ask earlier, that's all."
Granny tilted her head slightly, her sharp eyes scrutinizing me for any crack in my facade. My palms grew clammy under her gaze, but to my relief, she finally nodded. "Hmm. I see."
She turned toward the mansion. "Let's go inside. It's getting cold out here."
I followed her, my mind spinning. JaJanet's remarks had sparked turmoil inside me, yet I was unable to understand it. If Granny had caught even a snippet of our discussion, it was impossible to predict what could occur.
Upon stepping into the grand hall, Granny's voice brought me back to reality. "How did your day go?"
I let out a sigh, sensing the day's fatigue press down on me like a burden. "Exhausting," I admitted. "Gregory was up to his usual tricks again. He planted rumors about me in the press to stir trouble during the conference. I handled it, but..." My voice trailed off as I rubbed my temple.
Granny clicked her tongue, her disapproval evident. "Gregory has consistently been a source of trouble for the family." He's resentful and sly, yet you must never allow him to witness your weakness. Vulnerability is a privilege you cannot allow, Natalie. As the leader of the West family's empire, your calmness serves as your shield.
Her words, while firm, contained a hint of comfort. I nodded, taking a deep breath. "You are correct." "I simply..." I paused, my shoulders drooping. "At times, it seems as though the world is opposed to me."
Granny's distinctive features softened, a seldom-seen moment of vulnerability breaking through. "You have Jason. You have me. And you have yourself, Natalie. Remember that."
Before I could respond, a familiar voice rang out, cutting through the quiet.
"Mommy!"
I glanced at the staircase just as Jason came rushing down the steps, his little feet racing as quickly as possible. His broad smile was contagious, his dark curls springing with every step.
"Jason!" I called out, my heart swelling as he leaped into my embrace. I crouched down to grasp him, holding him close as if he were my lifeline in a tempest.
"I watched you on television today!" he exclaimed enthusiastically, his shining eyes glimmering with pride.
I chuckled gently, sweeping his curls away from his forehead. "Did you?" What were your thoughts?"
"You looked so beautiful!" he exclaimed with the sincerity that only a child can express.
My heart clenched at his words, tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. "Thank you, sweetheart. That means so much to me. Did you like it?"
He nodded enthusiastically, wrapping his arms around my neck. "Yes! Everyone was clapping. Does that mean you're the best?"
I couldn't help but laugh, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "It means I'm trying my best. For you."
Granny West stood nearby, watching us with an expression I couldn't quite place. For a moment, her ever-present sternness seemed to fade, replaced by something softer. "He's proud of you, Natalie. And he should be," she said quietly.
Jason giggled, squirming in my arms as he looked up at me with pure adoration. At that instant, the burden of the day, Gregory's plans, and Janet's enigmatic remarks all dissolved. What counted most was the coziness of my son's hug and the strong connection we had.
Yet, as I embraced Jason tightly, an unsettling presence flickered at the edge of my thoughts—a murky haze of unaddressed inquiries, secrets murmured but still hidden.
Who am I?
And what does Granny West know that she's not telling me?
"Mommy, why did you look so serious on TV?" Jason asked, his small hand tugging insistently at my sleeve. His broad, naive gaze met mine, reflecting curiosity and faith that pulled at my heartstrings.
I laughed quietly, running my fingers through his tousled hair. "Because Mommy needed to discuss significant matters." At times, when adults are busy, we need to appear serious.
Jason pondered for a moment, then smiled widely. "But you shine the brightest when you smile!"
The soothing nature of his words enveloped me, dissolving the burden that had been weighing on my heart throughout the day. I embraced him closely, my tone gentle and full of warmth. "You always know just what to say, sweetheart."
He giggled, but his laughter quickly faded as his face grew contemplative. "Mommy," he began, his tone serious for a child his age, "who was that man today? The one who stopped the bad guy?"
The question froze me in place. My breath caught, and my pulse quickened. "What man, sweetheart?" I asked, forcing an even tone.
Jason's eyes lit up with excitement, oblivious to my discomfort. "The man who told the bad guy to stop being mean to you! He was so cool! He said big words and looked so strong—like a hero!"
My heart sank, the edges of my carefully constructed composure beginning to fray. I cleared my throat, trying to respond casually. "Oh, I see."
Jason's tiny hands clenched into fists, and his small chest swelled with resolve. "When I become an adult, I aspire to be like him!" I'll keep you safe, Mommy! Just as he did!
The words struck like a blade, pointed and unyielding. The space felt like it was closing in on me, and without reflecting, I exclaimed, "No!"
Jason blinked in disbelief, his grin fading as he looked at me with open, wounded eyes. "Why not, Mom? Are you not fond of him?"
Guilt overwhelmed me, the intensity of my response suffocating. I sank to my knees, cradling his tiny, warm face in my shaking hands. "Oh, Jason," I whispered, my voice heavy with feeling.
"It's not that... You don't need to be like anyone else. You're already so much better. You're my superhero."
His lips trembled for an instant before curling into a bashful grin. "Seriously?"
"Honestly," I replied, my tone steady even with the knot in my throat. I pressed my lips to his forehead, wishing he wouldn't notice the turmoil brewing within me.
Jason's smile returned, but before he could press further, Mrs. Pat appeared in the doorway, her gentle knock breaking the tension.
"Dinner is ready," she announced with her ever-kind smile.
Jason grabbed my hand eagerly. "Let's go eat, Mommy!"
I nodded, letting him lead me toward the dining room, though my feet felt like lead. His excited chatter about his favorite foods filled the air, but my mind was elsewhere.
Lucas. The name reverberated in my head like a haunting echo. His sudden reappearance had already unsettled me, but now he had found a way into Jason's innocent admiration.
The irony stung. Lucas, the man who had shattered my world, now stood as a figure my son looked up to—a hero in Jason's eyes. I couldn't reconcile the man who had discarded me like a broken toy with the one Jason had seen today.
The meal remained untouched on my plate, the scent of the food failing to ignite my hunger. My mind was burdened, my feelings too intense. I made my apologies as quickly as I could, taking Jason upstairs to prepare him for bedtime.
"Mommy, do you believe I will become a brave hero someday?" Jason asked as I helped him into his pajamas.
"You'll be the strongest hero of all, sweetheart," I replied, trying to muster enthusiasm.
He smiled, his eyes already growing heavy with sleep. "Sleep well, Mommy."
"Goodnight, darling," I murmured, tucking the blanket up to his chin.
He fell asleep swiftly, his small body calming into the bed while his breathing turned steady and tranquil. I perched next to him, observing the gentle rise and fall of his chest. My fingers glided through his curls, and tears filled my eyes.
I attempted to blink them away, yet they arrived in an unyielding surge, streaming down my cheeks without a sound. My chest throbbed with a blend of sadness, rage, and a perilous hint of something I could not fully identify.
Why now? Why, after all this time, was Lucas back in my life?
The agony of that frigid night—when he had cast me aside, shattered and hurt—crashed down like a tidal wave. I had dedicated years to constructing barriers around my heart, persuading myself that the injuries had mended.
And yet... beneath the anger and the hurt, there was something else. Something I hated myself for feeling.
A flicker of longing.
I leaned down and kissed Jason's forehead, his warmth grounding me. He was my anchor, my reason for everything.
But as I looked at his innocent face, the truth loomed over me like
a dark shadow.
One day, Jason would want to know about his father.
And I didn't know if I'd be ready to give him an answer.