Chapter 170
She laughs, and for a few minutes, the sound fills the room, But then, out of nowhere, her tone shifts.
“I’m glad you’re here. I love that you are here,” she says quietly. “I miss Mommy, but when you’re around, it’s not so sad p>
The words pierce something deep in me. My throat tightens, and I blink hard against the sting in my eyes. I lean down and kiss her forehead. “I’m glad I’m here too, sweetheart. It’s been the best two weeks with you p>
She looks up at me, all sincerity. “Can you stay with us forever? I don’t want you to ever leave. I promise I’ll be a good girl p>
My heart twists. I want to. More than I should, but we all know I can’t. This isn’t my home. There is no future with Noah and he would never allow anything like that.
I force a small smile and brush a wet curl from her face. “We’ll see, okay? For now you and Nolan can continue being my favorite people p>
That seems to satisfy her. She beams and starts splashing again, making me laugh.
Once she’s done, I wrap her in a towel, drying her off before she slips into her clothes. There’s a knock on the door just as I’m towel–drying her hair.
“Come i
I call.
Nolan pokes his head in, hair damp and sticking to his forehead. “Are you done? Nova takes forever p>
“That’s cause I’m a mermaid. Mermaids need water.” Nova fires back.
“No you’re not. You’re just a girl”
“I’m a mermaid, Nolan! You can’t tell me what I am or I’m not p>
Nolan goes to fire back something, but I cut in.
“Kids… what did I say about you two arguing p>
They glare at each other, before sighing and saying at the same time, “We are sorry Aunt Sierra p>
“Good” I move. “Come sit down Nolan”
I grab the hairdryer, and the two of them sit side by side on the bed while I dry their hair.
“Can you braid mine?” Nova asks. “I don’t know how to do it p>
“Sure, Love… and one of these days after school, I’ll even teach you how to do it p>
As I weave her hair into neat plaits, Nolan fires off questions about my work. He asks what kind of animals I study, if I’ve ever seen a real wolf, whether I get to name them.
Nova chimes in, “I want to be as cool as you, so I’ll become a scientist”
“I thought you wanted to become a fairy god mother” Nolan asks, casually,
“That was before. Now I want to be a scientist” she answers.
Nolan shrugs at her answer, “Well I want to become a CEO just like dad and grandpa p>
Chapter Tro
Apart from the fact that he’s the Wood Corporation heir, I can already see him as the man on top. The personality, the character, the way he carries himself… Nolan is already a CEO in the making.
I laugh softly. “You’ll both be amazing at whatever you choose p>
Time slips and before I realize it, the nanny is calling them for dinner. We eat together even though it’s just the three of us.
After dinner, they beg for a bedtime story. I oblige, reading until their eyes droop and their breathing evens out. I stay a little longer, just watching them, soaking in the love and peace that surrounds them.
When I finally leave their room, I decide to go downstairs for a glass of milk before bed.
But halfway down the staircase, I freeze, because coming up, step by slow step, his gaze lifting, is the man I haven’t seen in two weeks. 5
Noah.