Chapter 70
Sapphire.
Later that night. I was giving Charlie his bath, scrubbing the soap into bubbles that he playfully tried to catch in his tiny hands. Watching him laugh with so much innocence reminded me of how much he’d been through things na child should ever have to face.
1 leaned back, dipping the washcloth into the warm water as I carefully brought up what had been on my mind,
“So.” I said. trying to sound casual, “what did you and your dad talk about today?”
His hands stilled as he looked up at me, his big eyes suddenly guarded. “Nothing.” he mumbled, eyes flicking down as if he didn’t really want to talk
about it.
I gave him a soft smile and leaned closer, lightly tickling his side. “Nothing, huh? Really?”
He burst into giggles, squirming away from my hands. “Stop, Mamal” he squealed, but I could tell his defenses were breaking down a little. He sighed as be caught his breath, then looked at me with a serious expression that looked far too mature for his little face. “I don’t want to tell you because because you’d be hurt.”
The honesty in his voice broke my heart a little, I tucked a damp curl behind his ear, shaking my head with a reassuring smile. “Sweetheart, I’ve told you before. I’m not hurt about that. I just want you to feel comfortable telling me anything, okay?”
He still looked doubtful, but I didn’t push. Instead, I shifted the conversation slightly. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” I said softly, wiping the last soap bubbles from his arms. “But do you like Aragon?”
He hesitated, biting his lip. Then he gave a small nod, his cheeks reddening a bit as he looked up at me. “I do.” he admitted shyly, but his little face fell as quickly as he’d brightened. “But.. what if he leaves, Mama? What if he goes away again”
I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to reassure him. “Charlie baby, listen to me, no matter what happen between your father and me, Ill make sure he doesn’t leave you behind again. You don’t have to worry about that.”
He looked at me for a long moment, as if weighing the truth in my words. Slowly, he nodded, seeming a little more at ease. “Okay,” he said, and small smile started to tug at his lips. “Mars can he come over tomorrow? I’ve got so many things I wanna show him”
I smiled, relieved to see the excitement in his eyes. “How about this? I’D ask him if he can pick you up from school tomorrow, and then you two con spend the day together. How does that sound?”
His whole face lit up. “Really? Thanks, Mama!”
After Id dried him off, read him his favorite story, and settled him into bed, I pulled out my phone. My fingers hovered over Aragon’s contact for a moment before 1 tapped to call him. I wasn’t sure why i felt so nervous seeing as he was here today.
The phone only rang once before he picked up. “Hey. This is a nice surprise. Did I forget something?
“No, not at all.”
“I Charlie okay” he asked.
I smiled a little, leaning against the doorframe as I watched Charlie’s soft, even breathing from across the room. “Yeah, he is fine. I just wanted to let you know that Charlie wouldn’t tell me about how things went between you two today, but I think it must’ve gone well because he’s asked if you could spend time with him tomorrow.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line. Then he chuckled softly, sounding almost disbelieving. “Really? I.. I wasn’t expecting that.”
I smiled, feeling a bit of the tension in my shoulders meli. “So, if you’d like, you can pick him up from school tomorrow. I’ll let his teacher know, and you two can have the whole aftermoon together.”
“Thank you.” he said. “I appreciate you bring so supportive. It means a lot.”
The sincerity in his words touched me more than I’d anticipated. “He’s y your son, Aragon. No matter what’s happened between us, he deserves to know his father. I dad the right thing by protecting him but since you are making an effort, I can as well.”
There was a brief silence, and I could almost feel him weighing his next words. “You’re right. And thank you for reminding me of that.” He cleared his thenat “So when are we going to go out together! You still owe me lunch,”
still distrusted him. Would he revert back to
In gladdened me that he was still persistent even though I have been pushing him away but a part of me st lus old ways once he has gotten what he came fort
I dato i want to think about it too much but it was tintated at the back of my mind.
Trase. I know you have every reason to not that me but I promise you, I am trying to do the right thing here. I will never make up for hurting you
reating you lesser back then but I will spend the rest of my life muking it up to you till Tam worthy of you.”
1 defra pang of something battersweet, die nostalgia tried to comume me but I swallowed and blinked back tears
i talking about the past but when the results of that pau gave ine something I cherish more than anything in the world. I think of it as an
Lexhaled slowly, choosing my words carefully. “Let’s focus on Charlie first. Fixing things with him should be your priority right now. When that’s on solid ground, then maybe we can talk about sis.”
He beutated, and I sensed he wanted to press the issue but was holding himself back. “Alright.” he said. “I’ll do my beat with him, I promise.
Cupter 70
“I know you will,” I replied softly.
After we hung up, I looked at Charlie, sleeping soundly, his little fingers curled around his blanket. A part of me hoped, desperately, that Aragon was really here to stay this time, not just for me but for the boy who’d already been hurt too much by his father missing out on his growth:
My baby deserved someone who would always be there for him. That’s why I didn’t date anyone because all of them would have been a temporary replacement for my mate. It would have been a waste of time.
I wanted to believe Aragon, to trust the promises he was making, but part of me still held back. I couldn’t afford to be reckless with my own heart, and especially not with Charlie’s.
1 finally managed to drift off, but sleep quickly turned into a nightmare, one that felt more real than any dream. I’d had in a long time
I was tied up, my wrists bound tightly, and I felt hot tears streaming down my cheeks. I was surrounded by Aragon. Leah, and the rest of their pack were all there, watching me with cruel smirks. Their laughter echoed around me, sharp and hollow, making me feel small and helpless.
And then I saw Charlie, standing off to the side. My heart twisted in panie. “Please, just let him go!” I begged, straining against my restraints. My voice cracked, but none of them seemed to care. The laughter grew louder, more piercing, until it drowned out everything else.
Aragon stepped forward, a mocking smile on his face. “Did you really think I cared about you?” he sneered. “I was only ever after Charlie. He’ll be Alpla one day, and I needed him back for that.”
My chest tightened, and I felt my tears falling faster. I looked to Leah, hoping for some hint of sympathy, but she only laughed, pointing at me along with the others.
“Look at her,” she sneered, “So stupid, thinking she meant something.”
I felt the humiliation wash over me, sharp and searing. I was helpless, desperate, amable to move or even defend myself. They were all pointing. their fingers aimed like daggers, and all I could do was watch as they reached for Charlie.
“Not Don’t take him!” My cries turned to raw screams as they led Charlie away, ignoring my pleas. His small, innocent face looked back at me, confused and afraid, but I was powerless to help him.
The laughter intensified until it was the only thing I could hear, a cruel, endless echo as they disappeared with Charlie. My heart shattered, the horror and despair suffocating me until I could barely breathe.
And then 1 jahed awake, gasping for air, drenched in a cold sweat. My hands shook as I sat up, pressing them to my face. It was just a nightmare, a horrible, gut–wrenching nightmare. But the fear still clung to me, like icy fingers wrapping around my heart.
I took a shaky breath, glancing around the dark room, trying to calm myself. But the echoes of their laughter still lingered. in my ears, and I felt the tears slipping down my face as the remnants of the dream replayed in my mind.
I reached out instinctively, placing a hand on the empty spot beside me. It was cold and silent, and I felt that emptiness settle deep within, leaving me more shaken than I wanted to admit.
