15:20 Sat, bSep /b6 bN /b

    Esther paced back and forth in her office.

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    55 vouchers.

    Her hands pulled together, restless, like her body was carrying the full weight of the storming their way.

    She was burdened….burdened with questions, fear, and the terrifying thought of what could happen if she made the wrong move.

    Firstly, she was terrified that Mia could dream something like that. Terrified because it wasn’t just some random dream…it was too real, too exact.

    That bastard had nned to abduct her. If not for Mia’s warning, Esther could have walked straight into that trap. She could have been dragged away, and it could have ended with her death.

    The thought made her stop pacing for a second, her breath catching in her throat.

    Her death. That’s what Mia’s dream had saved her from.

    But how? Esther shook her head hard, as if she could shake away the thought. How was it even possible? How could Mia see something like that in a dream…just like that? It made no sense. Nothing about it made sense.

    Yes she has defended it in front of Alex but still…

    Her stomach twisted. She needed to know more. What else did Mia see? What else wasing that she hadn’t told them yet? If Mia’s dreams carried that kind of power, then what else was hidden inside her?

    But that wasn’t even the only problem.

    Alex was.

    Her son wanted to see Mia. And that was where everything could copse.

    Esther pressed a trembling hand to her forehead, pacing again.

    A lot of things could go wrong from there. Too many things.

    Alex would get angry, of course. He could fire Mia right on the spot.

    15:20 Sat, Sep 6 bN /b

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    Mia could get scared, panicked, and run. She had done it before. And this time… if Mia discovered that they knew her son was Alex’s child, she might run away with the boy. Far away. Out of reach.

    Esther’s chest ached just thinking about it. They had to handle this with careful hands. No mistakes. No rash decisions.

    They needed a n. Good, solid ns. If not, this would blow up in all their faces, and there would be no fixing it.

    The sound of the door opening made her spin around sharply, her heart leaping into her throat.

    Julian stepped inside, his tall frame filling the doorway. His eyes found hers immediately, worry shing across his face.

    “Mom, I got your text. Is that true?”

    Esther only nodded. She didn’t trust her voice not to break.

    “Well, fuck,” Julian muttered, running a hand through his hair in frustration. His reaction didn’t surprise her. It was exactly how she felt inside–helpless, cornered, one wrong move away from disaster.

    She had not thought it through.

    She had not thought that telling Alex about Mia’s warning would turn back on her like this.

    Now, instead of just being grateful, Alex was suspicious. Of course he was. Alex suspected everything, everyone. That was the kind of man he was now.

    Julian let out a long sigh and moved toward the sofa, dropping down heavily on it. He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, staring at the floor like the answers might be hiding there.

    “You need to talk to her,” he said finally, his voice steady but firm. “Find out what really happened. Why she left, why she’s hiding and why the hell she’s hiding her son from Alex.”

    Esther’s chest tightened. She already knew those questions needed answers. But

    15:20 Sat, Sep 6 bN /b

    hearing them out loud made the situation feel heavier.

    “I already sent for her,” Esther admitted quietly.

    Julian’s head lifted at once, his sharp eyes narrowing.

    “If Alex wants to see her, it shouldn’t be a problem,” Jullian says.

    They both know that is not true, it could be a huge problem.

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    Mia was told the director wanted to see her.

    Her stomach dropped the moment the words reached her ears. She froze in the hallway.

    Mia at this point was waiting for the worst to happen. Every time she came into this building, every time she walked these halls, she braced herself for the moment everything came crashing down. Maybe today was that day.

    After telling Esther about that dream, she should have stopped. She should have quit right then, cut ties, and walked away before things got messy.

    She knew it, deep down she knew it, but she still kepting back. Every morning, she still showed up.

    She didn’t even want to think about why anymore. Because deep down, she knew. She knew why she stayed. But admitting it would make her a hypocrite and a coward. And Mia wasn’t ready to say it out loud, not even to herself.

    Lily had been right. Mia hated to admit it, but her sister had been right. The very moment she discovered who owned thispany, she should have packed her things and put miles between them. She should have been gone, far away, hidden where no one could ever find her or her son.

    Instead….she was here. Still here.

    She told herself it was the money. She clung to that excuse like it could make her choices seem rational.

    It’s the money, she whispered to herself every night. But that wasn’t the whole

    b15:20 /bSat, Sep b6 /bN

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    truth. She and Aiden could manage with the little savings she had. It wouldn’t be easy, but they could scrape by while she searched for another job.

    And as much as she hated relying on Ethan, she knew Ethan would never let themck anything. Not food, not shelter, not the basics. He would always step in. He always had.

    So

    yes,

    she could survive without this job. They could all survive.

    Then why was she still here? Why did she keep walking through those ss doors every single day?

    Mia’s chest tightened as the question circled her mind again. No matter how many excuses she stacked up, none of them exined why her feet always brought her back.

    Now, standing in front of Esther ckwell’s door, she was close to passing out.

    Why did Esther want to see her?

    Was it about the dream?

    Or was it about the job? Maybe she was about to be fired. Maybe Esther thought she was crazy.

    Mia’s pulse raced as she took in a shaky breath and forced her knuckles to knock on the door.

    “Come in,” Esther’s voice called from inside.

    Mia pushed the door open slowly. The moment she stepped in, her eyes froze on the second person inside.

    Julian ckwell.

    Her heart sank. Esther wasn’t alone.

    Mia’s body stiffened on instinct. She wanted to turn around and run. Every nerve in her body screamed at her to get out. The way they were staring at her… she could feel it in her bones. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

    “Mia,” Esther’s voice broke the heavy silence. “Sit down.”

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    Mia’s throat went dry. She shouldn’t sit. Everything in her screamed not to. Sitting meant this wasn’t just a passing conversation. Sitting meant this was serious.

    But her legs carried her forward anyway, slow and reluctant. She lowered herself into the chair, her back stiff, her hands clenched together tightly in herp.

    Her heart pounds so loudly in her chest she was certain they could hear it.

    “Mia,” Esther said again, this time softer. She leaned forward, her eyes holding

    Mia’s,

    Mia swallowed hard, her throat burning, her chest tight.

    And then Esther opened her mouth.

    “Why did you leave Willowcrest?”

    €8