NovelEnglishChapter 178
Christiana’s POV
It was well past Il PM, and Alex still hadn't returned. The mansion felt too large, too quiet. The occasional creak
of the old walls or the muffled footsteps of the bodyguards in the hallways did little to soothe my nerves. | told
myself he was probably busy, handling things I couldn't even begin to imagine.
Still, the absence of his presence added to the unease gnawing at me.
Ethan and Emma were finally asleep, their little bodies curled under the soft blankets in the room that had
quickly bectheirs. | sat in the armchair by the window, the faint moonlight filtering through the curtains.
| tried to convince myself that everything was fine, that we were safe. Alex's mansion was protected, and the
guards he trusted were standing at every possible entry point. But no amount of security could erase the
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtmemories of what had happened...or the fear that it could happen again.
My mind drifted back to earlier in the night, when Emma had asked if we could live here forever. It wasn't just
the allure of the grandeur or the safety; it was the way Alex’s hfelt. Despite the luxury, there was a strange
warmth to it, a sense that no matter what lurked beyond its walls, we were protected here.
But protection wasn’t a guarantee.
The clock on the wall ticked softly, each passing second stretching the night further. My gaze moved toward the
door, half expecting Alex to walk in. Maybe he’d giveone of his pointed looks and tell| needed to sleep,
that worrying wouldn't help.
But he didn’t come.
I leaned my head back against the chair, closing my eyes briefly. My body ached with exhaustion, but my mind
wouldn't letrest. Every t| closed my eyes, | saw Ethan and Emma trapped in that dark room. | saw
Daniel's cruel smirk, his voice mockingas he daredto trade my dignity for their lives.
My fists clenched.
| couldn’t let my guard down. Not even for a second.
A soft rustling sound snappedout of my thoughts. | opened my eyes to see Ethan stirring in his bed, his little
face scrunching as he turned over.
“Mommy?” he mumbled groggily, his voice was low.
“I'm here, sweetheart,” | said, standing and moving to sit on the edge of his bed.
His eyes fluttered open, and he reached for me. “Why are you still awake?” he asked, his voice thick with sleep.
“I'm just keeping an eye on you and your sister,” | said, brushing his hair back.
He frowned, his tiny brows knitting together. “You look tired.”
| managed a small smile. “Mommies don’t get tired.”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmEthan's frown deepened. “That's not true.”
Emma stirred then, her soft voice breaking the quiet. “What's happening?”
“Nothing, baby,” | said, turning to her as she sat up, clutching her stuffed rabbit. “Ethan just woke up for a
moment.”
55)
Inu, vec 20
Chapter 178
10 68%
She climbed out of bed and padded over, her bare feet making soft taps on the hardwood floor. “Are you sad,
Mommy?”
| pulled her into my lap, kissing her forehead. “No, sweetheart. Just thinking.”
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