Chapter 18
Gabriel stood in his study before the floor–to–ceiling window, his knuckles rapping against the mahogany desk.
The photos his assistant had just delivered lay scattered across the surface, each one piercing his eyes like a knife.
“You’re certain it’s her?” His voice was dangerously low.
“Absolutely positive,” the assistant wiped sweat from his brow. “Madam opened a bookstore in Seattle. Business is modest. These photos were taken last week.”
In the photo, Cassidy stood at the entrance of a bookstore named “Serene Moon.”
Sunlight filtered through the maple leaves, casting dappled shadows across her figure.
She wore a simple linen dress, her hair slightly shorter than when she left, bending down to speak to a five or six–year–old girl.
Her expression held a gentleness he hadn’t seen in ages.
Most jarring was the man standing beside her–tall and distinguished, with a gentle gaze fixed on Cassidy from behind gold–rimmed glasses.
The man carried the little girl in his arms, and the three of them together created a harmonious picture that was suffocating to behold.
“Who is this man standing beside her?” Gabriel’s fingertip heavily pressed against the photo, leaving a blurred mark across the man’s face.
“That appears to be a senior from Madam’s university days, Wesley Reed. The little girl is his deceased sister’s child. They were only casual acquaintances in college, just happened to meet in Seattle.”
“But, Madam seems quite fond of the little girl… often takes her out. Dr. Reed frequently accompanies them.”
“Enough, no need to continue,” Gabriel raised his hand to interrupt, his chest churning with unfamiliar jealousy.
How dare Cassidy? How dare she look at another man that way? That tenderness–that was supposed to be his alone
Just then, the study door was suddenly pushed open.
Emma and Ethan ran in barefoot, their little faces still tear–stained.
“Daddy!” Emma flung herself against his leg. “Martha said you found Mommy! Is it true?”
Gabriel bent down to lift his daughter, his gaze sweeping over Cassidy’s smiling eyes in the photo
Chapter 18
Three months, and she hadn’t contacted the children once, yet she could smile so happily with someone else’s child
in a distant city?
‘Can we go find Mommy?” Ethan tugged at the hem of his suit. “We miss her…”
The child’s voice was like a dull knife slowly carving into his heart.
Gabriel looked at the three people in the photo, their apparent happiness, and suddenly laughed coldly.
Prepare the jet,” he told his assistant, gently wiping the tears from Emma’s face. “We’re going to bring Mommy tome.”
He refused to believe Cassidy truly cared for that doctor.
his had to be her way of getting back at him.
he had once loved him so much she’d endured six years of coldness. So if he went to get her himself, bringing the hildren, surely she would soften.
After all, Cassidy had never been able to see him or the children hurt.
Meanwhile, in Seattle’s “Clay Joy” pottery studio, Cassidy was focused on molding a piece of clay.
Little Lily leaned over the workbench beside her, her small face smudged with several streaks of clay.
Miss Cassidy, look at my bunny!” The little girl proudly held up a misshapen creation.
Cassidy leaned in for a closer look, then playfully dabbed a bit of clay on Lily’s nose:
A real bunny indeed! And doesn’t a bunny need a round nose?”
ily giggled and grabbed some clay to retaliate.
s they played, Wesley approached with three cups of hot tea, his glasses also speckled with clay.
You two,” he shook his head with mock exasperation, unable to hide his smile. “Turning this place into a attlefield?”
unlight streamed through the skylight onto the table. Wesley took out a handkerchief, naturally wiping away the lay spots from Cassidy’s cheek.
lis fingers paused briefly upon touching her skin, realizing their proximity, the tips of his ears turning slightly red.
ily watched the scene with a grin, suddenly setting down her clay to look at Cassidy with her big eyes:
Miss Cassidy, I’m so happy. I wish I could always be with you and Uncle Wesley.”
Cassidy’s heart skipped a beat as she looked up, meeting Wesley’s gentle gaze through his glasses.
Chapter 18
That look contained careful hope, making her heart tremble.
But thinking of Gabriel and those children, her expression dimmed again, and she remained silent.
“Lily.” Wesley suddenly broke the quiet atmosphere, pushing the small bowl he had made toward his niece with a
smile.
“Look at this. Do you like it?”
Lily’s attention was successfully diverted, and she forgot her previous question.
Cassidy lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the rough surface of the clay.
A warmth spread through her chest, mixed with an indescribable bittersweetness.
She knew Wesley was giving her space–Just as he had maintained a perfectly respectful distance these past three months, never overstepping.
T’ll go change the water,” she suddenly stood up, hurrying away.
In the bathroom, Cassidy stared at her reflection in the mirror.
Three months had passed, the shadows under her eyes had faded, her lips no longer tense, and the scars on her body had lightened considerably.
Seattle’s sunshine and gentle breezes seemed to have healed some invisible wounds as well.
Yet when Lily mentioned “always being together,” the faces of Ethan and Emma flashed before her eyes.
Those children she had carried for nine months, who had pushed her down the stairs.
Could those memories truly be forgotten completely?
