Free Web NovelChapter 131: Chapter 131
Kyra’s POV
"Mommy, why isn’t Daddy Nathan visiting?"
It was the sixth time Snow had asked that question today. For the past few days, she hadn’t seemed to notice he wasn’t here. But now she was starting to wonder. Nathan called every day, but he wasn’t coming over.
I knew I couldn’t stop her from wanting to be with her father. Right now, I needed to focus on protecting her.
I still loved Nathan. I had fallen in love with him twice in this life. But I wouldn’t trade my daughter’s safety for any man’s love. I could live without Nathan. It would hurt, but I would be alive. But I couldn’t survive a single day without my daughter. ƒrēewebnovel.com
"Daddy Nathan is busy, sweetheart," I said.
"I saw him on the news, Mommy." Snow’s eyes went wide. "Why are people following him? They are asking him about you. Does Daddy Nathan love you, Mommy?"
I bit my lip. Sylvia whimpered inside me. "I don’t know, sweetie."
"On my birthday next year, can I invite Daddy Nathan and my friends, Mommy?"
I finally smiled at her while I cut vegetables for dinner. "Of course, sweetheart. Who are your friends?"
She giggled and started counting on her fingers. "Aunt Ana, Aunt Yara, Uncle Luke, Aunt Phoebe, and my secret friend."
My forehead wrinkled. I stopped cutting. "Secret friend?"
"Yes, Mommy. I can’t tell you about him because he said we’re secret friends."
My heart skipped, then started beating fast. I dropped the knife on the cutting board and knelt down to look into her eyes. "Please, tell Mommy about your secret friend, sweetie."
She shook her head, still smiling. "No, Mommy. I promised him. You said breaking promises is painful. I can’t tell you."
I felt scared. "Sweetie..."
"I invited him to my birthday next year, Mommy. He said he’ll give me the best gift ever."
I gasped. This couldn’t be happening.
"And he told me I can call him Daddy too! I have two daddies, Mommy."
I put my hand over my mouth to stop myself from crying. No! No!
Kieran. It had to be him.
Sylvia growled inside me. She knew the danger too. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
I got down on the floor in front of Snow. "Baby, is your secret friend calling you using Mommy’s phone?"
She gasped and put her hand over her mouth. "You know him, Mommy?"
"Sweetie, I thought you were only talking to Daddy Nathan?"
"He called first, Mommy, and he’s very kind."
I was breathing hard as I kneeled on the floor in front of her. Snow looked at me with innocent eyes that were starting to fill with tears.
Kieran, why are you doing this to me? I thought. Why can’t you just leave us alone?
"A-Are you angry, Mommy?"
I shook my head right away and touched her cheek. "No. No, sweetie. Of course not. Mommy will never get angry at you."
"Really?"
"But you have to tell me everything you talk about with your secret friend. And promise me you’ll let me talk to him if he calls again, okay?"
"Why, Mommy? Are you going to scold him?"
I shook my head. I tried to keep my voice calm even though I was upset inside. "I’m just curious about your secret friend, sweetie. I want to meet him too."
She looked very happy. "I will introduce you to him when he calls again, Mommy."
I nodded and pulled her close to me. I felt Snow touching my hair gently, trying to make me feel better. She should be the one I was comforting. My little girl was so innocent. She had no idea about the dangerous game Kieran was playing.
Don’t make me choose between protecting my daughter and sparing your life, Kieran, I thought. What we had is gone. If you threaten my child, I will kill you.
"I didn’t have friends before, Mommy. But now I have many friends. I also have a Daddy."
A tear ran down my face. If only I was brave enough to take the risk. If only I could fight for both my daughter and her father at the same time.
I pulled away from the hug and held her face. "You will have so many friends now, sweetheart. Mommy promises I will introduce you to many friends."
"Really? Thank you, Mommy! I love you."
"I love you too, pumpkin..."
We spent the day together again. Ana went out when we needed to buy things. I didn’t want to go out because I might tell the truth too soon. I hated when people talked about me. That’s why I chose a simple life. But the simple and peaceful life I always wanted was impossible now.
***
I walked down the hallway of the event hall. The Foster Empire party was being held here. Attorney Lee had hired someone to organize it. Tonight, I would be introduced as the new CEO and President of Foster Empire. This would be big news, so I expected lots of media people.
Two guards opened the huge double doors for me. The crowd turned their heads toward me right away. I walked straight to Attorney Lee, who was standing in front. The event host was at the mini stage.
"And now, please give a round of applause to the new CEO and President of Foster Empire, Miss Kyra Monroe."
I smiled proudly as I walked up onto the mini stage slowly. The people clapping were looking at me and smiling. But I could see my mother’s siblings at the round table in front of me. They looked disgusted.
I took the microphone and the flowers that Uncle Connor gave me. He didn’t have a choice. He had to act like everything was okay and he was happy for me, or this would become a mess.
"This is very overwhelming," I started as I touched my chest. It was real. I was really happy, but there was a big part of me that kept saying no to the truth I discovered today before I came here.
I had read the reports and all the documents that Attorney Lee gave me. Everything that happened before and after my mom got kidnapped was written there clearly. Even the backgrounds of the kidnappers and the people who might be behind it were in there. I could see lots of familiar faces in the crowd. Faces that were part of my mom’s kidnapping case.
The pain from my own kidnapping as a child came back for a moment. Memories I had tried so hard to forget. Unlike my mother, I was rescued quickly, but it still hurt me. That’s why I knew how important it was to protect Snow from anyone who might hurt her.
"Thank you, everyone, for coming to this important night," I continued. I focused on now. "I promise I will do my very best to help the company grow even more. That’s all. Cheers to the bright future of the Foster Empire."
I took the wine the host gave me and lifted it up.
I drank my wine and turned to Attorney Lee. He was clapping while watching me with a serious face. I was officially part of the Foster family now. They had lots of resources and connections. I would also use this chance to investigate my father’s death. I wasn’t happy with Amanda being in prison. I wanted her to lose everything. I wanted her to pay. I wanted her to suffer. The same with Kieran.
