Broken Vows and Buried Twins novel Chapter 118

Hester let herself be pulled along by the little girl, both amused and entirely helpless.

Who would have guessed that the usually sweet, soft-spoken Gigi possessed such a fierce possessive streak?

Hester glanced back apologetically. "Lena, I'm so sorry. Gigi is just very shy around new people."

Lena offered Caden a sympathetic look. She completely understood the situation. Nodding at Hester, she said, "Don't worry about us. You go ahead with the little one. I'll keep Caden entertained."

Hester gave a grateful nod and let Gigi lead her back to Jasper.

Caden watched Hester and Gigi walk away. His lower lip trembled, and he couldn't hold it back anymore. Fat tears spilled over his eyelashes and rolled down his cheeks.

"Lena, does that little girl hate me?"

Lena's heart broke. She immediately crouched down and hugged him. "Oh, Caden, no. She doesn't hate you at all. She's just a little timid. She doesn't know us yet, so she's too nervous to play."

"But she said I was bad! I just wanted to be friends..." Caden sobbed, frantically wiping his eyes. "Why doesn't anyone like me?"

Lena felt entirely helpless. She offered every comforting word she could think of, but Caden wouldn't stop crying. She had brought him out to cheer him up, but this had only made things worse.

Meanwhile, Hester and Gigi arrived back at their campsite.

Jasper had already set up the portable stove and was waiting for the water to boil for coffee.

Hester helped Gigi take off her little shoes. Gigi happily crawled onto the picnic mat and started playing with her toys.

Hester sat watching her, but her mind kept drifting back to Caden. It was the sheer devastation in his eyes that haunted her. It made a tight, uncomfortable knot form in her chest.

He was, after all, only five years old.

"Gigi, that older boy just wanted to be your friend. He wasn't trying to be mean."

Gigi looked up, her little brow crinkling. "But Mama doesn't like him."

Hester froze, completely caught off guard by the toddler's sharp intuition. Her mind flashed back to the clinic.

That day, because she had been so furious at Julian and Melody, she had been incredibly cold to Caden.

Gigi seemed so young and oblivious, but she was incredibly perceptive.

Hester softened her voice, explaining gently. "I don't dislike him, sweetheart. I just... dislike his mommy and daddy."

"Oh..." Gigi tilted her head, processing this new information. "Then... Gigi play with him?"

"That's entirely up to you. If you really don't want to, you don't have to force yourself."

"Okay~" Gigi dropped her toy and hopped to her feet. "He has a pretty face. Gigi will play!"

If her twins had survived... this is exactly what it would have looked like.

...

Jasper finished setting up the camping chairs and laid out a spread of fresh fruit and elegant teacups. Once the water boiled, he poured the tea and warmly invited Lena to join them.

Lena smiled gratefully. "Thank you so much."

She had barely taken her seat when the vicious, guttural snarl of a dog ripped through the air.

It happened in a blur of motion. Before anyone could even process what was happening, Hester let out a terrified scream and threw herself over Gigi, pinning the toddler securely under her body—

A massive black dog, dragging a broken leash, lunged aggressively at Hester's exposed back. But in a split second of pure instinct, Caden threw himself into the fray! Swinging his flimsy toy sword, he began frantically whacking the beast over the head.

"Bad dog! Leave us alone!"

"RAWR! BARK!"

"CADEN!"

In an instant, the peaceful riverbank erupted into chaos—vicious barking, panicked screams, and the terrified wails of children cutting through the evening air.