Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 3028

The next day, Charlie brought Emily to the James family estate. Seeing Emily walk through the door immediately put Mrs. James at ease.

While Charlie went out to the gardens to find Kya, Emily sat in the opulent living room, chatting with his mother.

Emily felt a pang of guilt. "Things have been so chaotic lately, I haven't been able to visit with Charlie. I'm sorry for making you worry."

Mrs. James offered a warm, totally accepting smile. "You're young and building a life; it's perfectly normal to be busy. When Charlie first took over the company, he practically lived at the office. Why should a woman have to apologize for building her career?"

She patted Emily's hand gently. "And trust me, he was a nightmare back then. Don't stress over it."

A rush of pure warmth bloomed in Emily's chest. She held her arms out. "Can I hug you?"

Mrs. James's eyes softened completely. She leaned forward, embracing Emily tightly and rubbing her back. "Whenever you're tired, just come here. This is your home too."

Emily choked back a sob and nodded. "Thank you."

*

Out in the garden, Kya was squatting beneath a massive oak tree, digging for ants with a plastic trowel. Alma, one of the maids, hovered nearby.

Alma ruthlessly shredded a rose, dropping the torn petals onto the grass out of pure boredom.

Kya held up two tiny, dirt-stained fingers, showing off a struggling insect. "Look, Alma! It's a huge ant!"

Alma barely glanced down. "That's the mommy ant."

"Mommy?" Kya's little brows knitted together. "I miss my mommy."

She carefully placed the big ant back near its nest.

Alma crouched down, her voice dropping into a malicious whisper. "Your mommy doesn't want you anymore."

Kya whipped her head around in shock.

Alma sneered, fully leaning into her cruelty. "Your mommy is poor trash. She's not good enough for your daddy. He only keeps you here because he pities you. He's going to throw you—"

Before Alma could finish the sentence, a heavy boot slammed into her shoulder, violently kicking her backward into the dirt.

She scrambled in terror, looking up to see Charlie towering over her. The sheer, murderous rage radiating from him paralyzed her. She was too terrified to even scream in pain.

"Because she told a horrible lie," Charlie said, his voice instantly softening into a warm hum. "She said Mommy didn't want you. How could that be true? Mommy loves you more than anything in the world. I'm punishing her for lying."

Kya's sweet little voice was firm. "I didn't believe her anyway."

"That's my smart girl," Charlie chuckled, a fierce pride swelling in his chest. "When we see Mommy in a minute, let's not mention the bad lady, okay? It'll just make Mommy sad."

Kya gasped, her eyes going round. "Mommy's here?!"

"Yep. She came to pick you up."

The second they walked into the living room, Kya practically launched herself out of Charlie's arms, sprinting across the rugs with a shrieking laugh. "Mommy!"

Emily dropped to her knees, scooping the little girl up and burying her face in her neck. "I missed you so much, baby!"

"Are you going to play with me today?"

"Absolutely!"