We Want Mommy Not You Daddy (Cedar) novel Chapter 134

Chapter 134

Ethan’s POV

I couldn’t help bursting into laughter. In all the years I’ve known

Ridley Sterling, this was the first time I’d seen him so flustered. The

man was clearly jealous, yet too stubborn to admit it.

“Well, well, looks like my charm is still fully operational,” I teased,

watching with delight as Ridley’s expression darkened with each

word.

“Seriously though,” I said, dropping the playful tone, “don’t tell me

you’ve fallen for this young designer? I always thought Daisy would

end up as Mrs. Sterling someday.”

“What gave you that ridiculous notion?” Ridley’s eyes were cold as ice,

his brow furrowed with displeasure.

I cleared my throat awkwardly. “Come on, man. Everyone in our circle

assumes so. Your mother parades Daisy around at every social

function whenever she’s in town. The entire Gold Coast practically

considers her the future Mrs. Sterling already.”

Before I could continue, Ridley reached out and pulled Cedar to his

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side with surprising possessiveness.

“What are you doing?” Cedar exclaimed, turning to glare at him.

I couldn’t suppress my laughter. Seeing Ridley, Chicago’s design

mogul, being challenged so openly was a rare sight indeed.

As my laughter subsided, I finally took a proper look at Cedar Wright.

She’d been sitting in the shadows before, but now with the light

hitting her face properly, I could finally get a clear look at her.

“You look so familiar…” I said, staring at her face. “Have we met

before?”

“We have, Mr. Pierce,” Cedar replied with a polite smile. “At your

company’s gala two years ago. We exchanged a few words. I’m

surprised you remember.”

That wasn’t it. The sense of familiarity I felt wasn’t from some

forgettable corporate event. It was something else, something I

couldn’t quite place, but it nagged at me like a forgotten melody.

As I continued to study her, Ridley stepped forward, deliberately

blocking my view of Cedar.

“It’s getting late, Ethan,” he said coldly. “Shouldn’t you be heading

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Chapter 134

home? I’m sure your mother is wondering where you are.”

“So territorial!” I snorted. “I just looked at her for two seconds, no

need to be so possessive. Ridley, I swear you’re more jealous than a

teenage boy with his first crush–seriously, dial down the

possessiveness! Alright, I’ll get out of here before your jealousy gets

any worse.”

I hurried to my car. Within seconds, I was speeding down Lake Shore

Drive, leaving the odd couple behind.

Cedar’s POV

I watched Ethan Pierce’s car disappear down the street, feeling oddly

conflicted. His reputation in Chicago’s design circles was impeccable

-double PhD from overseas, brilliant mind, heir to the Pierce

fortune, and undeniably handsome. Any single attribute would be

enough to make women swoon.

Yet I’d never imagined Chicago’s most eligible bachelor would be so

vibrant and playful in private. Something about his animated teasing

had stirred an unexpected feeling of familiarity within me, an

inexplicable desire to connect with him…

Strange. Why would I feel this way about someone I barely knew?

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“Miss him already?” Ridley’s cool voice snapped me back to reality.

I hadn’t even noticed the irritation in his tone. “Mr. Sterling, are you

and Ethan close friends?” I asked innocently.

Ridley’s expression was unreadable as he stared at me.

His intense gaze made me uncomfortable. “Don’t misunderstand,” I

said quickly. “I was just curious. Oh my, it’s nearly eleven already! I

should get home. Good night, Mr. Sterling.”

“Get in. I’ll drive you,” he commanded, opening his car door with a

finality that brooked no argument.

The street was deserted at this hour, leaving me little choice but to

accept his offer. As soon as I settled in, Ridley tossed something into

my lap.

I caught it reflexively, then stared at it in confusion. “Mr. Sterling,

what’s this?”

“An invitation to my mother’s birthday celebration this Saturday.

You’re welcome to attend if you’re available.”

“But-” I began hesitantly.

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Ridley’s eyes flashed. “What, you don’t want to come?”

“No, that’s not it at all,” I quickly clarified. “It’s just that Aiden already

gave me an invitation today, and I’ve already accepted his.”

The implication was clear: I was going to the Sterling mansion for

Aiden’s sake, not for his father.

Ridley looked slightly disgruntled.

“Sterling family private events don’t require formal attire,” he said,

gripping the steering wheel. “Something simple will suffice.”

“Thank you for the advice, Mr. Sterling.”

Saturday morning arrived, and I was up by nine, planning to find an

appropriate gift for Mrs. Sterling. Nothing too expensive since I

couldn’t afford it, but nothing too cheap either–finding the right

balance would be tricky,

I was brushing my teeth when Oliver bounced into the bathroom.

Instead of his usual casual clothes with cute animal prints that I

bought him, he was dressed in a miniature suit with a crisp white

shirt and shiny black dress shoes. His hair was slicked back perfectly,

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making him look both adorable and surprisingly sophisticated.

“Mom, I’m going to Grandma’s birthday party today,” he announced cheerfully. “I’ll bring you back some yummy treats tonight. Bye–bye!”

“Wait a minute!” I called, kneeling down to his level. “You’re going to your grandmother’s birthday party?”

Yep! My grandma is turning fifty–five today!” Oliver tilted his head, then glanced at his watch. “She’s waiting for me, gotta go!”

Before I could ask anything else, he darted out the door. I frowned,

more confused than ever.

Today was Mrs. Rachel Sterling’s birthday–Aiden’s grandmother–but

apparently, it was also Oliver’s grandmother’s birthday? How strange

that both women would celebrate on the same day.

I moved to the window just in time to see a sleek black car pull away from the curb with Oliver inside. The child clearly came from money, with chauffeurs at his disposal, which made it all the more puzzling why he spent so much time at my modest apartment.

Still, as long as Oliver didn’t want to leave, I wouldn’t pry. Behind his bubbly exterior, he was an incredibly sensitive child.

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I quickly finished getting ready and headed out to find the perfect

gift for Mrs. Sterling’s celebration, my mind still puzzling over the

strange coincidence of the matching birthdays.

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