We Want Mommy Not You Daddy (Cedar) novel Chapter 144

Chapter 144

Cedar’s POV

The sight of Daisy playing innocent while deliberately hurting Aria

made something clench painfully in my

chest.

Aria didn’t dare resist, but her small face contorted in pain, tears

welling in her eyes.

I kept telling myself to stay calm, to be rational.

But watching Aria’s face crumple in agony was too much.

How much pain was this child enduring?

Something inside me snapped. I stood up abruptly, pushing my chair

back with such force it nearly toppled over. In three quick strides, I

reached Daisy.

Without hesitation, I grabbed my wine glass from the table and threw

its contents directly into her face.

The crimson wine dripped from her perfectly styled hair, each drop

landing on the polished marble floor with an audible splash in the

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Chapter 144

shocked silence of the room.

The Sterling mansion dining room had frozen in collective disbelief.

No one moved. No one spoke. All eyes were fixed on me, standing

with the empty glass still in my hand, and Daisy, whose designer

dress was now ruined with expensive cabernet.

Daisy finally broke the silence, wiping her face with trembling

fingers. Her voice quavered with masterfully crafted vulnerability as

she looked up at me through wet lashes. “You… you actually threw

wine at me?”

The accusation hung in the air. I could feel the weight of judgment

from people surrounding us, but I refused to flinch. My voice came

out cold and clear. “Yes, I did. And I meant to.”

“This is absolutely outrageous!” Rachel’s voice cut through the

tension like a knife. Her hand slammed against the table, sending

silverware jumping. “How dare you behave this way in my home? Who

do you think you are?”

She turned to the staff hovering nervously by the door. “Security!

Remove this woman immediately!”

Before anyone could move, Ridley rose from his chair. His imposing

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figure commanded attention as he crossed the room in long,

deliberate strides until he was standing beside me. The message couldn’t have been clearer if he’d shouted it–he was taking my side.

Rachel’s eyes narrowed at her son’s silent declaration. “I see what’s

happening here,” she said, her voice dripping with disdain. “I

mentions the possibility of formalizing his relationship with Daisy,

who has been devoted to this family for years, and suddenly you’re

throwing temper tantrums? Is this jealousy? In the Sterling family,

we don’t tolerate such childish displays. Stop dreaming being part of

us!”

Daisy pressed a napkin to her face, her shoulders shaking with

apparent sobs. “Please, Auntie Rachel, it’s alright,” she managed

between hitched breaths. “Ms. Wright is Ridley’s guest. I wouldn’t

want her to leave on my account. I’ll just… I’ll just go change.”

The perfect victim. I almost had to admire her performance.

“Ridley, you owe Daisy an explanation for your guest’s behavior,” Rachel demanded, maternal authority evident in every syllable.

To my surprise, it was little Aiden who spoke next. He carried himself with the composure of someone four times his age as he stood up from his chair. “Ms. Wright is my guest,” he stated, his voice small but unwavering. “No one makes her leave without my permission.”

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Chapter 144

Rachel’s composed facade finally cracked. A bitter laugh escaped her

lips. “Well, isn’t this charming? You’ve barely set foot in this house,

and already you’re positioning yourself as the lady of the manor.”

“Mother,” Ridley’s deep voice silenced the room. His hands were

casually tucked in his pockets, but there was nothing casual about the

steel in his tone. “Cedar had a reason for what she did. I trust her

judgment.”

سن

His words sent an unexpected warmth through me, melting the ice

that had formed around my heart. I’d expected Aiden’s support–the

boy and I had formed a bond–but Ridley’s? That was something else

entirely.

I raised my chin and turned to face Daisy directly. “Ms. Black, shall we

stop pretending you don’t know exactly why I did this?”

Daisy’s POV

Tears streamed down my face, stinging where they mixed with the

wine.

At first, I’d been playing a part–the wounded innocent–but as I

watched Ridley Sterling take his position beside Cedar Wright without a moment’s hesitation, real emotion took over. After everything I’d done for the Sterling family, after years of dedication

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and care, he couldn’t even spare me a glance of sympathy.

All my careful planning, all the groundwork I’d laid… and this woman

who’d appeared out of nowhere was dismantling it all with alarming

ease.

“Ms. Wright, there’s nothing between Ridley and me,” I managed

through my tears, playing my last card. “I’ve never presumed to reach

above my station. I know my place here isn’t as… I never aspired to be

the next Mrs. Sterling. There’s no need to see me as competition.”

I needed to redirect this, to make everyone believe this was just

jealousy, just a catfight between women vying for the same man.

Anything but the truth.

But Cedar’s eyes were razor–sharp, cutting through my pretenses. She

suddenly stepped toward me, then moved past to little Aria, gently

taking the child’s hand.

“What are you doing?” I couldn’t keep the panic from my voice. “Aria

doesn’t like strangers touching her. You’ll upset her. Let her go!”

“The one who needs to let go is you,” Cedar said firmly, blocking my

outstretched hand.

My heart began to race. Something was very wrong. Cedar was

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