We Want Mommy Not You Daddy (Cedar) novel Chapter 145

Cedar’s POV

I watched Daisy’s composed facade crumble. Her perfectly lined lips quivered slightly–a telltale sign of someone caught in their own web

of lies.

“Miss Wright,” she stammered, her voice pitched higher than usual,

“you’ve manipulated Aiden into adoring you, and now you’re targeting Aria.” Her fingers clutched the edge of her dress. “If Aria were a typical child, I wouldn’t intervene, but she has special needs.

She’s withdrawn and struggles with social interactions. You’re exploiting her vulnerability, which will only worsen her condition. I’m

simply protecting her from you.”

A wave of revulsion washed over me. How had this venomous woman

maintained her position in the Sterling household for so long? If I

hadn’t witnessed what I just had, would Aria have continued suffering

in silence?

like a

I said nothing, my jaw clenched as I gently rolled up Aria’s sleeve

further. The six–year–old remained unnaturally still in my arms,

porcelain doll. My breath caught as I revealed what I’d glimpsed

earlier tiny pinprick marks dotting her delicate arm in a horrifying

constellation.

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My heart constricted painfully. Were these from necessary medical

treatments because of Aria’s fragile health? Or something far more

sinister? The sheer number of marks made my vision blur with tears I

couldn’t control.

A hot droplet escaped, landing on Aria’s small arm. Then another.

“Miss Wright.” Rachel’s voice cut through the tension like tempered

steel. “What theatrical performance is this? Do you imagine a few

crocodile tears will erase what we’ve just witnessed?”

Quickly composing myself, I lifted Aria gently in my arms, cradling

her with instinctive protectiveness.

“Mrs. Sterling, Mr. Sterling, ladies and gentlemen,” I said, my voice

steadier than I felt, “please look at these bruises on Aria’s arm. What

do you see?”

All

eyes

shifted to the child’s exposed skin. The deep silence that

followed spoke volumes.

“Th–those are just bruises from her weekly infusions,” Daisy hurried

to explain, her voice trembling. “Her doctor says it’s completely

normal for someone in her condition…”

“You might explain away the marks on her arms as medical

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necessities,” I interrupted, “but what about these?”

With gentle movements, I lifted the hem of Aria’s shirt just enough to reveal her waist. The collective gasp was audible. Angry purple and blue marks circled her tiny torso–unmistakably fingerprints.

Rachel Sterling rose so abruptly that the china rattled. A water glass

toppled, shattering against the marble floor in a crystalline

explosion.

She rushed toward us, taking Aria’s small hand in hers. “Darling,” she

whispered, her voice uncharacteristically unsteady, “tell Grandmother

who did this to you. Who dared hurt you?”

Aria’s dark eyes glistened with unshed tears. She stared at me, her‘

expression unreadable to most, but I recognized the silent plea

within. Her tiny fingers wrapped around my thumb with surprising

strength, refusing to let go.

“Sean!” Ridley’s voice sliced through the tension.

A athletic man stepped forward from the shadows near the wall. The

bodyguard looked genuinely shocked–clearly unaware of what had

been happening to his young charge,

“Who has daily access to my daughter?” Ridley demanded, his voice

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dangerously quiet.

Before Sean could answer, I spoke up. “Mr. Sterling, there’s no need

for an investigation. The person who’s been hurting Aria is right

here.” I turned my gaze toward Daisy, unflinching. “Ms. Black, do you

still want to deny it?”

“It wasn’t me!” Desperation cracked through Daisy’s polished veneer.

She turned to Rachel, tears streaming down her face, ruining her

perfect makeup. “Auntie Rachel, I swear, I’ve loved Aria like my own

daughter. How could I ever hurt her? Cedar is fabricating this entire

scenario to force me out of your family!”

Her voice rose with theatrical distress. “If I had been abusing Aria,

would she have allowed me to care for her all this time? Aria,

sweetheart,” she turned to the child, her eyes containing a subtle

threat I doubt anyone else caught, “tell your grandmother and daddy

that I didn’t hurt you…”

I felt my fingers tighten protectively around Aria. It suddenly made

perfect sense–the child’s silence wasn’t from inability to

communicate but from fear. She’d been threatened into keeping

quiet, knowing that speaking up would only bring worse

consequences.

“Aria,” I whispered, my voice as gentle as I could make it. “You’re safe

now. I’m right here, and nobody can hurt you anymore.” I lowered my

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head until I was at eye level with her. “You don’t have to be afraid.

Can you tell us who hurt you? Was it her?“.

“Cedar Wright! Stop leading her answers!” Daisy’s composure

completely dissolved as she shouted, abandoning all pretense of the

refined dance instructor.

I ignored her outburst completely. “Aria, I promise you–as long as I’m

here, I’ll protect you. You just need to tell us the truth. Was it her who

hurt you?”

Aria’s lips pressed into a thin line. Under the scrutiny of everyone in

the room, she slowly, deliberately nodded her head.

Daisy staggered backward as if physically struck. “No, Aria, how could

you say that? After everything I’ve done for you…”

“Enough.”

Ridley’s voice was absolute zero. If he hadn’t recognized Daisy’s true

nature before, he certainly did now. His eyes swept the room with

glacial intensity, silencing any further protest.

The birthday celebration had transformed into something far darker.

The guests exchanged uncomfortable glances, unsure how to proceed

in the face of such a family crisis. One by one, they made their

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excuses and departed, leaving only the immediate Sterling family at

the main table.

“Charles,” Rachel said with forced composure, “please see Miss Wright

home.”

Still holding Aria, I gently squeezed her hand. “I have to go now, but

I’ll see you again soon, okay?” Though it pained me to leave her, I

understood this was a family matter that required privacy.

I whispered close to her ear, “Remember, Aria, never protect people

who hurt you. Your grandmother loves you, your father loves you,

your brothers love you, and…” I hesitated briefly, “…I love you too.

Don’t make excuses for bad people, promise?”

Aria bit her lower lip so hard it turned white. I gently ran my thumb

across it. “And most importantly, don’t hurt yourself.” My touch

carried all the affection I couldn’t fully express in words.

She released her lip and nodded slightly.

With reluctance, I transferred Aria into Ridley’s waiting arms. Our

eyes met briefly–his midnight blue gaze unreadable yet somehow

different than before. “Mr. Sterling, I’ll take my leave now.”

As I turned to go, small footsteps hurried after me.

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“Ms. Wright, I’ll have Henderson drive you home!” Aiden’s voice called

out. He reached for my hand, his innocent gesture a stark contrast to

the evening’s dark revelations.

I let him lead me away, feeling Ridley’s eyes on my back with every

step.

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