We Want Mommy Not You Daddy (Cedar) novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Oliver’s POV

After dinner, I helped Mommy clear the table, carefully stacking the plates the way Hunter taught me. I even remembered to put the napkins in the trash.

“Oliver, let’s get you ready for bed, Mommy said, wiping her hands on a dish towel. I’ll brush your teeth first, then tuck you in, okay?”

“Okay!” I beamed at her. At home, the nannies never helped me brush my teeth–they just stood there checking their phones while telling me to be

thorough.

In the bathroom, Mommy knelt down to my level and opened the medicine cabinet. She pulled out two colorful tubes of toothpaste.

“Look what I got specially for you! Strawberry flavor or tropical punch–which one would you like to try tonight?”

I stared at the tubes, trying not to make a face. At home, I used the same mint toothpaste as Father–I hated fruity toothpaste.

But Mommy was looking at me with such excitement in her eyes. She’d gone shopping just for me, picking out things she thought I’d like.

“Strawberry looks yummy!” I exclaimed, pointing at the red tube. “I bet it tastes better than ice cream!”

Mommy smiled so big that I knew I’d made the right choice. As she squeezed the sickeningly sweet paste onto my toothbrush, I prepared my taste buds for

the sacrifice.

“Open wide,” she said, gently brushing my teeth in small circles.

The strawberry flavor was even worse than I imagined–like medicine trying to pretend it was candy. But I smiled through it all, making happy “mmm

sounds that made Mommy laugh.

Later, tucked under the covers with Mr. Bunny (another thing I pretended to love), I grabbed Mommy’s hand before she could leave.

“Don’t worry about the eight million dollars,” I whispered. “By morning, it’ll magically appear in your account. Just wait and see!”

She kissed my forehead with a sad smile. “Sleep tight, my little optimist.”

After she left, I pulled my special phone from under my pillow, checking for notifications. Nothing from Aiden yet. I refreshed the banking app every few minutes until my eyes grew heavy,

The last thing I remember before falling asleep was the clock showing 11:42 PM, and still no money from Aiden.

Aiden’s POV

I stared at my phone, the call with Oliver still ringing in my ears. Eight million dollars? And who was that woman he called “Mommy“?

The study remained quiet. I was trying to process what I’d just heard.

“Mommy made dinner. Come eat, sweetie!”

The voice had been soft, warm–nothing like the sharp tones of our nannies. Oliver had been missing for days, and now he was with some woman he called

‘Mommy“?

1/3

3:50 pm

Chapter 18

I mentally cataloged possibilities. A kidnapper wouldn’t let him make calls. A random woman wouldn’t care for him so tenderly. Someone targeting the Sterling fortune would have contacted us already.

My fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest. Should I transfer the money? It would be traceable, of course. But if Father found out…

A knock interrupted my thoughts.

‘Mr. Aiden?‘ Henderson entered with a portfolio. The quarterly projections for Nest Design.”

I nodded absently. “Thank you. Leave them on the desk.”

He hesitated. Is everything alright, sir?”

“Henderson,” I said slowly, “I need you to find out who Oliver is living with now. And… her info.

Ten minutes later, Henderson returned with a tablet displaying a profile with a woman named Cedar Wright.

It was the designer whose innovative storage concepts had impressed me at that design show just a few days ago. Her minimalist approach had stood out

among the other exhibitors.

“Is she married?” I asked, studying the photograph more carefully.

“No, sir. Never has been, according to our records.”

“Has she had any children then?”

“None whatsoever, at least according to all my information channels. Her medical records show no history of pregnancy or childbirth.”

How could she possibly be our Mommy? What on earth was Oliver doing? Was he so desperate for a mother figure that he’d latch onto just anyone? That

wasn’t like him at all – even though he did tend to warm up to strangers more easily than I ever could.

‘Prepare a check for eight million and arrange to meet Oliver tomorrow at that ice cream parlor he frequents.”

“Young Master, that’s significantly more than his standard allowance,” Henderson remarked, his eyebrow raising just enough to convey his concern.

“I’m aware.” I stared at the woman’s picture, tracing the outline of her face with my finger. Something about her seemed vaguely familiar, yet I couldn’t

place it. ‘I need to get Oliver to spill the beans.”

The door opened without warning–Daddy never knocked. He entered with the commanding presence that had intimidated boardrooms across the Midwest.

‘Aiden,‘ he said, ‘I’d like an update on the Nest Design project.”

I quickly minimized the profile page, ‘We’re ahead of schedule. The material sourcing is complete. The prototype will be ready for the Chicago Design

Exhibition next month.”

Father nodded, his approval as restrained as his criticism was cutting. And the sustainability metrics?”

“Forty percent reduction in carbon footprint compared to standard models.”

‘Good. His gaze shifted to the window. “Any word from your brother?”

3:50 pm D

N

Chapter 18

My pulse quickened. ‘No, I don’t get any news.”

Father’s eyebrow raised a fraction. Interesting. I saw him yesterday, but he escaped, unwilling to come back. Do you know what he’s up to?

I’m looking into it, I admitted.

Find him, Aiden. I need to know what he’s doing. And when you do, inform me immediately.”

The door closed with quiet precision.

Comments

✅ 2

Write Comments

< SHARE

་་

3:50 pm D M