We Want Mommy Not You Daddy (Cedar) novel Chapter 198

Chapter 198

Cedar’s POV

Thursday afternoon couldn’t end fast enough. Ever since meeting

Ridley and his children, my days at Wright Creatives had stretched

impossibly long, my mind constantly wandering to those three little

faces–and occasionally, to their father’s.

Back at the North Tower apartment, I’d just finished a simple dinner.

and was heading out to take the trash down when I noticed a car

parked across the street. No lights, no movement. Just sitting there in

the shadows like some film noir cliché. Typical Chicago parking, I

thought, dismissing it as I dropped my garbage bag in the dumpster.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. Hunter’s number flashed on the

screen–Oliver’s bodyguard. Curious, I sat on a bench near the

building’s small garden area and answered.

“Mommy! I miss you so much!” Oliver’s voice exploded through the

speaker, making me nearly drop the phone in surprise.

I quickly switched to speakerphone. “Oliver? Aren’t you supposed to

stay away from phones?”

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Chapter 198

“Charles went to get something, so I borrowed Hunter’s phone,” he

whispered conspiratorially. “I just wanted to hear your voice. I’m sad.”

My heart constricted. “Sweetie, I’ll visit you in a few days. Once you

catch up with your studies, maybe your daddy will be more flexible.”

“I studied all day, and I’m tired. I want cuddles and bedtime stories.”

His little voice quivered. “Can’t you come live with us?”

I sighed. “I wish I could be with you, Oliver, but it’s complicated.”

“Why? We have lots of rooms! You could even sleep in my room.” His

voice turned suspicious. “Is it because of Daddy? Do you hate him? I

hate him too! Let’s run away together, then we can be together all the

time!”

I massaged my temple. Where did he get these ideas? “No,

sweetheart, I don’t hate your daddy. It’s just… not appropriate.”

So

you

like him?” His voice rose accusingly. “If you like Daddy, will

you stop liking me? Waaaah!”

“That’s not how it works,” I said, desperate to change the subject. “I

also like you very much.”

“Also‘? So you do like Daddy!” Oliver sounded almost heartbroken

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Chapter 198

before suddenly panicking. “Oh no! Charles is coming back! Bye,

Mommy!”

The call ended abruptly, leaving me alone with the night air and a

sense of relief at escaping the interrogation.

Then I heard a car door open.

Turning toward the sound, I watched as a tall figure emerged from

the shadowy vehicle I’d noticed earlier. My pulse quickened as he

approached, his familiar silhouette taking shape under the

streetlight.

Ridley.

What was he doing outside my apartment at this hour? Had he heard

my conversation? I suddenly felt acutely self–conscious, remembering

our last encounter at Aria’s birthday party–and that unexpected kiss that had haunted me for days.

“Hi,” I managed weakly, raising my hand in an awkward greeting.

It had been four days since the party, four days since his lips had claimed mine with such overwhelming intensity that I’d nearly forgotten how to breathe.

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Chapter 198

“What brings you here?” I asked, hating the nervous tremor in my

voice.

Ridley’s sharp features remained composed, his expression giving

nothing away. “Are you free this weekend?”

My heart skipped. Was he asking me out? The thought sent an

embarrassing flush of heat to my face.

“Yes,” I said cautiously. “Why?”

“Aria has a follow–up appointment on Saturday. I thought you might

want to join us.‘

“Oh.” I nodded quickly, trying to mask my disappointment. “Of course.

I’d love to go with you both.”

So much for thinking he might be interested in me, I mentally kicked

myself for even entertaining the idea.

Collecting myself, I asked, “How are the boys doing?”

“I’ve enrolled them in intensive programs,” he said evenly. “For the

next six months, they’ll be on an accelerated learning schedule. But

you can visit them Sunday afternoons.”

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Chapter 198

I hesitated before voicing what had been bothering me. “Ridley, may I

ask why you’re suddenly being so strict with them? They’re only six.

Shouldn’t they have time to just be children? All that complicated

material can wait, can’t it?”

His silence stretched between us, heavy with something I couldn’t

name.

“I understand,” I said finally, misinterpreting his quiet as dismissal.

“It’s your family business. I shouldn’t interfere.”

The weight of being an outsider pressed down on me. “If there’s

nothing else, I should head back inside.”

He nodded once. “Goodnight.”

Walking away, I felt an unexpected wave of emotion rising in my

chest. Since that kiss, he’d disappeared without explanation, then reappeared as if nothing had happened. The elevator doors closed behind me, and to my horror, tears began rolling down my cheeks.

Inside my apartment, I caught my reflection in the hallway mirror

flushed face, tear–streaked cheeks, eyes bright with hurt.

“Pull yourself together, Cedar,” I scolded my reflection. “He clearly

isn’t thinking about you at all. This isn’t worth your tears.”

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Chapter 198

Ridley’s POV

I remained standing outside her building for nearly twenty minutes

after she’d gone inside, my eyes fixed on the window I knew to be

hers.

Her conversation with Oliver had been clear enough from where I’d

been sitting in my car. The fog that had hung over me for the past

four days seemed to lift slightly at the sound of her voice, at the way

she’d spoken to my son.

She was medicine. Balm for a restless mind. A glimpse of light in

darkness.

But I would only bring her pain.

I drove to the cemetery on the outskirts of the city. At ten o’clock, the

grounds were empty, the cold wind whistling through the silent

stones, I walked with the confidence of someone who had made this

journey many times before.

The headstone I sought was in the eastern section. Under the pale

moonlight, I could just make out the black and white photograph of a

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