We Want Mommy Not You Daddy (Cedar) novel Chapter 21

Cedar’s POV

The thirty–floor conference room of Wright Creatives offered a panoramic view of Chicago’s skyline–a view I now contemplated with disturbing clarity. The glass was spotless, revealing every detail of the dizzying drop to Michigan Avenue below.

“Three days,” I said, my voice steadier than my hands. ‘I’ll get you the eight million dollars in three days.”

Jonathan Wright’s laugh cut through the tension like a rusty blade. “Cedar, your naivety would be charming if it weren’t so pathetic. The contract is ready.

Sign it now.

“And if I don’t?‘ I turned from the window to face my adoptive family. Elara Wright sat rigidly in her designer suit, while Selena lounged beside her,

examining her manicured nails with practiced indifference.

Jonathan stepped closer. “Then you’re finished in this industry. One call from me, and not even a strip mall would hire you.”

I moved toward the floor–to–ceiling window, placing my palm against the cool glass. “If you force me to sign this, I’ll jump.” The words escaped my mouth

before I could reconsider.

Selena snorted. “Drama queen.”

“I mean it.” I surprised myself with how calm I sounded. ‘I have no one. I’m an orphan who’s never known happiness. What exactly would I be losing?”

Elara’s lipstick–coated mouth curved into a cruel smile. “By all means, dear. Allow me.” She rose and walked to the window, unlatching it. The April wind

rushed in, whipping my hair across my face. “Thirty floors should be sufficient, don’t you think?”

I stared at her, not expecting her to call my bluff so coldly. The woman who had claimed to raise me as her own was literally opening a door to my death.

Jonathan’s face flushed crimson. *Enough of this nonsense!” He grabbed a heavy crystal design award from his desk–the Midwestern Interior Design

Excellence Award he’d accepted last year for my Lakeshore Residence concept. “You ungrateful little-”

He swung the award toward my head. I didn’t have time to dodge. Just then, muffled footsteps and a child’s voice echoed from the hallway.

The conference room door burst open with a crash. A small figure hurled himself between us, arms outstretched protectively.

“Mommy! Are you okay?” Oliver’s voice was high with fear, his little body trembling but resolute as he faced Jonathan.

My heart nearly stopped. ‘Oliver! What are you doing here?‘

Selena slammed the door shut, leaning against it with a triumphant smile. “Well, well. If it isn’t the little brat who ruined my shoes and bags.”

Oliver glared at her, his chin raised defiantly.

‘So this is what you’ve been hiding,” Jonathan’s voice turned dangerously quiet. “No wonder you’ve been so desperate to leave us. A bastard child.”

“Don’t you dare talk about him like that,” I pulled Oliver behind me, though he struggled to remain at my side.

Elara advanced toward us, her expression venomous. “I always knew you were trash, Cedar. Spreading your legs for some man, then hiding his spawn—*

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3:50 pm M

Chapter 21

“Get away from him,” I warned, backing us toward the wall.

Let’s see what the little bastard’s made of,” Elara reached for Oliver, her red nails like talons.

I shoved her back harder than I intended, sending her stumbling into Jonathan’s prized Barcelona chair. “Don’t touch him! Let him go, and I’ll sign whatever

you want.”

“You shameless whore!” Elara steadied herself and lunged toward me.

A sharp popping sound cut through the tension. Something small and hard struck Elara directly on her mouth. She screamed, touching her lip to find blood

on her fingertips.

Oliver stood with a small slingshot in his hand, another projectile–what looked like a marble–ready to fire.

“Don’t. Touch. My. Mommy. Each word was delivered with the cold precision.

Jonathan shouted into his phone, “Security to my office, now!” Within seconds, several guards rushed into the room.

With surprising agility, Oliver darted across the room toward me. Before I could react, he jumped up and pressed his small hands firmly over my eyes.

‘Don’t look, Mommy,” he whispered against my ear.

I heard a series of sharp whistling sounds followed by pained shouts and heavy thuds. The guards‘ voices transformed from threatening growls to agonized groans. My heart raced wildly–what was happening? What if Oliver got hurt?

“Oliver!” I wrapped my arms around him protectively, still blinded by his hands. “Are you okay? What’s happening?”

I’m fine,” he replied calmly, slowly removing his hands from my eyes.

I blinked, adjusting to the light, and gasped at the scene before me. All the security guards were on the floor, clutching various parts of their bodies–legs,

arms, shoulders–moaning in pain.

Oliver–showing none of the fear I felt coursing through my own body–calmly climbed onto the conference table. His small sneakers left marks on the

polished mahogany that would have horrified me under normal circumstances.

“You just want money, right?” Oliver’s voice was unnervingly mature. “Isn’t that what grown–ups always want?”

He reached into his dinosaur backpack and pulled out an envelope. With a flick of his wrist worthy of a card dealer, he sent a check sailing through the air,

striking Selena squarely in the face before it fluttered to the floor.

Jonathan snatched it up, his eyes widening as he registered the amount.

“Eight million dollars,” Oliver announced, as casually as if discussing his allowance. “That should cover Mommy’s debt.”

The room fell silent. Jonathan stared at the check, then at Oliver, then at me–his face cycling through shock, confusion, and calculation.

“Who exactly is this child?” he finally asked, waving the check. “Who is his father?”

Oliver hopped down from the table and took my hand. Then he glared at Jonathan. “That’s none of your business.”

Oliver… my God… you…” I couldn’t form a complete sentence, shock making my voice tremble.

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Chapter 21

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine Oliver would be the one to rescue me, bringing eight million dollars no less! I bent down to lift him up, feeling my legs slightly unsteady beneath me. I needed time–a lot of time–to process everything that had happened in these few chaotic minutes.

I held Oliver tightly against me, feeling the warmth of his small body like the only lifeline in a storm. Right now, the most important thing was to get out of this place. Once we were safe, I could slowly ask Oliver what this was all about.

I carried him toward the door, leaving the other three still frozen in shock in the office. I didn’t look back.