We Want Mommy Not You Daddy (Cedar) novel Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Cedar’s POV

After the silence, a sudden explosion of chatter erupted around us.

“Wait, wasn’t that child mute? How is she suddenly talking?”

“Is that woman really the kid’s mother? How could she not know whether her own child can speak?”

“Talk about a plot twist! Anyone want to bet who the real mom is?”

The elegant woman who had claimed to be the girl’s mother stood frozen in her designer heels, as if struck by lightning. Her perfectly contoured face drained of color as the child’s words hung in the air between them.

I watched the scene unfold near the carousel in Navy Pier, unable to look away. The small girl had turned her dark eyes toward the woman, something unreadable flickering in their depths.

“You’re not my mommy,” she’d said in a clear, childish voice that belied the gravity of her words. “You’re Miss Black, my dance teacher. I

don’t have a mommy like you.”

The youngest voice speaking the most uncomfortable truth. The woman’s face turned ghostly white beneath her expensive makeup.

“The nerve of her, pretending to be someone’s mother and claiming the poor child is mute!”

“She accused others of being child traffickers–looks like she’s the suspicious one!”

The accusations fell like thunderbolts around the woman. She stamped her heel in frustration.

“Shut up! All of you shut up!” She lurched forward and yanked the girl into her arms. “You deliberately went missing today, Aria. I’m going

to tell your daddy, and you can prepare to face his anger!”

Her voice dripped with threats and intimidation.

I stepped forward, my instincts sensing something fundamentally wrong with this picture. “Excuse me, but what exactly is your relationship with this child?” I couldn’t stand by and watch this woman bully a child who clearly didn’t want to be with her.

“What business is it of yours what our relationship is?” she snarled through clenched teeth. “Get out of my way, all of you!”

The girl stopped struggling in her grip, but her eyes looked in my direction with longing and attachment. That gaze reminded me of children I’d seen at orphanages during charity design projects in the city, eyes filled with a desperate yearning for love.

My heart constricted, a physical ache I couldn’t explain.

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Chapter 66

The woman had already carried the child away toward a waiting black Cadillac while onlookers continued to speculate about their relationship without reaching any conclusion.

I sat on a wrought–iron bench, feeling strangely hollow, that child’s eyes appearing again and again in my mind.

“Mommy!”

Suddenly, a fluffy little head appeared before me. Oliver climbed onto my lap with practiced ease. “I heard a lot of noise outside while I was in the bathroom. What happened?”

“You little busybody,” I smiled, ruffling his hair. “Nothing important. Come on, let’s walk around a bit more before heading home.”

I had planned to take Oliver for a children’s meal at The Original Pancake House, but he’d clearly upset his stomach with too much ice cream. Going back to our Wicker Park apartment for something mild would be safer.

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Just as we reached the Navy Pier exit, my phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID and felt my relaxed expression instantly transform into

one of tension and seriousness.

Ridley!

Why would he call me on a weekend?

I took a deep breath and answered with professional courtesy: “Mr. Sterling, hello. This is Cedar.”

Oliver stiffened beside me.

“There’s an issue with the Lakefront Tower proposal. Come to the office immediately.” The cold, commanding voice hung up before I could

respond.

I stared at my phone, trying to process what had just happened. He was calling me in for overtime, wasn’t he?

At Wright Creatives, I’d worked overtime almost every day, so this wasn’t new to me. But still-

I crouched down to Oliver’s level and spoke gently: “I promised to spend the day with you, but something’s come up at work. I’ll take you

home, make dinner, and then go to the office. You’ll be good at home, right?”

Oliver’s eyes darted around thoughtfully. “Was that your boss who called?”

“Yes, my direct superior–the new general manager brought in from the parent company,” I sighed, rubbing my temple. “Looks like overtime will become routine. I’m sorry, Oliver.”

“Mommy, I don’t want to stay home alone. Can I come with you?” Oliver blinked up at me, his expression pitiful and pleading.

I frowned. “That’s not appropriate. It’s a workplace.”

Chapter 66

“I could just stay in the children’s innovation center downstairs, please?” he wheedled, looking utterly forlorn.

“Wait, how do you know there’s a children’s innovation center at my office?” I asked, suspicious.

Oliver froze momentarily before quickly regaining his composure.

“Most firms have them now, don’t they? For employees‘ kids? I was just guessing. Please, Mommy? I promise I won’t cause trouble.”

I couldn’t beat the thought of leaving him alone at night, so I reluctantly agreed.

We ate a light dinner at a farm–to–table restaurant near Millennium Park before taking a taxi to the Nest Design building in the Near North Side. Nest Design was closed for the weekend, with no one even at the reception desk.

1 left Oliver at the children’s innovation space next door before taking the elevator to the executive floor. The top floor was eerily quiet,

with only dim corridor lights and the glow from the CEO’s office breaking the silence.

Suddenly I felt nervous, smoothing down my simple weekend outfit that definitely wasn’t office–appropriate.

I hoped Albert would be there too, so I wouldn’t have to face the intimidating Ridley alone.

I shuffled to the office door and knocked gently.

“Come in.” The man’s crisp voice cut through the darkness like an elegant violin note.

I pressed my lips together and pushed the door open.

As I feared–Albert wasn’t there.

Ridley sat in his executive chair wearing a crisp white shirt, his expression cold and his bearing aristocratic against the backdrop of

nighttime skyline.

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We Want Mommy, Not You, Daddy!