We Want Mommy Not You Daddy (Cedar) novel Chapter 77

We Want Mommy, Not You, Daddy!

Chapter 77

Cedars POV

After a hectic afternoon coordinating exhibition layouts with the planning team, I dragged myself up the stairs to my Wicker Park apartment. The silence his me like a physical force as soon as I opened the door.

‘Oliver, Mommy’s home!‘ I called automatically, then froze.

Nothing but emptiness answered me. No excited little boy, no scattered toys–just stillness that seemed to echo off the walls.

I smiled ruefully as I closed the door behind me. Day one without Oliver, and I was already talking to ghosts. Kicking off my heels, I collapsed onto my vintage sofa, feeling his absence like a physical ache.

My fingers hovered over his contact on my phone. He’d promised to call me himself once he settled in at his father’s house. I didn’t want to seem clingy. Better to wait.

Three sharp knocks startled me from my thoughts.

Oliver!

My heart leapt as I flew to the door, yanking it open with a smile that instantly vanished.

Instead, I was greeted by Elara’s perfectly made–up face and my adoptive sister Selena’s flawless features. I hadn’t seen either of them since Selena got completely roasted at the gala until now.

“What are you doing here?”

“Cedar, darling. We should talk inside,” Elara said smoothly.

I hesitated, then stepped aside. The Wright women settled onto my sofa like royalty slumming in a peasant’s hut, Selena’s eyes narrowing at my IKEA

tumblers when I offered water.

“Cedar, sweetheart,” Elara began, settling herself primly, “we’ve been good to you all these years, haven’t we?”

I pulled my hand from her grip. “I paid back the $800,000 loan. I’d say we’re even.”

‘Your life was saved by this family,” Selena snapped. ‘Is that all it’s worth to you?”

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‘We agreed on a figure, and I paid it,” I said coolly. “If you’ve come to reopen old accounts, you can leave now.”

“We’re here about the business,” Elara continued, her diamond bracelet catching the light as she gestured. ‘Wright Creatives has lost several major contracts. We’ll be bankrupt soon.” She leaned forward. “You’re still family. We need your help.”

“What does this have to do with me?”

“Don’t pretend innocence!” Selena’s face flushed an angry pink. “You poisoned Ridley Sterling against us! Our company is collapsing because of you!”

I laughed, genuinely amused by her delusion. “You think Sterling Group’s CEO would target a company just because I asked?”

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2:48 pm P

Chapter 77

“This is revenge for how we treated you!”

So you admit how I was treated? I felt ice in my veins. For twenty–six years, I was less than your household staff. Yet somehow I still owe you undying

gratitude?”

We saved your life!” Selena practically screamed.

“Please leave,” I stood firmly.

Elara’s expression shifted, seeing her usual tactics failing. “Cedar, honey, we need to meet with Sterling, but can’t get past his assistant. You work for Nest Design. Help us arrange something.”

‘I don’t have his ear,” I said flatly.

“Find a way!” Elara’s voice hardened. “Jonathan’s hair is turning white from stress. Help your family just this once!

“When I was eight,” I said quietly, “you locked me in the basement because I accidentally broke one of Selena’s favorite cups. I had welts from Jonathan’s belt and a 104–degree fever. You were desperate then too–desperate to silence my cries.”

My back still bore those scars.

“Please leave before I call security.”

Elara’s mask dropped completely. “Cedar Wright, don’t think climbing onto Sterling’s ship means you can disrespect the woman who raised you.” Her voice lowered. “Don’t you want to know about your birth parents?”

The words struck like lightning.

My birth parents.

For twenty–six years, I’d wondered who they were. Why they’d abandoned me that snowy night.

“When I found you,” Elara continued, “there was a letter in your blanket. And a keepsake. Talk to Sterling on our behalf, and I’ll give you the letter and the

item.”

I bit my lip hard. “Why didn’t you tell me before? In twenty–six years, you never mentioned this.”

“A meaningless note and a cheap necklace?” Selena sneered, examining her perfect manicure.

Her contempt convinced me Elara was telling truth. My parents had left something for me. They hadn’t just thrown me away.

Maybe they’d had no choice.

‘I’ll try,” I said finally. “But Ridley might not listen to me.”

“All we ask is that you try.” Elara smiled victoriously. “Once we’re back on our feet, I’ll give you your parents‘ things.”

As they left, I slumped against the wall, feeling the cool plaster against my forehead. I’d made a deal with the devil. But for a chance to know my real parents–to understand why they’d given me up–I’d risk far more than a conversation with Ridley.

Even if it meant playing into Elara’s hands one last time.

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2:48 pm P

Chapter 77

I collapsed back onto the sofa, my body heavy with the weight of the bargain I’d just made, le kely wysp

I’d finally broken free from the Wrights manipulation, here i was, dancing to their take again.

My fingers traced invisible patterns on the worn fabric of my sofa as I imagined holding that better toring something my both parente haut wreaths wid A connection across twenty–six years of emptiness. What might it say? Maybe there was a resum, an explanation that would finally make sense of me like

But the familiar darkness crept in, whispering doubts. What if the letter was just an apology with no return addres? Or worse what if the de

explanation at all?

If I truly was abandoned–just another unwanted child left in the snow–why bother searching for birth parents who threw me away? What does cont that possibly bring except confirmation of what I’d always feared most: that I was never meant to be loved!

My phone buzzed against the coffee table, interrupting my spiral of questions. A video call notification lit up the screen.

Seeing the caller ID, I felt the tension in my shoulders instantly release, and a genuine smile spread across my face.

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