OLIVIA’S bPOV /b

I turned around in my bed, moving from one side to another, tugging the soft nket with me like it could somehow bring back the sleep I had lost. But bit /bwas no use. My eyes flew open and fixed themselves on the ceiling above. It was still dark, but there was a faint glow sneaking in from the curtains–the kind of light that let you know the day hadn’t quite begun but was already breathing down your neck.

One of the most disturbing things in life, for me, has always been waking up before my rm. That frustrating limbo where you’re still tired, still craving sleep, but your brain refuses to cooperate. I always hated that.

bI /bturned to nce at the digital clock on my bedside table–6:24 a.m.

Figures. Just less than an hour before the rm was scheduled to re into my ears. I could try to close my eyes again, savor what little time I had left in bed, but I already knew the truth.

Sleep had left me, and it wasn’ting back.

I sighed softly and sat up, the silky nket pooling around my waist. I had been having ba /bgood dream too. One of thoseforting dreams where the world feels warm, soft, and almost too perfect to be real. I couldn’t remember the details, only the feeling it left behind–like I was being wrapped in the arms of someone I once loved deeply.

Then-

Knock knock.

A gentle knock on my bedroom door pulled me out of my thoughts. I didn’t need to ask who it was. That light tap had be familiar, almost part of bmy /bmorning routine.

b“/bCome in,” I said, and a small smile found its way to my lips.

The door creaked open, and ra stepped in. As always, she was dressed impably–a tailored suit jacketb, /bpencil skirt, and hair pulled into a neat bun. She looked like she was about to run a board meeting, not manage my daily schedule.

“Good morning, ma’am,” she said, bowing her head slightly in respect.

“Good morning, ra,” I replied warmly. “Where’s my son?”

“He should be here any second,i” /ishe said with a knowing smile.

And right on cue-

“Mom!”

Charlie came bursting into the room like a little tornado of energy. His tiny feet barely made any noise against the carpetb, /bbut his excitement was loud enough to wake the whole house. He had his school bag strapped tightly on his back and his favorite cartoon keychain dangling from one of the zippers.

He climbed onto the bed without hesitation and threw his small arms around me.

I hugged him tightly, letting myself soak in every second of his affection. These moments were sacred–the kind of joy that no amount bof /bmoney bor /bbpower /bcould ever rece.

“How did you sleep?” I asked, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead.

“Badb,/b” he replied with a dramatic frown, the smile on his face fading quickly.

My eyebrows drew together. “Why? What happened?b” /b

b1/3 /b

08:30 Mon 30 Jun

Chapter b170 /b

b“/bbAunt /bbra /bbwoke /bme bup /bbtoo /bearlyb,/bb” /bbhe /bsaid with a bpout/bb. /bb“/bI barely had bany /bsleep. And now she’s forcing me to bgo /bbto /bschool againb./bb” /b

bTheld /bbin /bba /bbugh/b. His voice was still heavy with sleep, but his outrage was sincere. I nced at ra, who gave a tiny shrug like, what can I bdo/bb? /bbThen /bbturned /bbmy /battention back to Charlie and adjusted the cor of his little school shirt.

b“/bbI’m /bsorry to hear that,” I said softly. “Don’t worry–I’ll give Aunt ra a very serious warning today.”

He giggled bas /bpinched his cheeks gently.

b“/bCan I bstay /bhome today?” he asked suddenly, his big eyes looking up at me hopefully.

I took a second to think, even though I already knew my answer.

“Do you want to be like Mommy when you grow up?” I asked him seriously. “Do you want to be strong, smart, and rich like me?b” /b

He nodded eagerly. “Yes!”

“Then you have to go to school, sweetheart. You have to read as much as you can, even if you don’t always want to. Because that’s how Mommy got

here.”

He let out a dramatic sighb, /bclearly unimpressed by the motivational speech. “Fine,” he said, dragging the word like it was a punishment.

I chuckled. “I promise, once school’s over today, we’ll do something fun together. Maybe go out for ice cream or pick out ba /bnew toy. Deal?”

His eyes lit up instantly. “Deal!”

“Has he had breakfast?” I asked ra, shifting my attention toward her as I ran my fingers gently through Charlie’s curly brown hair.

ra nodded, her posture straight as always. “The maids are preparing it now. He said he wanted to see you first, as usual.”

I smiled and looked down at my son, who was nestled warmly against me. “You just can’t stay a second away from Mommyb, /bcan you?” I said softly, teasing him.

“I just like you more than school,i” /iCharlie mumbled with a pout, hugging me tighter.

I chuckled and gently lifted him up. “Wow, you’re getting heavier. I can barely carry you these days.” I exaggerated the strain yfully, and he giggled.

I carried him out of the room, his arms around my neck, and we made our way through the hallway. The scent of Italian chicken and rice drifted in from the kitchen, warm and savory. It wrapped around us like a nketb, /breminding me howforting routine could be.

As we entered the dining room, I saw the table already set with polished cutlery and tes, and a small chair ced beside mine – Charlie’s designated seat. I gently set him down on it, and the maids came in momentsterb, /bcarefully serving breakfast onto his te with practiced precision.

“Alright Charlie, hurry up and eat or you’re going to bete,” I said as I tucked a napkin under his chin and handed him a small spoon.

“Are you going to eat with me?” he asked, ncing up with those big curious eyes.

“I am not hungry right now, sweetheart,” I replied, brushing his cheek with my hand.

He took his spoon and started eating while humming softly to himself. Every bite he took reminded me how fast he was growing- no longer bthe /bbbaby /bonce carried through hospital halls. His legs now reached the footrest of his special chair, and his confidence bloomed more each day.

ra remained close by, scrolling through something on her tablet – probably emails or the day’s schedule. I let my eyes fall bon /bCharlie bagain /band smiled. Watching him eat so contentedly made the silence in my life bearable.

By the time he was done, the clock read a few minutes past seven. His school started by eight, and with the busual /bbtraffic/bb, /bbwe /bbcouldn’t /bbafford /bbto /bbwaste /b

time.

I stood and walked to the kitchen where I confirmed with the head maid that his snacks and juice had bbeer /bpackedb. /bb“/bbMake /bsure beverything /bbis /bbin /bbthere /b

b08:30 /bbMon/bb, /bb30 /bbJun /bTO

apples, water, juice, and his allergy meds,” I reminded her.

b“/bYes ma’am. We’ve triple–checked,” she replied.

b“/bGood.”

With his bag now ready, Charlie came skipping behind me, carrying a toy car in one hand.

“Ready?” I asked, holding out my palm.

He ced his tiny hand in mine and nodded excitedly. “Yes!”

We stepped out through the grand foyer and onto the long stone–tiled path that led to the driveway. Parked just outside was his ck Mercedes SUV. Yes, you heard right, I got him his first car even at his age, Two men stood beside it–dressed in ck suits, white shirts, and dark sunsses. iOne /iwas his driver, the other his personal bodyguard.

Even though it sometimes felt like overkill, I never took chances. Charlie was my everything, and after everything I had lost and rebuilt, I wasn’t about to risk his safety for anything. His bodyguard was instructed to follow him everywhere he went, including inside his ssroom.

I had paid the principal to allow that, the school Charlie went to was one of the best schools in the country, which means there were a lot of rich and spoiled children who went there too, and I didn’t want my baby to get bullied. So his bodyguard follows him everywhere.

The two men straightened at our approach and gave a short bow.

I walked Charlie to the open door of the vehicle. The sunlight bounced off the tinted windows, and the fresh morning air smelled faintly of cut grass and gardenias from the nearby hedge.

I bent down to Charlie’s level, brushing back the strand of hair falling over his forehead. “Alright now,” I said softly, “make sure you listen to your teacher, and don’t forget to share your crayons.”

He grinned. “Okay!”

“And if someone pushes you…”

“I tell the teacher,” he finished, his little chest puffing out proudly. “And I don’t hit back unless they try to take my snacks.”

Iughed and kissed his forehead. “You’ve got it all figured out, haven’t you?”

He climbed into the car, sliding into the custom car seat I had installed for him. The driver gave me a nod and gently shut the door.

I stood backi, /iwatching as the vehicle pulled away from the driveway and joined the private road that led out of the estate.