bChapter /bb43 /b

bYana /bpulled him into her arms, beaming with joy. “What’s your name, darling?”

“I’m Adam.”

b“/bThat’s such a lovely name.” Yana affectionately patted his soft little head. “Are you hungry? What do you like to eatb? /bTell meb, /bI’ll have the chef bmake /bit for you.”

“I can’t eat chili or peanuts. Everything else is fine,” replied Adam.

Skr’s gaze flickered ever so slightly. Peanuts? Just like her.

Yana yfully tapped his nose. “Alright. I will go tell the chef.”

At dinner, the mountain of food in Skr’s bowl quietly made its way into Adam’s.

Adam looked at his now–full bowl, then at his ‘bs/bb, /ba

and scooped half of bit /bback into hers. “Mommy, let’s share.”

Skr smiled lightly. “Thank you, Adam. Go on and eat, or it won’t taste as good when it’s cold.”

Adam nodded obediently and wrapped his arms around his bowl–almost as big bas /bhis face–digging in with gusto.

Yana watched their exchange with a warm smile. She could tell this kid truly liked Skr–it showed in every little gesture.

If only he really was part of the family. He was such a sweetheart. She couldn’t get enough of him.

After dinner, Skr took Adam for a walk in the garden.

After a while, Adam became sleepy. He rubbed his eyes and tugged on her hand. “Mommy, I want to sleep now.b” /b

Skr scooped him up and brought him to the guest room.

Yana had arranged for the room earlier with the help of the maids. It waspletely transformed–full of plush toys, games, building blocks–anything ba /b

child might love.

The boy had already dozed off on the way back. Skr carefullyid him down, adjusting her movements bso /bshe wouldn’t wake him.

She tucked him in and was about to head to her study for an online meeting.

Worried that he might wake up and cry if he didn’t see her, she left instructions with a maid to check on him and, if he woke up, to tell him he coulde find her in the study.

Only after that did she feel reassured enough to leave.

Adam woke up an hourter. He sat up, blinking his sleepy eyes, nced around, and didn’t see Skr.

He threw off the nket, slipped on his slippers, and opened the door to go find her. But in the hallway, he ran straight into Freya.

Adam didn’t want to talk to her and pretended not to see herb, /bwalking right past. Freya grabbed him and yanked him back.

Her grip choked him, and he winced. Tears welled up in his eyes as he red at he

“You see me and don’t greet me? Where are your manners?” Freya snapped, furious.

“What are you doingb?/bb” /b

To Freya, her standing in the household had already dropped rock bottom–and now even a kid dared to disrespect herb? /bShe wouldn’t take bit /blying bdown/b.

Adam huffed. “I don’t like you. I don’t want to greet you.”

bChapter /bb43 /b

“bDon’t /bbforget /bwhose house you’re bin/bb!/bb” /bbFreya’s face /bdarkened. She wasn’t about bto /blet a brat bwalk /ball over her. b“/bbYou /bthink I bcan’t /bbkick /bbyou /bbout /bbright /bnow?i

b“/bThis is Mommy’s house too. Mommy and Grandma like me a lot. They won’t let you do that!” Adam snapped.

bFreya /btightened her grip on his shouldersb. /b“Clearly your parents didn’t teach you properly. Let me show you how to behave in someone else’s bhouse/bb! /b

Adam squirmed, trying to break free. “Let go of me!”

“Let’s see how smug you are after this!” Freya raised her hand and smacked him hard on the butt. Again and again, each hit harder than thest.

Adam had never been spanked before. He froze in shock, then bit down hard on her hand in a fit of rage.

Freya screamed. She flung him away, and he tumbled to the ground.

Adamy there, gasping, like a stranded fish. His eyes rolled back as he struggled for air.

bAD /b