Aster had always been exclusively breastfed. With Ste out and the nanny at a loss, form was the only option. But Aster was stubborn-if it wasn''t his mother''s milk, he wouldn''t take a drop. He justy there, mouth open, howling for all he was worth.
Ste rushed in, so frantic she hadn''t even bothered to change her shoes. She strode over and scooped Aster from the nanny''s arms. "It''s okay, sweetheart, mommy''s home now... shh, it''s okay..."
Word of Ste''s sudden disappearance had sent her father, Ableson, and her mother, Scarlett, hurrying over to help. But there wasn''t much they could do. Their three-month-old grandson only wanted his mother. All they could do was stand there, helpless and anxious.
Now that Ste was finally back, Scarlett just couldn''t hold her tongue any longer.
"Ste, honestly! You''re a mother now, and you pull a stunt like running away from home? How could you just leave your baby? He''s only three months old! Were you really willing to do that?"
Her son''s wails mingled with Scarlett''s scolding, filling the apartment with chaos.
Ste''s nerves were shot. Clutching her crying baby, she marched straight into the master bedroom and mmed the door with enough force to shake the walls-a clear message to everyone outside.
Scarlett was taken aback for a moment, then her anger spiked. "Would you look at that! She''s getting more unreasonable by the day. I swear, I never realized she could be so impossible!"
Ableson frowned. "Just let it go, Scarlett. She''s a mother herself now. Stop treating her like a child-she needs her own space."
"Oh, so now this is my fault?" Scarlett rounded on him. "Your daughter abandons her three-month-old and I''m the one in the wrong? Ableson, let me be blunt- Star''s temper is all because of you spoiling her!"
Ableson fell silent, exasperated.
Just then, Cedric rke came over, Ste''s slippers in hand, and spoke in a low, soothing voice. "Mom, please don''t be upset. This is my fault. Star just needed some space to clear her head-she loves Aster, she''d never leave him for real."
Scarlett felt a flicker offort at Cedric''s unwavering support for her daughter, but it only made her more exasperated with Ste''s behavior.
"She just doesn''t realize how lucky she is," Scarlett sighed. "Whatever. She''s home now, that''s what matters. She clearly doesn''t want me around, so I won''t stick around and get in the way. Cedric, please be patient with Star. Ableson and I will head back upstairs."
Cedric let out a quiet sigh of relief. "Don''t worry, Mom. I''ll take good care of her."
When Cedric and Ste got married,
he bought the apartment upstairs for Ableson and Scarlett so they could easily visit their daughter. But ever since Ste had given birth, she and Scarlett were constantly at odds. Ableson couldn''t talk Scarlett down; half the time he just ended up in the crossfire himself.
Cedric was at his wit''s end, caught between his wife and mother-inw, trying to keep the peace until he was practically talking holes in his tongue.
Once Ableson and Scarlett had left, Cedric pushed open the bedroom door.
Ste was sitting on the big bed, cradling Aster, her back to the door.
He stepped inside and closed the door gently behind him.
Ste kept her head down, watching as Aster nursed, fat tears still clinging to hisshes. Her heart twisted with guilt and hurt.
A tear slipped from Ste''s cheek,nding on Aster''s forehead. He frowned, startled by the sudden drop.
She sniffed and tried topose herself, but the tears just wouldn''t stop.
"Honey?" Cedric approached, kneeling beside the bed and cing her slippers at her feet.
Without warning, Ste turned away
from him, her voice breaking as she shouted, "You opportunistic jerkt
Who said you coulde in here while I''m feeding the baby? Get out! Now!"
Her outburst startled Aster, who instantly released his meal and let out a piercing wail.
Cedric froze. Now both mother and son were crying-each louder than the other.
He stood there, torn. Who was he supposed tofort first?