Chapter <b>16 </b>


    -HUNTER’S POV-


    Caesar had an uncanny ability to dismantle my perfectly structured life.


    The constant talking. The endless questions. The way he looked at me with those too–familiar blue eyes–like he expected something from me.


    And the worst part? I let him.


    I told myself it <b>was </b>because he was just a child. That it was easier to give in sometimes. That none of it actually *meant* anything.


    But that didn’t exin why I was already halfway out of my chair the second I heard his voice echo through the halls.


    <b>*</b><b>“</b><b>I </b>want a bedtime story!“*


    Loud. Unapologetic. Determined.


    I pinched the bridge of my nose. Relentless.


    “No, Caesar,” Celine’s voice answered, strained with exhaustion. “I told you, I’m busy.”


    That should have been the end of it. But then-


    A wail. Loud. Sharp. Real. I <b>was </b>already moving before <b>I </b>could stop myself.


    When I found them, Celine was standing stiffly in the middle of theundry room, her back to me. Caesar was on the floor, his small body trembling with the force of his cries.


    She wasn’t looking at him.


    She wasn’t looking <b>at </b>anything.


    Her shoulders were tense, her hands clenched at her sides, and when she finally spoke, her voice was tight. Too tight.


    “You’re being a bad boy<i>, </i>Caesar.”


    His breath hitched. “But <b>I </b>just-”


    “I’m tired,” she cut him off, her voice cracking. “I have so much <i>to </i>do. And you’re crying <b>because </b>I can’t read you a bedtime story<i>?</i><i>” </i>


    Silence. Thick, suffocating silence. And then- “I want my mommy too.”


    The words were barely <b>a </b>whisper, but they shattered something in the air between them. I stilled.


    Caesar stilled.


    And when she turned her head just enough for me to see her face, I felt something unexpected w at my chest.


    Tears.


    She was trying to blink them away, but they were there. And Caesar–God, he didn’t understand. How could he? He <b>was </b>


    <b>9:09 </b><b>pm </b>B BBG.


    Chapter 16 <fn9> Checktest chapters at find?novel</fn9>


    three.


    But even in his small, innocent mind, he must have realized something was different. Because his little hands reached for her.


    “I love you, Mommy.”


    She let out a shaky breath, closing her eyes <b>as </b>she pulled him against her. “I’m sorry, baby,” she murmured, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “I didn’t mean to snap at you.”


    Caesar nodded against her, his arms tightening around her neck. And me?


    I stood there, useless. Unmoving. Watching something I shouldn’t have been watching.


    Celine sighed, shifting him in her arms. “Come on, let’s get you to bed.”


    I turned away before she could see me.


    Because the way she had said those words- I want my mommy too–had sunk into my chest like a slow, burning weight.


    And I didn’t like the way it felt. Not at all.


    -CELINE’S POV-


    Today had been too much.


    I had scrubbed floors until my arms ached.


    Polished railings that were already spotless. Redone table settings three times. And through it all, I had kept one eye on Caesar–making sure he didn’t say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing, push Hunter too far.


    And yet, somehow, I had still ended up breaking.


    Right in front of him.


    I shouldn’t have said those words. I shouldn’t have let myself unravel like that.


    But the second I <b>saw </b>the confused look in Caesar’s <b>eyes</b>, I knew–I had scared him.


    I carried him to bed, tucking the nkets around him <b>as </b>I could somehow wrap him in all the love <b>I </b>had as if it would be enough to make up for the fact that I <b>was </b>exhausted.


    That I was fraying <b>at </b>the edges.


    He sniffled once, rubbing his eyes, before peering up at me with <b>sleepy </b>concern. “Mommy, are you okay?”


    I forced a smile. “I’m okay, baby,”


    <b>A </b>lie.


    He yawned, shifting under the covers. “Will you stay until I sleep?<b>” </b>


    I nodded, threading my fingers through his curls. “Of course<b>.</b><b>” </b>


    The room fell silent, the soft glow of the bedsidemp casting warm shadows across his face. His breathing slowed. His grip on the nket loosened.


    <b>2/3 </b>


    And me?


    I just sat there, watching him<b>, </b>exhaustion pressing against my ribs like a weight I couldn’t shake.


    For a moment, I let myself wish.


    38)


    Wish that I could close my eyes and forget the way Hunter had been watching me all day. Forget the fear that coiled around my heart every time I thought about what would happen if he ever found out the truth.


    I leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to Caesar’s cheek.


    “You already have all the love you need,” I whispered.


    A promise. To him. To myself. I started to pull away- And then.


    That feeling. The unmistakable prickle at the nape of my neck. I turned slowly, my breath catching in my throat.


    Hunter.


    Leaning against the doorway. Arms crossed. Expression is unreadable.


    How long had he been standing there? I scrambled to my feet, my pulse hammering. “I–I didn’t know you were there.”


    He didn’t respond right away. Just flicked his gaze to Caesar, then back to me. His <b>fists </b>curled at his sides.


    Why did he look… angry? Or was it something else? I swallowed. “Is something wrong, Mr. Reid?”


    His eyes locked onto mine, and for a second–just a second–I felt like he was seeing too much.*


    Then, finally, he spoke. Voice low. Controlled. “Why does it feel like you’re hiding something from me?”


    My stomach dropped. I forced a shakyugh. “I don’t know what you mean.”


    His silence stretched between us, thick and heavy. I gripped the edge of the bed to steady myself, fighting to keep my expression neutral.


    Because if he <b>ever </b>found out the truth- Everything would change.


    <b>3/3 </b>