Elijah’s POV
I exchanged a quick glance with Serena, a silent conversation passing between us. Reese was smiling so brightly, her little face lighting up with joy. “Mommy’s work!” she exclaimed, pointing to the design on the desk.
“Look at that smile,” Serena exclaimed. She stared at the little girl, seemingly scrutinizing her. “She looks just like Sophia.”
I nodded, my throat tightening. “Yeah, I’ve been thinking that for some time now. So it’s not surprising that I’m not the only one who thinks so.”
Serena walked over to Reese and crouched down to her level. “Hello again, sweetie,” she said softly. Why are you excited about that design?”
Reese beamed up at her and then pointed to the design again. “Mommy made this,” she declared proudly.
My heart pounded wildly. A little girl can’t possibly lie like that, right? This could really be Sophia’s daughter!
Serena stared at Reese with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. It was a fake, strained smile that made something twist in my gut. Reese’s happy expression faltered, her lip beginning to tremble.
my is very t
“Is that so?” Serena asked, her voice dripping with forced sweetness. “Your mommy is
talented.
Reese’s eyes welled up with tears. She didn’t understand the undertone in Serena’s voice, but she sensed the insincerity. A soft sob escaped her lips.
“Hey, hey, it’s okay,” I said, stepping in quickly. I picked Reese up, cradling her in my arms. “There’s no need to cry.
Reese buried her face in my shoulder, her small body shaking with sobs. I shot Serena a look, silently reprimanding her for her coldness. She had no right to make Reese feel this way.
“I didn’t do anything,” she mumbled defensively.
I tried to soothe Reese with gentle pats on her back “She’s really upset. Serena, take the design file and leave.”
“But-” Serena started to protest.
“Just go, I demanded. “You’ve scared her.”
Reluctantly, Serena gathered her things, her eyes lingering on Reese and me. She paused at the door. but a slight nod from me pushed her to finally leave the room.
Moments later, the door swung open, and the nanny burst in, her face a mask of worry. She rushed her hands outstretched. “Oh, Reese! My poor baby, what’s wrong?”
over, Reese’s crying only intensified. “Perhaps she’s already tired and hungry,” I said, though I knew that it
was Serena who had triggered it. Even a little girl could tell that she was up to no good.
The nanny took Reese and cradled her, whispering softly to her in a mixture of soothing words and gentle shushes. Slowly, the sobs began to subside, replaced by hiccuping breaths.
“We need to go home now,” the nanny said softly, still focused on calming Reese. “Your mother is worried about you.”
Something inside me clicked, a puzzle piece I didn’t realize was missing. I had to know. “What’s Reese’s mother’s name?”
The nanny glanced up, surprised by my question. “Her name is Andrea.”
Andrea. Not Sophia.
And yet I still wasn’t convinced. I had the feeling she wasn’t telling the truth. It was just the same as my doubts about Julia and about Serena.
“Thanks so much, Mr. Sinclair,” she said, her voice polite but hurried. “We really need to go.”
Suddenly, we were interrupted by a hurried knock on the door. Since I myself had driven Connor home earlier, a colleague of his had taken over his tasks for the afternoon. The young man who’d temporarily replaced him poked his head in. “Mr. Sinclair, I just wanted to remind you about your meeting later.”
“Yes, I know,” I immediately answered:
“Okay, sir,” the man answered. I saw his eyes flicker fast to Reese before he closed the door behind him.
I certainly didn’t want any more employees fishing around for information about Reese. Maybe it was wrong to even take her here.
“Go home!” Reese suddenly quipped, her eyebrows furrowing. A crease formed on her little forehead. Please home now.”
“I think she’s now ready to finally go home,” I said gently. “Reese, would you like me to drive you and your nanny home? So that you’ll be safer?”
To my bewilderment, she frowned at me and shook her head. “No.”
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