Chapter 2: The Temporary Mother
Her name was Vivian Cole.
She claimed she was Mara’s distant cousin, but Ethan knew he had never seen her before. Still, grief was a dangerous thing. It made impossible things look possible.
Noah stared at her like a starving child seeing food.
Vivian bent down.
“Oh, sweetheart,” she whispered. “You’ve been so lonely, haven’t you?”
Ethan should have stopped it.
Instead, he froze.
Later that night, Vivian came to him with a story. She said Noah needed a mother figure. Just temporary. Just until the boy healed.
Claire, still serving nearby, heard enough to understand the danger.
Vivian did not look at Noah like a child.
She looked at him like a key.
A key to Ethan’s house.
A key to Ethan’s fortune.
A key to everything Mara had left behind.
When Ethan privately offered Claire money to help Noah during the week, Claire nearly refused.
“I’m not for sale,” she said.
“I know,” Ethan answered quietly. “That’s why I’m asking you.”
Claire looked through the glass window at Noah sitting alone, holding a napkin Claire had folded into a little paper boat.
Then she said yes.
May you like
Not for Ethan.
For the boy.
