Chapter 5
869 Words
The house felt unusually calm.
Not peaceful.
Not safe.
Just… staged.
Ella noticed it first.
Her mother had been acting differently for days now. Softer tone. Extra patience. Even the way she looked at Jamie had changed—less irritation, more calculation.
It didn’t make sense.
Ella stood in the hallway, watching as her mother passed by without scolding her for being on her phone too long or for leaving her shoes out of place.
That was new.
Too new.
Later that evening, Ella finally stopped her outside the study.
“Why are you being nice to her?” she asked directly.
Her mother paused.
Slowly turned.
And smiled.
Not warmly.
Not kindly.
Just controlled.
“Don’t worry about Jamie,” she said softly.
Ella frowned. “That’s not an answer.”
Her mother stepped closer, lowering her voice slightly.
“It’s a plan,” she said.
Ella studied her face carefully.
A silence stretched between them.
Then—
her mother tilted her head slightly.
“Tell me something,” she said.
Ella narrowed her eyes. “What?”
“Do you love Xavier?”
Ella froze slightly.
That name hit differently.
Jamie’s boyfriend.
She hesitated.
“…A little,” she admitted slowly. “But he made it clear he loves Jamie.”
Her mother’s expression didn’t change.
Instead, she smiled faintly.
“That won’t matter for long,” she said.
Ella blinked. “What do you mean?”
Her mother turned away slightly, as if the conversation was already finished in her mind.
“After this,” she said calmly, “he’ll be yours.”
Ella went still.
“What?”
Her mother looked back at her.
Calm.
Certain.
Like she was speaking about something already decided.
Ella’s eyes widened slightly.
“You’re serious?”
Her mother didn’t answer directly.
She just smiled again.
And walked away.
Leaving Ella standing there with something unfamiliar growing in her chest.
Not excitement.
Not happiness.
Something closer to shock.
And anticipation.
---
The knock was soft.
Careful.
Almost hesitant.
Jamie stood outside her stepmother’s door for a moment before speaking.
“…It’s me.”
“Come in,” came the voice from inside.
Jamie opened the door slowly.
Her stepmother was sitting at her desk.
As always.
Composed.
Waiting.
Jamie stepped in quietly and closed the door behind her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Jamie reached into her bag.
And placed the folder on the desk.
“I’ve signed it,” she said softly.
Silence.
Her stepmother looked at the folder.
Then at Jamie.
And smiled.
That same smile.
The one that never reached her eyes but always changed the air in the room.
She stood immediately.
“Oh, Jamie,” she said warmly.
Before Jamie could react, she was pulled into a hug.
It was tight.
Unexpected.
So unfamiliar that Jamie froze completely.
Her hands stayed suspended awkwardly at her sides.
“You did the right thing,” her stepmother murmured against her shoulder.
Jamie swallowed slightly.
“I… I just want my father to be okay,” she said quietly.
Her stepmother pulled back just enough to look at her.
And smiled again.
“Of course,” she said gently. “Because of this, your father will be able to see properly again.”
Jamie blinked.
“Really?”
“Yes,” her stepmother nodded. “Surgery, treatment… everything will be arranged.”
A pause.
Then softer—
“He’ll be proud of you.”
Something inside Jamie tightened slightly.
Proud.
That word felt distant.
Almost unfamiliar.
But she nodded anyway.
“Okay…”
Her stepmother released her slowly.
“Go and rest,” she said gently. “You’ve done enough for today.”
Jamie hesitated for a second.
Then nodded.
“…Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Jamie.”
Jamie left the room quietly.
Closing the door behind her.
Her footsteps faded down the hallway.
And the moment she was gone—
her stepmother’s expression changed completely.
The smile dropped instantly.
She looked at the folder on the desk.
Then exhaled slowly.
A faint, sharp smirk formed.
“Such a gullible fool,” she murmured.
She sat back down.
And tapped the folder lightly with her fingers.
Satisfied.
---
The call came without warning.
Aiden was already in his office when his phone rang.
He didn’t look at the screen at first.
Just answered.
“Yes.”
A pause.
Then—
“Mr. Dimitri, there’s been an update regarding the hospital case. You need to come in immediately.”
Aiden’s expression changed slightly.
Not panic.
Not fear.
Just focus.
“Which hospital?”
Another pause.
The answer came.
Aiden stood immediately.
His voice dropped lower.
“I’m on my way.”
He ended the call.
Grabbed his coat.
And left the office without another word.
---
The city moved around him as his car drove forward.
But his mind stayed still.
Sharp.
Controlled.
Unmoving.
Something was wrong.
He could feel it.
Not emotional.
Not instinctive.
Just… certain.
The hospital doors came into view.
And as the car slowed—
Aiden Dimitri had no idea that the decisions already made in another house…
were about to collide with his life in ways he would never be ready for.
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