*Ashley*
I push the door open, and my heart drops. There, beside Alex's bed, is a woman with wild hair and clothes that look like they’ve seen better days. She’s stroking his hair, whispering softly to him. My instincts kick in. “What are you doing here?” I demand, my voice sharp but low, as not to wake him up. “Step away from my son!”
The woman looks up at me, her eyes wide and frantic, her hand grabbing Alex’s dino stuffy. “He’s my son! You stole him from me,” She clutches Alex’s dino tighter, and my stomach knots at the sight.
I take a cautious step back, trying to process her words. “No, he’s my son. You need to leave.” My voice trembles, but I fight to keep it steady. This is not happening. Not tonight. “How did you get in here?”
Her expression twists into something almost desper
