Evangeline’s POV:
“Did the bad man hurt you?”
“No, Mommy.”
Stella shook her head firmly, her small mouth pressing into a stubborn pout.
I exhaled, staring into her innocent blue-gray eyes, desperately trying to decipher if she truly understood what I was asking or if she was simply repeating the same phrase as always.
Her little brows furrowed as she tilted her head, sensing my unease. “Mommy?”
I blinked rapidly, forcing a strained smile as I gently tucked a loose strand of blonde hair behind her ear.
“It’s okay, baby.” I whispered, though my stomach was still coiled tight with anxiety. “Go play with Arian, alright?”
She hesitated, watching me with a curious expression before nodding slowly, then turned and padded toward her twin brother, who was still half-asleep on the couch.
I
