Chapter 5

When Theodric hauled Ollie into the car, the boy was still hiccupping with sobs.

Serena sat in the passenger seat, turning back to look at him with gentle consolation. "Ollie, stop crying. If your head hurts, get some sleep. I'll wake you when we get home."

Ollie sniffled, looking at her hopefully. "Serena, will you stay with me?"

"Of course." Serena's smile was tender. "I have nothing on today. I'm all yours."

Only then did Ollie's mood improve a little.

He wiped his tears, then remembered what had happened earlier and said indignantly, "Serena, why didn't Mommy come with me to see the doctor?"

Serena sighed, her tone tinged with helplessness. "Ollie, your mother probably... has her own things to deal with. She doesn't usually have much to do—just housework and looking after you—but maybe today she really was busy."

She paused, then added, "But with your head hurting this badly, for her not to stay with you is a little... Never mind. Let's not talk about her."

Ollie's little face fell even further. All Mom did was stay home cooking and doing laundry. What could she possibly be busy with?

"Mommy's so mean!" Ollie said through gritted teeth. "I don't want her anymore!"

Serena quickly waved her hands. "Ollie, don't say that. She's still your mother. Even if she's not doing the best job, you should still respect her."

"I won't!" Ollie stubbornly turned his head away.

Serena glanced helplessly at Theodric and shook her head, saying nothing more.

Theodric looked at his son in the rearview mirror, his brow furrowing slightly, but he said nothing.

That evening, when Theodric brought Ollie home, the living room was empty. The figure that usually sat on the sofa waiting for them was gone.

Ollie ran upstairs, then back down again. "Daddy, Mommy's not here!"

Theodric grunted in acknowledgment and loosened his tie, sitting down on the sofa.

Camilla had just signed the divorce papers yesterday, and today she was already staying out? He let out a cold laugh, disdain flashing through his mind.

Did she think this would make him give in? Childish.

Ollie ran up to him, tilting his little face up. "Daddy, why isn't Mommy back to make dinner? I'm hungry."

Theodric looked down at him coolly. "Cleo's here. Have her cook."

"But Cleo's food isn't good!" Ollie's mouth turned down. "I want Mommy's cooking!"

"Your mother isn't here." Theodric rubbed his brow in irritation.

Ollie froze. He blinked, his little face full of confusion. "Then why isn't Mommy coming back? Is she still mad? I'm not even mad yet! What does she have to be mad about?"

The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that he was right. Mommy didn't stay with him when he was sick, and now she wouldn't even cook for him.

He'd only called Serena "Mommy" once. It's not like he really didn't want her anymore. She was a grownup—why was she throwing a tantrum like a kid? He never wanted to talk to that bad mommy again!

Cleo soon brought the food to the table. Ollie rushed over excitedly, picked up his utensils, and took a bite. After chewing twice, his face fell. "It's not good!"

Cleo looked embarrassed. "Ollie, I made this following Mrs. Clifford's recipe. It should be pretty close."

Ollie dropped his utensils, his little mouth pouting high. "It's not good! Mommy's doesn't taste like this!"

Theodric came over and sat down. He forked a bite of food into his mouth and frowned. It really wasn't right.

Camilla's cooking tasted... more... He couldn't pinpoint what was different, but it just was.

He set down his utensils and looked at Cleo. "She gave you a recipe?"

Cleo nodded and pulled a notebook from her pocket, handing it over. "Mrs. Clifford gave this to me last night. She said it lists Ollie's food restrictions, what he likes and doesn't like—it's all written down. She also said... that if she wasn't here, she was entrusting Ollie to my care."

Theodric took the notebook and opened it. Camilla's handwriting—every stroke careful and deliberate.

[Ollie hates carrots, but you can make carrot meatballs. If you mince them finely and mix them into the meat, he won't notice.]

[When he has a slight cough, don't rush to give him medicine. Stew pears with fritillary. Use fragrant pears—they're juicier and the soup will be sweet.]

[He needs a bedtime story. Lately he's been into dinosaurs. If he won't sleep, tell him there's a cartoon he likes on in the morning—he'll sleep early so he can wake up early to watch.]

[He...]

Line after line, covering everything from meals and clothing to sleep and play. Theodric flipped through two pages and suddenly felt the notebook burning in his hands.

Nine-thirty PM. Ollie lay in bed right on schedule. Cleo sat on the edge, reading him a story. It was his favorite dinosaur story, but as he listened, Ollie's brow furrowed. "Cleo, you're reading it wrong."

Cleo blinked. "What's wrong?"

"When Mommy reads it, she does the dinosaur sounds. The T-Rex goes ROAR—really fierce. The Brachiosaurus sounds long, like a train. You didn't do any of that."

Cleo laughed helplessly. "Ollie, I don't know how."

Ollie pouted, rolled over, and turned his back to her. "Then I don't want to listen anymore."

Cleo sighed and set the storybook down, tucking him in. "Then get some sleep, Ollie."

She turned off the light and gently closed the door. The room darkened, lit only by faint moonlight from the window.

Ollie lay with his eyes open. He remembered how every night, Mommy would sit by his bed, reading to him while gently patting his back.

Sometimes when he woke from a nightmare, he'd call out "Mommy," and she'd come running right away, holding him, soothing him, singing him lullabies.

Now Mommy wasn't here. Ollie rolled over and pulled the blanket up, covering half his little face.

He missed Mommy a little.

Just a little.

That weekend, Camilla stood at the entrance of Clifford Manor right on time, taking a deep breath.

She knew this old estate too well. At ten years old, after losing her parents, this place had taken her in. Heath and Amara had treated her like their own daughter. She'd lived here for over a decade, until she married Theodric.

She was back today to clarify the divorce—and to collect her parents' belongings.

She pressed the doorbell. The butler opened it, his face lighting up with delight. "Mrs. Camilla Clifford! You're back! Mr. Clifford and Mrs. Amara Clifford have been asking about you for days!"

Camilla smiled faintly. She didn't correct his form of address and stepped inside.

Voices drifted from the living room.

Amara's laughter. Ollie's childish voice. And...

Camilla's steps faltered. She saw Serena.

Serena sat beside Amara, affectionately holding the older woman's arm, saying something that made Amara laugh.

Ollie sat next to Serena, holding a toy, his little face full of smiles.

Theodric sat on the other sofa, teacup in hand, expression indifferent.

From Camilla's angle, they looked like a happy, harmonious family.

And she—she was the outsider intruding.