Bound by the Past, Locked by the Heart novel Chapter 287

With her back turned to her, Willa's heart still uncontrollably softened a fraction.

Naomi was her mother, after all, and she was clearly paying the price for her sins, living in such misery.

Willa couldn't truly bring herself to cut her off completely for the rest of her life.

"Take one look, then leave," Willa tossed the cold demand over her shoulder and pushed the door open.

Naomi froze for a second before nodding furiously. "Yes, yes, I'll leave right after. I swear I won't bother you."

Willa pushed open the bedroom door. Nugget was lying in his crib, his tiny fists clutching the edge of his blanket as he babbled cheerfully to himself.

Seeing them enter, the nanny tactfully slipped out of the room.

Naomi slowly approached the crib. As her gaze landed on Nugget, her expression visibly softened.

"He looks exactly like you did when you were little," she murmured softly, before looking at Willa with immense caution, terrified of being rejected.

"Willa, can I... can I hold him?"

Willa hesitated. Seeing Naomi's pathetic, groveling demeanor, the walls she had worked so hard to build up cracked just a little bit more.

"Go ahead."

Naomi hastily wiped her tears away, forced a strained smile, and rushed to the crib, picking Nugget up with the utmost care.

She pressed the baby against her chest, resting her chin on the soft crown of his head as she rocked him back and forth. "Baby, I came to see you. It was all my fault. I hope your mama doesn't blame me, I was just trying to do what was best for you..."

She kept mumbling incoherently. Nugget probably got annoyed, because he wriggled his little body, slapped a tiny hand against Naomi's face, and started whining in protest.

Hearing the commotion, Willa immediately turned around, only to see Naomi's hand supporting the back of Nugget's head.

The toddler scrunched up his brows, pouting his little lips, looking like he was right on the verge of crying.

"What's wrong?" Willa walked over, instantly concerned.

Naomi's hand jerked violently, and Nugget immediately burst into loud, wailing sobs.

She frantically snatched her hand away from Nugget's head, shoving it into her pocket, her expression looking incredibly unnatural.

As she paced the room with the baby in her arms, Arthur walked out of the kitchen, spatula still in hand. He glanced toward the front door and asked, "Did she leave?"

Willa nodded. "Yeah."

Arthur put the spatula back in the kitchen, wiped his hands, and walked over, holding his arms out for Nugget, his eyes full of heartbreak.

"Why did he start crying so suddenly? Wasn't he just fine a minute ago?"

Willa opened her mouth but didn't know what to say.

She had a gut feeling that Naomi's behavior just now was incredibly suspicious, but she had zero proof and couldn't fathom what her motive would be.

Voicing her suspicions would only make Arthur worry, complicating matters further.

"He probably... just doesn't know her and got scared. He's never met her before, after all."

Arthur took Nugget from her, rocking him gently. "Grandpa's got you, our brave little boy."

"He might be hungry. I'll go make some formula." Willa turned away to prep the bottle, but her mind kept replaying Naomi's every move, the unease in her chest growing stronger by the second.