Broken Vows and Buried Twins novel Chapter 263

"I don't need it." Hester closed her eyes. "This is fine. You can leave now."

Julian stared at her, his dark eyes unreadable.

After a long moment, he sighed, turned on his heel, and walked into the inner room. When he emerged, he was carrying a plush blanket.

He stepped up to the sofa and gently draped it over her.

Hester's eyes fluttered open, unexpectedly meeting his deep, intense gaze.

She froze.

"You're pregnant. You shouldn't catch a cold. Just sleep," he murmured, tucking the edges of the blanket around her before walking out of the room.

The door clicked shut.

Hester stared at the closed door, her brow furrowing slightly.

Then, she let her eyes drift shut again, the soothing rhythm of the music gradually lulling her to sleep.

...

Caden woke up half an hour later.

The moment his eyes opened, the screaming began.

Startled by the noise, Hester realized it was the boy. Throwing off the blanket, she immediately rushed next door.

Julian wasn't in the room. Seraphina stood blankly at the foot of the bed while a nurse tried desperately to soothe the hysterical child.

Caden had buried himself under the covers, shrieking in sheer terror. "Don't hit me! I'll be good... please don't hit me!"

Hearing his panicked cries, Hester felt her heart violently twist.

Operating on pure instinct, she moved toward the bed. "Caden..."

"What are you doing?!"

In a fit of hysteria, Seraphina spun around and ripped the blankets off the boy. Ignoring his thrashing protests, she yanked him into her arms.

"Ahhh!! Don't hit me! I won't do it again! I promise I'll listen! Ahhh—"

Terrified by her sudden, violent movement, Caden suffered an absolute meltdown. His eyes went wide, his small face contorted in pure horror.

Yet Seraphina held him in a vice grip, her nails secretly digging hard into his fragile arms where no one could see.

"Be a good boy. Don't be scared. Mommy is taking you away. We'll leave this awful place so no one can bully you anymore..."

"It hurts! Ahhh, don't hit me! I won't do it again!"

A flash of malicious triumph crossed Seraphina's eyes. Releasing her pinch, she wailed even louder, her voice dripping with fake agony. "What's wrong? Don't scare me! Look at me, it's Mommy..."

Hearing her voice only made Caden thrash more violently against her!

"No—don't hit me... no... ahhh!"