A video call in the middle of the night.
Both Ivy and Alaric instantly assumed it had to be an emergency.
Or worse, something had happened to Stella.
Alaric didn't hesitate. He picked up the phone and answered the call.
But on the screen, Elena looked perfectly calm, showing zero signs of panic.
"Alaric, I'm so sorry to bother you this late. It's just that little Stella keeps asking for you. She said she misses you and wanted to see your face."
Only after offering her sweet explanation did she pan the camera down to the little girl.
Stella stared at the screen, her soft little voice calling out, "Daddy."
Alaric's heart instantly melted. His voice softened entirely. "Hey, sweetie. Daddy's coming home tomorrow. Are you feeling better?"
"Mhm, much better. Mommy is staying with me."
Stella's voice was gentle. While she lacked her usual bright energy, she seemed perfectly normal.
Hearing her words, Alaric's gaze instinctively flicked to Ivy sitting across from him.
"Your mommy?" he asked.
Stella nodded enthusiastically, pointing directly at Elena.
"Yeah! Mommy Elena."
Alaric's face darkened instantly. "Stella, that's not your mother. You can't just call people that, understand?"
"I don't care! I want her to be my mommy."
Because of the hypnotic suggestions, Stella had completely lost her emotional attachment to Ivy. Elena had been subtly brainwashing her, twisting her dependency so the child now desperately clung to her as a maternal figure.
Alaric immediately realized the severity of the situation. "Stay at the hospital, Stella. Daddy is coming to get you tomorrow to take you home."
He was about to end the call when Elena hurriedly interjected.
"Alaric, why are you still awake so late? Were you just working?"
Alaric ignored the question. Noticing how pale and withdrawn Ivy looked, he ended the call without another word and turned his attention to her.
"Stella isn't acting right. When we get back, you need to watch over her carefully. We absolutely cannot let her get hurt again."
Ivy remained downcast, simply nodding. "Okay."
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