My biological sister, Vivian Bennett, had always worshiped freedom.
After being welcomed back into the Bennett family, she caused a scandal at the reunion banquet and slept with the heir to the Foster family. The day after giving birth, she decided a child would only hold her back, abandoned her son, and flew overseas without a second glance.
Adrian Foster hated her for what she had done, yet he could not bear the thought of his son growing up without a mother. So I married into the Foster family in Vivian's place and became Leo Foster's stepmother.
Leo had been a high-needs child from infancy, crying and fussing from dawn until nightfall. Adrian deliberately refused to hire a nanny, leaving me to care for him alone in constant chaos. On countless nights, when I dragged myself out of bed to soothe Leo, Adrian would watch coldly and sneer, "Exhausted? Vivian had it far worse during the twenty years you stole her life."
Five years later, Vivian finally returned and went straight to Adrian to reclaim her place.
"I've had enough freedom," she said. "I'm ready to settle down now."
Adrian turned to me, amusement flickering in his eyes. "So tell me. Should the child acknowledge his real mother, or his stepmother?"
My fingers tightened together. "I don't know."
He gave a low, mocking laugh. "Now that Vivian is back, you may not need to leave after all." He paused, his gaze cold and measured. "Leo is used to you. I can allow you to remain with the Foster family as his nanny."
I offered no protest and lowered my head obediently. "I'll do as you decide."
Something in my answer seemed to displease him. His lips parted slightly, as though he meant to say more, but in the end, he said nothing.
Even after five years, Vivian remained as sharp-tongued as ever.
"Vanessa, stop acting pathetic. First you stole my place as the Bennett family's daughter, then you stole my place as Mrs. Foster. And now you're pretending to be the victim?"
Her words were painfully familiar. When I had first been brought back to the Bennett family, she had shouted the very same accusations in front of every guest.
"Don't think acting meek will make Adrian pity you."
Vivian did not need to remind me. I knew better than anyone that Adrian would never soften toward me. If he had ever meant to, he would have let me go long ago.
It was not as though I had never had the chance to leave. But after five years, I had grown attached to the child and could not bear to leave Leo behind.
Vivian was about to continue when Leo's cries rang out from upstairs. He cried like that every time he woke from his nap.
I nearly sighed in relief and turned toward the stairs.
"Leo's awake. I'll go check on him."
Vivian stepped in front of me. "I'll go. As his mother, I can soothe him better than an outsider ever could."
As I watched her walk away, Adrian gave me a light shove from behind. "Well? Go help her. Vivian has always been spoiled. She's still a child herself. You expect her to handle him alone?"
I let out a quiet sigh and hurried after her. The moment I pushed open the nursery door, I froze. Leo was fast asleep in Vivian's arms.
Vivian looked up at Adrian with a proud smile. "Blood really is magical. The second I held him, he calmed right down."
Adrian gave a slight nod but said nothing.
After we stepped back out of the room, he shot me a disdainful look. "You can't even do what a nanny can. I see no reason to keep you in this house."
Vivian followed us out and slammed the door shut behind her, then waved a hand carelessly. "Oops. I'm so used to living freely that I forgot Leo was sleeping."
Leo had always been an extremely light sleeper. Normally, the slightest sound would wake him. Yet despite the force of the slam, he did not stir.
I frowned, unease rising in my chest, and instinctively reached for the doorknob to check on him.
Vivian stopped me at once. "You've been pretending to be his mother for five years. Don't tell me you've started believing it yourself. I'm his real mother. Do you seriously think I care less about him than you do? He's sleeping deeply. That little noise won't wake him."
I stood there listening for a moment. No crying came from inside. Something felt wrong.
I parted my lips to speak, but Adrian cut me off, impatience sharpening his voice. "You're overstepping, Vanessa."
Aksara