Chapter 54

Annie's POV

I found a letter from Brian in my mailbox. My heart instantly tightened at the sight of that familiar childish handwriting. I stood frozen in the hallway, memories flooding back to that day of betrayal-the "Perfect Family" group chat on the iPad, Brian declaring Sarah was his "real mom,"his small angry face as he screamed that I had ruined everything.

Part of me wanted to tear it open immediately. But another part-the part that had painstakingly rebuilt my life-hesitated. What could he possibly say that would heal those wounds? What apology could erase him telling me he hated me, that I wasn't fun like Sarah?

"Annie?" Lucy called from inside. "Are we going to school soon?"

Her voice anchored me to the present. This life with Lucy and Howard was my reality now, not the past that Brian's letter represented.With sudden resolve, I tossed the unopened letter into the corner of my bedroom. It belonged to the past, and I was building a future.

"Coming, sweetheart," I called back, composing myself.

In the car, Lucy sat on my lap, chattering about her plans with Penny "We're going to be butterfly explorers," she explained excitedly. "We'll make maps of the playground and find all the hiding spots." "Grandpa Edward will heIp us make explorer hats," she continued, "and Grandma Eleanor promised butterfly patches for our backpacks." The easy way she mentioned her grandparents warmed my heart.The Parkers had transformed Lucy from a selectively mute child to this expressive little girI who formed connections easily.

Lucy suddenly paused, her expression turning serious. "Of course, I love Mommy too."

The title no longer stung. Unlike Brian's conditional love, Lucy's affection was pure and freely given. I kissed her forehead gently.

"Mommy loves you too," I whispered. This unexpected bond had become precious beyond measure.

From the driver's seat, Howard turned with curious eyes. "What about Daddy? Don't you love Daddy too?"

"Love, love, love," Lucy replied with obvious reluctance. "Of course I love Daddy very much."

I suppressed a smile at Howard's satisfied expression. For someone with limited emotional experience, his love for Lucy was remarkably transparent.The intimidating CEO completely melted around this little girl.

At the preschool, Lucy scanned the entrance for Penny. When she spotted her friend, her face lit up completely. She leapt from my lap,running to embrace Penny with uninhibited joy.

As I turned to leave, a man and woman suddenly blocked my path.I stepped back instinctively, moving closer to Howard. "Who are you?" I askeddirectly. "We're Brian's tutor and driver," they answered, not bothering with names.Typical Philip,treating employees as faceless tools. Despite our fractured relationship, concern flickered through me. "How can I help you?" "This isn't a conversation for the sidewalk," the driver said tersely. "Let's find a café to talk."

I glanced at Howard, whose face remained impassive though I could read his silent support.

"Let's go," I decided, curious about their message and grateful for Howard's presence.

We sat at a nearby patisserie. They ordered cakes while I requested only tea, my appetite gone at the mention of Brian.

"Don't you think you're being cruel to Brian?" the driver asked bluntly.

His words pierced my heart. I stared into my teacup, struggling to maintain composure.

"He's only five, just a child who doesn't understand anything," he continued accusingly. "Every day at school when he sees you with Lucy,he cries silently. He loves you so much..."

Each word hammered at my guilt. Brian had once called me "the best mommy in the world." Where had that child gone? Transformed by Sarah's poisonous influence and Philip's indifference.

"How can you neglect him just because you divorced his father?" "Before you ask these questions," I replied quietly but firmly,"have you tried to understand what he did to me?" He shook his head. "What terrible thing could a child possibly do?" Memories flooded back-Brian pretending not to know me at school,calling Sarah "mommy" in that secret chat group, the stress causing my miscarriage. A five-year-old might not understand consequences, but the pain was real.

Looking at this stranger who could never comprehend my experience,I suddenly lost all desire to explain myself.

"Is that so?" I murmuared, more to myself than him.

When he tried to speak again, I reached for my bag, ready to leave. He immediately blocked my path and turned to Howard.

"If she's this heartless to her own biological son,how dare you employ her?"

Howard's voice turned icier than I'd ever heard it. "Because I personally witnessed how her husband, his mistress, and her son worked together to hurt her."

"So I never thought her actions were excessive," he continued with cold precision. "I only thought, if what happened to her had happened to me...my retaliation would have been far more merciless."

"She has been far too kind," he concluded.

Then Howard extended his hand to me-a rare public gesture of intimacy.When everyone else criticized my motherhood, only he fully understood and supported me. Warmth spread through my chest as I took his hand,drawing strength from his steadiness as he led me away. At Howard Technologies,Catherine Morgan was leaning against the wall,looking bored. Her expression brightened when she spotted us. "You're late," she complained, sounding like a stood-up date,"What happened?" "We ran into some trouble," I explained simply. Catherine immediately linked arms with me. "What's there to be sorry about?" Her rapid mood shifts always made me smile.

After checking that no one was watching, she pulled me into my office and shut the door. "I've successfully infiltrated the gaming department! I know all the company secrets!"

"You're something else, Catherine." I welcomed this distraction from the morning's heaviness.

She shared office gossip efficiently: a secret office romance, an upcoming project delay, embarrassing party incidents. Then she switched topics abruptly.

"Remember that guy who found a new girlfriend right after I rejected him?It's ridiculous! These rich kids have nothing better to do but flaunttheir relationship in front of me. They deliberately stand where I can see them being affectionate at gatherings. When I stopped attending events they'd be at, they spread rumors I was jealous!"

She took a deep breath. "So starting today, I'm focusing on work to prove my worth!"

"Then why are you chatting with Annie during work hours?" Howard's voice came unexpectedly from the doorway. "Is this your idea of working hard?"

I turned to see him leaning against the doorframe, his eyes containing a hint of amusement despite his cool tone. Catherine straightened immediately. "Mr. Thompson! We were discussing the new children's book concept." "And how does office gossip factor into children's literature?" Howard raised an eyebrow. "Actually," I interjected, "we were discussing character dynamics. Office relationships make good models for children's stories... if you simplify the emotions."

Howard's eyes met mine with subtle acknowledgment. "Perhaps Ms.Morgan should observe more and talk less. Wouldn't you agree?"

After Catherine's hasty exit, Howard remained in the doorway."The concept looks promising," he said, nodding toward my sketches. "The board has high expectations."

He hesitated uncharacteristically. "About this morning..."

"Thank you," I said simply. "For understanding."

He nodded, accepting my desire to end the topic. "The publishing division needs your input on the cover design."

As he turned to leave, I found myself speaking again. "Howard?"

He paused.

"The way you described what happened... it helped. Sometimes I wonder if I'm remembering things correctly, if I'm the villain."

"You're not," he said with characteristic directness. "You're simply human-reacting to extraordinary pain reasonably."

His words felt like permission to exist without constant self-doubt. As Howard left, I noticed my grip on the pencil had relaxed. Like my illustrations taking shape, I too was finding my form in this new life.The unopened letter in my bedroom would have to wait. Today belonged to the present, not the past.