Chapter 284 Why Is Alice Crying?
Evie stood in the doorway, her heart heavy as she listened to Mia and Alice’s conversation. The sound of Alice’s crying echoed through the quiet room, and for a moment, Evie felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. Alice had been so loyal, so dedicated to protecting Mia—even at the cost of her own well-being. Evie knew that the bond between them was strong, but the weight of the situation was starting to take its toll on everyone.
She took a step back, not wanting to intrude on the moment between them, but her thoughts were swirling. The butterfly hair clip. The fact that Mia had given it to Byron. Evie couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to their encounter than she was willing to admit. She had tried so hard to keep her past buried, but now, the past was creeping into the present, and she wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep it all under control.
Her eyes lingered on Mia, peacefully asleep again, her small form curled up under the blanket. There was so much she wanted to protect her from, and yet, it felt like the world was conspiring to bring the past back to her doorstep.
Byron, back at the private room, couldn’t shake the image of Mia’s face. When he had looked into her eyes earlier, it was like a spark of something long extinguished had been reignited inside him. She reminded him so much of Athena, and it was hard to ignore the pull it had on him. His mind wandered back to their brief interaction, to the way Mia had asked about the food and smiled so innocently. It was almost like a gift from the past, a fleeting moment of connection that made his heart ache.
But no matter how much he tried to analyze the situation, one question lingered in his mind: Why was Mia’s hairpin in his possession? The butterfly hairpin had been a gift from someone dear to him, but how had it ended up with Mia? Was it a simple gesture, or was it something more?
As the night wore on, Byron’s thoughts grew heavier. He had to figure out what was going on. He couldn’t just ignore the connection between Mia and his past, no matter how complicated it made things.
Back in the car, Evie’s mind was racing. The encounter with Byron, the way he held Mia, the butterfly hairpin—it was all too much for her to process in one evening. She had hoped that her life with Mia could remain uncomplicated, but now she was faced with reminders of a past she had tried to bury.
Evie looked down at her hands, still gripping the seat. She had to make a decision. Would she confront Byron? Would she tell him about Mia’s connection to Athena? Or would she continue to keep everything hidden, even if it meant making compromises?
She knew that there were risks involved with opening up about the past, but could she afford to let it stay buried any longer? Could she protect Mia from a history she hadn’t fully understood herself?
The car stopped, and Evie realized they had reached home. She quickly exited the vehicle, forcing herself to focus on the present. Mia was safe. That was all that mattered.
But even as she tried to push the thoughts from her mind, the questions lingered, gnawing at her.
The next morning, Alice was busy in the kitchen, trying to keep herself distracted from the previous night’s events. The hairpin incident still weighed heavily on her, but she knew she had to move forward.
As she set the table for breakfast, she overheard Evie on the phone, speaking in hushed tones. It was clear that she was speaking to someone about hiring another nanny. Alice frowned slightly. She had always done her best to care for Mia, but perhaps Evie felt she wasn’t capable anymore.
Evie had never directly said anything, but Alice could tell there was a growing concern about her ability to handle the responsibilities.
She didn’t want to lose her job, and more than that, she didn’t want to disappoint Mia.
Just as she was lost in thought, Mia appeared in the doorway, still rubbing her eyes.
“Alice, did you sleep well?” Mia asked innocently, her voice still soft from sleep.
Alice smiled at the sight of the little girl. “I did, Miss Mia. Did you sleep well?”
Mia nodded. “Yes, I did. But… I’m worried.”
“Worried? About what?” Alice asked, kneeling down to Mia’s level.
Mia hesitated before speaking. “Mommy is sad. She keeps sighing. I don’t want her to be sad.”
Alice’s heart ached. She had noticed it too—Evie’s sadness, the distance that had started to form between them. But how could she explain to Mia that sometimes, even grown-ups get hurt and need time to heal?
“You’re right, Mia,” Alice said softly. “But we can help her, right?”
Mia’s eyes brightened. “Yes! I’ll help her too!” she declared, her face lighting up with determination.
Alice smiled warmly. “We will all help her, together.”
Later that day, Evie sat at her desk, staring at the paperwork in front of her. She had so much to do, but her mind kept drifting back to the phone call she’d made earlier, the one about hiring another nanny. The truth was, she was struggling. Struggling with the memories that kept resurfacing, struggling with the fear of what might happen if she didn’t confront her past.
And then there was Caspian. His steady presence, his concern for her—Evie couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to their relationship than she was willing to admit. She had always kept him at arm’s length, but he was so different from the others. So reliable, so steadfast.
Was it possible to rely on someone else again? To let someone in?
She didn’t have the answers yet, but she couldn’t avoid it forever.
The door to her office opened, and Caspian stepped inside, a quiet look of concern on his face.
“Evie, can we talk?” he asked gently.
Evie met his gaze, her heart skipping a beat. She knew this conversation was inevitable, and it was time to face it. She nodded. “Yes, Caspian. We can talk.”