Chapter 121 The Way Into His Heart.

Chapter 121 The Way Into His Heart.
Ginnie

The river moved slowly beneath the afternoon sun, its surface glittering beneath the scattered shadows of the trees. 

I sat on a wooden bench beneath an enormous oak tree, pretending to admire the view when, in reality, I was watching the little boy running along the riverbank.

Jayden.

He behaved exactly as Eliana had described him whenever he came here. 

Restless, curious, and far too energetic for the poor servant assigned to keep up with him. 

Every few seconds, he would stop to examine something—a flower, a butterfly, or a strange-looking stone—only to run ahead again before the servant could catch up.

A faint smile curved across my lips.

He was nothing like the cold, intimidating image I had created in my mind when I first learnt whose son he was.

I had barely taken a step forward when Jayden looked in my direction. The moment his gaze landed on me, his little face brightened.

"Angel Ginnie!”

Before I could react, he took off running.

The servant gasped and hurried after him, but Jayden was already halfway across the grass. He threw himself at me, and I barely had time to stand before his small arms wrapped around my waist.

For a brief moment, my body went completely still. Slowly, my hands came around him.

I looked down at him.

“Do you still remember me?"

He pulled away as if I had said something ridiculous.

"Of course I remember you." A bright smile spread across his face. “You are the angel who saved me."

The words struck somewhere deeper than I expected. I looked away immediately before he could see the heat creeping up my cheeks. 

For some reason, hearing him call me that made something twist painfully inside my chest.

Lily used to have names for me too.

Mama.

Mummy.

Sometimes, when she was sleepy, she would wrap her tiny arms around me and whisper my name.

I swallowed hard and pushed the thought away.

Not now.

I couldn’t think about her now.

Jayden’s arms were still wrapped around me when the servant finally reached us, breathing heavily.

"Good day, Mrs. Veynas.” She glanced nervously toward Jayden. "Alpha Varkos instructed me not to let strangers take him anywhere."

I raised an eyebrow. 

"Do I look like a stranger to him?"

Her gaze shifted briefly to Jayden, who was still holding my hand.

"No, Mrs. Veynas.”

"Then relax."

I reached into my handbag and pulled out my purse before slipping a folded stack of cash into her hand.

Her eyes widened.

"Mrs. Veynas, I can't—"

"You can." My voice cut through hers. “I only want to spend an hour with Jayden.”

The servant stared at the money for a second. She wasn’t clearly comfortable with it. But after a few seconds, she quietly slipped it into her pocket. 

“Fine.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “But please let it not be more than an hour.”

I nodded

"Of course."

Jayden tugged on my hand.

"Angel Ginnie.”

I looked down. 

"Yes?"

"Can we go?" He pointed toward the road. "I want ice cream."

A laugh escaped me before I could stop it. I leaned closer and gently cupped his tiny cheeks.

"Then ice cream it is."

His face lit up immediately.

He grabbed my hand with both of his and began pulling me toward the road.



Twenty minutes later, Jayden was sitting across from me at a small outdoor ice-cream shop, his face covered in chocolate. 

"Slow down." I let out a chuckle. “You are going to finish the entire thing before I even eat mine."

He grinned.

"That's because mine is better."

"Really?" I leaned forward. "Then let me try."

He immediately pulled his cup away.

"No!"

A laugh burst out of me before I could stop it, echoing through the small shop.

"You're selfish."

He giggled, his little shoulders shaking as he continued eating. For a moment, I forgot the real reason why I was here with him in the first place. 

I watched a little boy struggle with a melting scoop of chocolate ice cream, completely unaware of the complicated world waiting for him beyond his little moment.

And somehow, it felt peaceful.

"Are you sad?" Jayden’s voice pulled me back.

My smile disappeared.

"What?"

He looked at me with those innocent eyes.

"Did somebody make you sad?"

"That's a grown-up business."

"Adults have too many problems." He took another bite before his expression suddenly brightened. "Can we go shopping?"

My eyes widened. 

"Shopping?"

He nodded enthusiastically.

"I want a toy."

"Fine."



By the time we left the shopping center, Jayden was carrying a small bag filled with toys. He had chosen a miniature racing car, a stuffed wolf, and a collection of superhero figures, while I carried the rest.

We walked side by side, his tiny hand wrapped around mine. For the briefest moment, an image flashed through my mind.

Lily's hand.

Small.

Warm.

My fingers tightened around Jayden's before I immediately loosened them. I couldn't let myself become attached to him.

Getting close to him was the only way to get Varkos to trust me.

Nothing more.

That was all this was supposed to be.

"Angel Ginnie.”

I blinked.

“Hmm?”

“You are coming again tomorrow, right?" Jayden asked, still smiling brightly.

“I…” The words caught in my throat. “I don’t know yet.”

The moment the words left my mouth, his smile disappeared. A small frown settled across his face.

“But I want you to come again!”

His voice echoed along the road.

I looked at him, caught off guard by the disappointment in his eyes.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

His expression brightened slightly.

“You promise?”

I opened my mouth to respond when I noticed a black SUV approaching from the other side of the street.

My steps slowed.

Something about the vehicle made my stomach tighten. A few moments later, it stopped. The driver's door opened and a figure stepped outside.

My heart dropped.

Varkos.

He stepped out, his expression unreadable. His gaze immediately landed on Jayden, then it dropped to our joined hands.

His jaw tightened, and his eyes became noticeably colder.

"Jayden."

The moment Jayden heard his voice, his entire face brightened.

"Papa!"

He released my hand and ran toward him.

Varkos caught him easily, lifting him into his arms. Jayden wrapped his little arms around his neck, already excitedly talking about the toys.

But Varkos wasn’t listening.

He slowly lowered Jayden back to the ground before taking a step toward me.

"What the hell are you doing with my son?"