Chapter 96 096
EMILY
I hadn’t left Zara alone since they brought her back to me.
Not even for a second.
A few hours ago, I thought I’d lost her.
Now she was in my arms again, warm and real, her cheek pressed against my chest like she belonged there, and she did. She always had.
I kept touching her. Her hair, her back, her tiny fingers.
Just to be sure.
Just to remind myself she wasn’t gone again.
My parents stood a few feet away, like they weren’t sure where to place themselves.
It still felt strange thinking of them that way.
My parents.
A few hours ago, I didn’t even know they were mine.
And now they had brought my daughter back to me.
I didn’t ask how.
They didn’t tell me.
We all understood why.
My mom stepped closer, her eyes moving between me and Zara like she couldn’t decide who to look at more.
“You’re free to leave,” she said gently. “It’s been a long day. I’ve taken care of your discharge.”
I blinked at her.
It felt too normal. Too calm for everything that had happened.
But then again, nothing about today had been normal.
I tightened my hold on Zara before stepping forward and wrapping my arms around my mom.
“Thank you,” I whispered into her shoulder. “Thank you so much. I’m so grateful.”
She held me tighter.
“I know it might be hard,” she murmured, her voice unsteady. “To call me that. To see me that way. But… when you can… just call me Mom.”
Something in my chest cracked open.
I pulled back just enough to look at her.
Her face was hopeful. Careful.
Like she was asking for something fragile.
I nodded slowly.
“Thank you… Mom.”
Her breath caught.
And then she pulled me into her again, tighter this time, like she’d been waiting years for that word.
Behind her, my dad hovered.
He looked like he wanted to come closer, but wasn’t sure if he should.
That hesitation alone told me everything.
I shifted Zara slightly and reached for him first.
Then I hugged him.
“Thank you,” I said, my voice softer now. “For bringing her back.”
He froze for half a second.
Then his arms came around me, firm and steady.
A quiet nod against my shoulder.
When he pulled back, he cleared his throat and gestured toward the hallway.
“My driver is outside,” he said. “He’s with security.”
I frowned. “Security?”
My mom answered this time.
“For protection,” she said simply. “We’re not taking any chances. Not after today.”
My stomach tightened at that.
Images flashed too quickly—empty rooms, panic, Cecilia’s name on my lips, blame spilling out before I had proof.
I exhaled slowly.
“Okay,” I said. “Thank you.”
They both nodded, like that was enough.
It wasn’t.
But it was all I could take right now.
My mom hesitated again, glancing at Zara.
“Can we come tomorrow?” she asked. “We know today has been… overwhelming.”
Overwhelming didn’t even begin to cover it.
But I nodded anyway.
“Yes. You can.”
Relief softened her face.
We moved into another hug, slower this time. Longer.
Like neither of us really wanted to let go.
Hazel stepped forward next.
She didn’t hesitate.
“It’s so good to see you,” she breathed, wrapping her arms around me.
“Sister.”
The word hit me harder than I expected.
I hugged her back just as tight.
“It’s good to see you too.”
When she pulled away, her eyes flickered to Zara, soft and curious.
“She’s beautiful,” she said quietly.
I glanced down at Zara.
“I know.”
Hazel smiled, then stepped back to give me space.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I nodded.
“I just need to clear a few things first,” I added.
They all understood what I meant.
Or at least, they pretended to.
My mom lingered the longest.
Her gaze stayed on me like she didn’t want to leave.
Like if she walked away, something might take me too.
I stepped forward and hugged her again.
“Thank you,” I whispered. “For not giving up on me.”
Her arms tightened around me instantly.
“Never,” she said.
Then, finally, they left.
The hallway felt quieter without them.
Too quiet.
Morgan moved to stand beside me, her shoulder brushing mine.
“Long day, huh?”
A soft laugh slipped out of me.
“That’s one way to put it.”
I adjusted Zara in my arms, pressing my lips to her hair.
Home.
That was all I wanted now.
Just to take her home.
I turned slightly toward Morgan, ready to say it—
—and then I saw her.
Cecilia.
Walking toward us like a storm that hadn’t finished destroying everything.
I let out a breath under my nose.
“Speak of the devil.”
Morgan followed my gaze.
Her expression tightened immediately.
Cecilia didn’t slow down.
If anything, she moved faster.
Her eyes locked on Zara first.
Then on me.
“Thank God,” she said, her voice sharp with relief and something else. “You found my grandchild.”
My grip on Zara tightened.
She shifted slightly, her fingers curling into my shirt again.
Cecilia stopped right in front of us.
Close enough to reach.
Close enough to take.
“She’s coming home with me,” she continued. “Now.”
I let out a short, humorless laugh.
“In your dreams.”
Her expression hardened instantly.
“Emily—”
“No,” I cut in, my voice steady now. “You don’t get to do this.”
Morgan stepped closer to my side.
Cecilia’s eyes flashed.
“She belongs with me,” she snapped. “With her family.”
“I am her family.”
The words came out sharper than I expected.
Zara shifted again, pressing her face into my neck.
I could feel her breathing.
Fast. Uneven.
My chest tightened.
Cecilia noticed.
Of course she did.
“Look at her,” she said, gesturing toward Zara. “She’s scared. You think this is what’s best for her?”
Anger flared, quick and hot.
“You don’t get to talk about what’s best for her,” I said. “Not after everything.”
Her jaw clenched.
“And what exactly are you implying?”
I stepped forward slightly.
Not enough to close the distance.
Just enough to make a point.
“You know exactly what I’m implying.”
For a second, something flickered in her eyes.
Guilt.
Or maybe I imagined it.
Then it was gone.
Replaced with anger.
“You accused me,” she said, her voice lower now. “You stood there and accused me of taking her.”
“I thought you did.”
“That doesn’t make it true.”
“No,” I agreed. “But it also doesn’t make you innocent.”
Cecilia exhaled slowly, like she was trying to hold herself together.
“I’m not here to fight… now that I know that you’re Gianna’s daughter,” she said finally. “I’m just here for my granddaughter.”
I tightened my hold on Zara again.
“She’s not going anywhere with you.”
Cecilia’s lips parted, but nothing came out. Instead, her gaze dropped to Zara again.
Something in her expression softened.
Just for a second.
Then it hardened all over again.
“This isn’t over,” she said.
I didn’t respond.
I didn’t need to.
She took a step back.
Then another.
But her eyes never left Zara.
“Enjoy your moment,” she added. “While it lasts.”
And then she turned and walked away.