Chapter 184
Chapter 184
Elizabeth lifted her head, her gaze settling on him with quiet curiosity. "A professional manager?"
"Someone who takes this off your plate," Jacob said. "You don't need to handle every little detail yourself. Find someone you can trust and let them take over the day‑to‑day activities. You can only step in for the important decisions."
Elizabeth fell silent. It was not as if the idea had never crossed her mind—but trust had always been the stumbling block.
These businesses weren't just assets; they were what she'd clawed back with her own life on the line. Handing them to someone else felt insecure.
"I'll find one for you," Jacob said. "Someone trustworthy."
Elizabeth studied him, catching the steady conviction in his eyes, and a faint smile touched her lips. "Okay."
Jacob smiled too. He rose to his feet, walked over, and leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "Get some sleep. Starting tomorrow, I'll begin looking."
Elizabeth nodded, leaning into him as her eyes fluttered shut.
She was tired—but not physically. Her exhaustion ran deeper, settling in her chest like a heavy weight. She didn't want to carry everything alone anymore.
She needed him. Needed someone to share the burden. Needed him right beside her.
"Jacob," she murmured.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
His hand hesitated briefly before he smiled. "Thank me for what?"
Elizabeth didn't answer.
Instead, she stayed nestled in his arms, listening to the rhythm of his heartbeat, letting his warmth seep into her body.
There were too many things she wanted to thank him for—his kindness, his refusal to give up on her, the way he reminded her that being alive could still feel… good. But the words remained unspoken. Some things didn't need to be said. He knew.
Outside, moonlight spilled across the windows, soft and fluid, like drifting water.
Jack's birthday was approaching.
Every year, Jacob would host a small, intimate gathering at the estate—just him, Jack, Tina, and occasionally Leon.
No outsiders. No social performances. No hollow pleasantries.
He'd place the cake on the table himself, light the candles, and watch Jack puff out his cheeks and blow them out with all the determination his tiny body could muster.
Tina would clap and laugh beside him, and Leon would allow the faintest hint of a smile.
Jack's wishes were always heartfelt and wildly unrealistic. "I want a pony." "I want a flying car." "I want Dad to come home earlier every day."
But this year was different. This year, Jack had a mother.
Elizabeth learned about all of this while she was sitting in the study reviewing documents.
Jacob entered quietly, took a seat across from her, and lingered in silence for a while before finally speaking.
"Jack's birthday is soon."
Elizabeth looked up. "When is it?"
There was a brief pause as Jacob hesitated, then he replied,
"I want to change the date of his birthday."
Elizabeth's heart skipped. She looked straight at him, meeting those dark eyes that held a quiet, guarded warmth.
And in that instant, she understood.
They had set Jack's birthday on the day he was brought to the Smith Family estate. They had never known his real date of birth; they had made do with what little they had. But now, things were different. They knew the exact day he was born.
Elizabeth didn't speak. She lowered her head and stared at the papers in front of her, though none of the words registered.
Her thoughts whirled wildly, like a storm of wings battering against her mind.
That day had been the most painful day of her life—and yet, it was also her child’s birthday.
She had never imagined herself commemorating that date in this way.
"All right," she murmured softly, almost as if she were speaking to herself.
Jacob did not respond. He simply rose, walked over, and bent down to press a gentle kiss against her forehead.
Then he left the study, leaving her alone with the dimming evening light bleeding slowly across the window.
Jack, of course, knew nothing about any of this. He had no idea why his birthday had suddenly changed.
He only knew that Elizabeth said she would celebrate it with him—and that alone made him ecstatic. He counted down the days on his fingers, one by one.
Tina kept teasing him, laughing as she reminded him he still had more than twenty days to go, but he couldn’t care less.
Every morning, the first thing he did was run to the calendar, draw a red circle on the date, and count the days again until he reached the one with the big star.
Finally, the day arrived.
The estate had been completely transformed.
Tina had gone all out, setting up a white tent in the garden, draped in balloons and ribbons that danced gently in the breeze. The tables were dressed in soft cream linens, adorned with fresh flowers and flickering candles.
Elizabeth had personally selected the cake—a strawberry masterpiece crowned with a delicate sugar figure of a little prince, complete with a golden crown and flowing red cape.
Jack was dressed to match the occasion, wearing a tiny navy suit, his hair neatly combed. He looked every bit like a miniature prince.
He stood in front of the mirror for ages, before running to Elizabeth, eyes sparkling. "Mom, do I look cute?"
Elizabeth knelt, fixed his bow tie, and kissed his cheek. "Adorable. Cutest kid in the whole world."
Jack smiled until his eyes curved like crescent moons. Grabbing Elizabeth’s hand, he tugged her eagerly into the garden, where the sight of the tent, the cake, and a table filled with all his favorite dishes greeted him.
He burst into motion—jumping, spinning and racing in circles around the tent.
Tina ran after him, calling out, “Slow down! You are going to trip!”—which, of course, only made him run faster.
Off to the side, Leon watched with a rare, understated smile. Jacob stood on the steps, his expression softening as his gaze drifted toward Elizabeth.
She stood at the entrance of the tent, sunlight wrapping around her like a gentle halo.
She watched Jack run through the grass, a faint smile resting on her lips.
That smile carried happiness, and pain, something tender and bruised all at once.
Jacob walked over and stopped beside her. "What's wrong?"
Elizabeth shook her head.
"Nothing," she whispered after a pause. "It just feels unreal."
Jacob didn't answer. Instead, he reached for her hand. Her fingers were cool at first, but slowly, they warmed in his grasp.
Side by side, they stood there, watching Jack laugh and play under the sun; watched Tina chase after him; and saw Leon’s rare grin linger. Everything felt good—almost too good to be true.
No one mentioned where Jack truly came from.
But they all knew.
It was a silent secret, an unspoken promise.
They didn't talk about it, not because they refused to, but because they didn't need to. Some truths were safer when held close to the heart.
When it was time for the cake, Jack climbed onto a chair, gripping the knife handle with both hands, cheeks puffed in concentration.
Elizabeth stood behind him, guiding his hands as they pressed down together.
The cake sliced open smoothly, releasing the sweet scent of strawberries. Without missing a beat, Jack scooped up a bit of whipped cream and smeared it on Elizabeth's cheek.
She blinked in surprise—then laughed, dipping her fingers into the cream and dabbing it right onto his nose.
Jack giggled and darted toward Jacob with another dollop. Jacob didn't move. He simply let the kid's little hand smear the cool, strawberry‑sweet cream across his face.
Jack bent over laughing, then attacked Tina next.
Tina crouched, willingly offering her face. Leon, however, made a run for it—circling the garden several times before finally giving in and letting Jack smear him with sticky cream.
The noon sun was warm, and the garden filled with laughter—bright, almost like a painting coming alive.
Elizabeth sat and watched, her eyes warming and blurring. Her thoughts drifted back to that dark underground room—to the pain, the fear, the moment her baby had been taken from her arms just after birth.
She once believed she would never see a day like this. But here she was. She had a home—a real home.
Just then, from the doorway, a small, hesitant voice called out—
"Jacob."