Chapter 21
Back in her room, Elizabeth felt the icy tension in her chest ease slightly as she watched Jack sitting quietly on the edge of the bed, fiddling with his soft rubber toy gun.
She'd brought him to Sunnyvale today, hoping a change of scenery would help him relax—and keep him away from Vivian and her ilk back at the estate.
But Pacquiao's invitation, coupled with Charles's barely concealed greed for shares, made one thing crystal clear: the Windsor Family was becoming a quagmire. And it was getting more dangerous by the day.
Tomorrow night's private dinner was still a question mark. No way could she leave Jack alone in that house.
But dragging him along into potential crossfire? That wasn't an option either.
The safest place, in the end, was the Smith Family.
Sure, Jacob himself was a walking danger zone. But at least within Smith Manor's walls, Jack's physical safety was guaranteed.
It was time to send him back.
Decision made, Elizabeth didn't hesitate. She pulled out her phone and dialed Tina's number.
"Ms. Rivera, it's Elizabeth." Her voice was calm. "Jack's doing well here. Please let Mr. Smith know I'll personally bring him back to Smith Manor tomorrow morning."
Tina, on the other end, didn't sound surprised. Her response was purely professional, "Understood, Ms. Windsor. I'll inform Mr. Smith and prepare for your arrival."
Elizabeth had barely ended the call when Jack's head snapped up.
Those eyes—always too quiet, too watchful—instantly filled with tears, flooded with panic and disbelief.
He'd understood. She was sending him away.
"No!" The syllable tore from his throat, soaked in tears.
He threw down his toy and scrambled off the bed like a wounded animal, stumbling toward her in a desperate rush. His small hands latched onto her legs with every ounce of strength in his little body, as if letting go meant being abandoned forever.
"Mommy... I won't go... please don't send me away." He tilted his face up, tears streaming down in fat droplets, his voice breaking into sobs. Pure desperation.
Elizabeth hadn't expected such a violent reaction. It wasn't like she was abandoning him—just sending him home. Given how much Jacob clearly cared about him, he shouldn't be mistreated there.
She crouched down, trying to lift him up, but Jack clung to her legs like his life depended on it, shaking his head frantically, tears soaking into her skirt.
Looking at his flushed face and those eyes brimming with fear, Elizabeth felt something twist painfully in her chest—sharp and bitter.
This complete dependence, this raw attachment—it was something she'd never truly experienced in either of her lives.
She wasn't his mother. They'd barely known each other for a few days.
Yet this child had made her his entire world.
"Jack, listen to me." Elizabeth softened her voice, gently wiping his tears with her handkerchief with a patience she didn't know she had. "I'm not abandoning you. You just need to go home first. It's safer there."
Jack just shook his head harder, his small hands gripping tighter, choked sobs catching in his throat.
Elizabeth knew simple logic wouldn't get through to him.
She cupped his tear-streaked face, making him meet her eyes, and spoke with a clarity and solemnity she'd never used before, "Jack, do you trust me?"
Jack sniffled, looking at her, and slowly nodded.
"Then go home and wait for me, okay?" Elizabeth held his gaze, making a promise. "Soon. Once I marry your dad, I can move into your house legitimately and be with you every day. Then I can be your mom. For real."
"Mom." The word felt strange on her tongue, yet it seemed to weave an invisible spell, binding her to this little boy.
Jack's sobs gradually quieted. He stared at Elizabeth with wide, wet eyes, as if trying to determine whether she meant it.
"Really?" He hiccupped, voice small and careful.
"Really." Elizabeth nodded, brushing away tears clinging to his lashes. "I promise. So you'll go back and wait for me, won't you?"
Jack studied her for a long moment, searching her eyes for truth.
Finally, his longing for a mother overpowered his fear of separation.
Reluctantly, he loosened his death grip on her legs and instead clutched her fingers, voice thick with tears, "Pinky promise..."
Elizabeth looked at his earnest little face, something softening in her chest. She held out her hand and linked her pinky with his tiny one.
"Pinky promise." Only then did Jack relax slightly. Still clingy and subdued, he nestled into Elizabeth's arms but stopped resisting.
The next morning, the Smith Family's convoy arrived at Windsor Estate right on schedule—that same understated but armored vehicle, with Leon standing beside it.
Elizabeth walked out holding Jack's hand.
The little boy kept turning back every few steps, his big eyes swimming with reluctance, his small fingers refusing to let go.
"Be good. Remember, we pinky promised." Elizabeth crouched down, straightened his collar, and spoke gently.
Jack's lower lip trembled. He nodded hard, then slowly climbed into the car with Nia's guidance.
Elizabeth straightened up, about to head back inside, when Leon stepped forward, blocking her path with his usual polite tone, "Ms. Windsor, Mr. Smith has requested that you accompany us back to the manor. For lunch."
Elizabeth's brow furrowed slightly.
Jacob suddenly invited her to lunch?
This was about more than just a meal.
But she had no room to refuse.
"Alright." She nodded, settling into the back seat with composure, sitting beside Jack.
Throughout the drive, Jack pressed close to Elizabeth, his small hand secretly clutching the hem of her dress, as if that might anchor him somehow.
Stepping into Smith Manor, a cold, solemn atmosphere washed over her.
Tina was already waiting at the entrance, precise as always, bowing slightly toward Elizabeth: "Ms. Windsor, Mr. Smith is expecting you in the small dining room."
She glanced at Jack, being led by Nia. "Mr. Jack Smith, it's time for you to go to your dining area."
Jack looked up at Elizabeth, eyes questioning.
"Go ahead. I'll come find you soon." Elizabeth gave him a reassuring look.
Only then did Jack release her, following Uma reluctantly, glancing back with every other step.
Tina led Elizabeth through several corridors to a relatively private, small dining room.
The décor maintained the estate's cold, austere aesthetic. An elegantly set table stretched before her.
Jacob hadn't arrived yet.
Elizabeth took the seat Tina indicated. Just then, a chirpy but unmistakably critical female voice floated in from the doorway, "Honestly, Jacob will bring just anyone into this house now. Eating with them, too. Aren't we worried about losing our appetites?"