Chapter 89

Chapter 89
I hugged Cleo tightly, but loose enough for her to breathe. I couldn't believe that this adorable girl was my daughter.

“Daddy tried to explain everything to me, but I still wonder, why did you leave me? Don't you want me?”

The question stopped me in my tracks. Seeing the sadness in her eyes made me bite my lip. I couldn't blame her if she thought I abandoned her. I was never present in her life during the past four years. I didn't witness when she first opened her eyes, took her first steps, or said her first words. I missed out on so much, and it breaks my heart.

But I couldn't tell Cleo the whole truth just yet. She was too young to understand the intricacies of my past and the reasons why I had to leave her behind. So, I simply said, “I had to go away for a while because there were some things I needed to take care of. But now, I'm back, and I promise I'll never leave you again.”

Cleo studied me for a moment before throwing her arms around me in a tight hug. “Don't ever leave me again,” she whispered.

Tears pricked at my eyes as I held her close, grateful for this chance to be a part of her life. “I won't, sweetie. We have all the time in the world to make up for lost moments.”

“Will Celestine come and pick me up? Daddy says she won't, but what if she suddenly appears and takes me away?” Cleo asked.

I felt a surge of protectiveness toward my daughter. “Mommy promises that Celestine will never come for you. I will protect you from her.”

A knock sounded on the door. “Breakfast is ready,” a familiar voice said.

I looked at my daughter. “Are you hungry?”

She nodded, still clinging to me. “Can we eat together with Daddy?”

“Of course. Let's go have some breakfast together.”

“I'll be there shortly. I'll just fix myself,” Crimson said.

I watched as Cleo walked out of the room, her small figure disappearing behind the door. Taking a deep breath, I made my way to the bathroom to freshen up.

I hadn't packed any clothes. Thankfully, Crimson remembered this and had prepared some for me. When I came out of the bathroom, there was a dress and undergarments on the bed, which I promptly put on.

My footsteps gently echoed as I walked downstairs. I couldn't spot any servants to ask for directions to the kitchen. They must be very busy. I decided to explore a bit on my own, not wanting to disturb anyone if they were in the middle of their work.

I wandered through the halls, admiring the beautiful artwork and decor that adorned the walls. I continued walking and soon entered the spacious dining hall. I spotted Crimson already there, with Cleo surprisingly behaving herself by his side.

They both looked up as they noticed me standing in the doorway.

"We were just discussing breakfast options. Please join us.”

“Please sit here, Mommy!" Cleo chirped, her eyes sparkling with energy as she patted the empty seat next to her.

I nodded enthusiastically and sat beside her.

The smell of bacon and freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, making my stomach grumble. I hadn’t eaten much last night; no wonder I was so hungry.

“Coffee?” Crimson asked.

“Yes, please,” I replied, unable to resist the sweet scent lingering in the air.

He got up and poured me a cup of coffee. He could have asked the servant to do it, though. Afterwards, he slid a plate of crispy bacon and fluffy scrambled eggs in front of me.

“Thank you,” I murmured shyly.

I took a grateful sip of the hot coffee, relishing the rich, bold flavor as it warmed me from the inside.

Soft footsteps echoed at the door, and Mr. and Mrs. Ashford entered the dining hall, greeting us with warm smiles. Mrs. Ashford made her way to her seat gracefully, while Mr. Ashford sat at the head of the table.

"Good morning, Elizabeth," Mrs. Ashford said kindly. "I hope you had a comfortable night."

I offered a warm smile. "I did have a comfortable night, thank you for your hospitality."

While we ate, the conversation flowed effortlessly. We chatted about a range of topics, from the beautiful weather outside to the upcoming events in town. The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, and I felt like I was part of their family.

Eventually, the conversation drifted to Cleo. The child spoke with enthusiasm about a lot of things. We all listened to her, unable to hide the smiles on our lips.

After finishing our breakfast, I knew I couldn't wait any longer to have a serious conversation with Crimson.

We both stood up from the table after excusing ourselves and made our way to the garden, where we sat down on a bench under the shade of a large oak tree. The birds were chirping, and a gentle breeze rustled through the leaves, creating a peaceful setting for our serious conversation.

I took a deep breath and looked Crimson in the eyes.

“What are your plans now?” He immediately knew I was talking about Celestine.

"I already hired a skilled lawyer, and we're going to press additional charges against her.”

I felt a sense of relief. "I'll let you handle everything for now.”

"I promise you, Elizabeth, I will do everything in my power to ensure that Celestine won't be able to walk away freely. Her crime has long been overdue. She has to pay for her actions along with the interest.”

“Speaking of Celestine, I'll be going to the police station today.”

“I’m going with you.”

"I'll change, and we can go.”

Crimson and I made our way back to the house. “By the way, your husband might be worrying since you didn't come home last night.”

After he brought it up, I realized that I had forgotten to call Louis. Despite sending him a text last night explaining the situation, I had promised to call him but got too busy and forgot to do it.