Chapter 47
Yara looked so much like Edward, but her personality was a world apart.
As the time to leave approached, Rhea found it especially difficult to let go.
"She's just next door, anyway. Why not let Yara stay a little longer? I can bring her back to her room later, how about that?"
She held onto the small hand, her heart melting. "If you're worried, I could ask the hospital to rearrange the rooms so Yara can stay with Owen. That would save us all the constant back and forth."
Rhea looked perfectly put together, showing no outward signs of an age where one might yearn for grandchildren, but the eager gaze in her eyes betrayed her completely. Owen, though silent, clearly shared the sentiment.
"If you really want to see Yara, you can visit her anytime. There's no need to go through all this trouble this trouble." Victoria felt a little helpless, though a smile formed on her lips. "But she has an additional check-up scheduled soon, so we have to leave a bit early. I'll bring her to see you again next time."
She hadn't expected the elderly couple to take to Yara so strongly, though she supposed it was only natural.
Yara deserved all the affection in the world and should be loved by many. She was the greatest gift heaven had ever given her.
With Victoria having put it so plainly, Rhea had no choice but to reluctantly agree, no matter how much she wanted the child to stay.
"Say goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa," Victoria said, taking Yara's little hand and watching them part. A wave of emotion washed over her.
Even without a biological connection, the resemblance was so striking that even she had her moments of doubt. It was no wonder Edward had sought her and Yara out.
By the time the check-up was done and Yara was settled back in her room, the sky outside had long since turned a deep, inky black.
Victoria stepped out of the hospital and glanced at the street. It was the height of the evening rush hour, and the heavy traffic made hailing a cab nearly impossible.
Her brow furrowed slightly as she sighed internally. It looked like she would be waiting here for at least half an hour.
She scanned her surroundings, looking for a corner to stand in, when the sharp, intermittent honk of a car horn sounded from a short distance.
A sense of familiarity pricked at her, and Victoria lifted her head to look in its direction. It was familiar. She blinked, taking a tentative step or two toward the sound. The honking stopped.
Pressing her lips together, she walked toward the car. It really was waiting for her.
Did Edward enjoy playing the good Samaritan this much? Or perhaps, as a courtesy for her visit with Owen and Rhea today, he was offering her a ride?
Having constructed a plausible reason for Edward's kindness, Victoria instantly felt more at ease.
She opened the car door, slid inside, and offered a polite thank you. "Thank you for the ride. It's the same place as before."
Edward gave a slight nod, his response a quiet, noncommittal sound. His cool demeanor seemed at odds with someone who would perform such a thoughtful act.
But Victoria found herself letting out a quiet breath of relief. She turned her gaze to the window, watching the scenery blur past as her thoughts began to wander.
This time, she snapped back to reality quickly. Her thank you was natural, completely unlike the awkwardness of their first encounter. As she walked into her building, she didn't notice the gaze that lingered on her for a moment before the car pulled away.
The PR department at the Windsor Group was not famous for nothing; their capabilities were considered top-tier in the industry.
Victoria's evidence was solid enough that even without their intervention, posting it online would have garnered support from reasonable people.
But with their help, the loud and aggressive plagiarism scandal was quietly put to rest in a single night.
In its place, some of Bianca's less-than-friendly past remarks began to surface online.
[I remember she was posting some vague, passive-aggressive comments a while back, right? Looking at it now, was she just jealous of Victoria's talent and putting on an act?]
[But she never really said anything concrete. Isn't it a bit much to just slap a label on her like that?]
[This design draft looks a bit familiar. The technique is a lot like 'Q's, but I've never seen this style before.]
The online chatter was tumultuous, but Victoria remained completely unaffected.
She was swamped. With her name gaining recognition, her days were a blur of sketching design drafts from the moment she woke up, leaving no time for anything else.
Victoria rubbed her aching wrist, a weary but happy sigh escaping her lips. A welcome burden.
She pushed open the door to the hospital room and was not surprised to see a few new toys. They were all from Edward.
"What are you playing with today, Yara?" Victoria asked, her tone casual as she turned with a smile. "Mr. Windsor had someone drop off some things today. Did you remember to say thank you?"
She wished she could take Yara home, but the occasional episodes of rejection over the past two days had nearly scared her to death. Victoria sat down on the edge of the hospital bed, her hand gently stroking Yara's soft hair, her own heart settling just a little.
"I said thank you to Mr. Jones." Yara tilted her small head up, her expression puzzled. "But why doesn't Mr. Windsor come himself? Is he really busy?"
Victoria didn't hide the truth, simply nodding. "Mr. Windsor is the boss of a big company. He has a lot of work every day, so of course he's busy."
Even as she said it, a strange feeling pricked at her. Edward was clearly swamped, yet he still had Chase deliver things Yara liked every single day.
It was as if he couldn't be present himself, but the gifts had to arrive regardless.
Just as the thought crossed her mind, she remembered Rhea. It was probably Rhea and Owen's idea.
Having found an explanation for Edward's unusual behavior, she picked up the water bottle beside her and took a sip.
But then, Yara's innocent, gentle voice cut through the quiet.
"Mommy, is Mr. Windsor my new daddy?" Yara looked up, her big eyes shining with a hopeful question.
The water Victoria was about to swallow went down the wrong way. It caught in her windpipe, sending her into a fit of violent coughing.
Panicked, Yara patted her back with a small hand, trying to help her catch her breath.
When Victoria finally recovered, her expression turned serious. "Yara, did someone say something to you?" She asked, her brow furrowed as she softened her tone. "Why would you think that?"
After a moment's hesitation, Victoria decided to explain. "Mr. Windsor is just my boss. If you like him, you can go see him when you visit Mrs. Windsor, but Mommy has no plans to be with him right now."
As she spoke, she mentally replayed her recent interactions with Edward.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't fathom how Yara could have possibly reached such a conclusion.
To put it nicely, she wasn't interested in a relationship at the moment.
To put it bluntly, a man like Edward wouldn't be interested in her current self. But in front of her child, she chose to soften the edges of the truth.
"Nobody told me," Yara said, shaking her little head earnestly. "If Mommy likes Mr. Windsor, Yara can have a new daddy, as long as Mommy is happy. But if Mommy doesn't like him, Yara doesn't need a daddy. I just want Mommy to be happy."
In her small world, the logic was beautifully simple.
Victoria froze, a warmth spreading through her entire body. She quietly turned her face away, her eyes stinging with unshed tears.
"Yara, you've grown up."
She pulled the small figure into her arms, the tears finally escaping and tracing a path down her cheeks. With a faint smile, Victoria whispered, "My sweet baby."