Chapter 171

Chapter 171
Cedar' POV

Morning sunlight filtered through the hospital room blinds, warming the space with a golden glow. I guided the children through the doorway, my arms balancing a bouquet of fresh tulips and a few storybooks.

Before we'd left home, I'd knelt down to their level. "Remember, your daddy doesn't like people worrying about him. Let's show him our smiles, okay?" They'd nodded solemnly, understanding more than children their age should. Though my heart ached knowing his condition, I was determined to make these moments count—to create more beautiful memories together.

Ridley looked up as we entered, his color much better than yesterday. Despite the IV line and hospital gown, he still commanded the room with his presence.

"Daddy!" Oliver broke free from my gentle grip, racing toward the bed with unbridled enthusiasm.

"Careful, buddy," Ridley cautioned, though his eyes softened at the sight of his youngest son.

I smiled, setting the flowers on the nightstand. "You're looking better already. How do you feel?"

"Much better." His eyes locked with mine, something unreadable flickering behind them.

Aiden and Aria sat quietly on the opposite side of the bed. Aria leaned forward, her voice soft with concern. "Mommy, when can Daddy come home?"

"The doctor says just two more days of observation," I reassured her, watching relief wash over her delicate features.

"When are you and Daddy getting married?" Oliver blurted out, causing heat to rush to my cheeks.

Aria nodded seriously. "Yes, when will you become our completely legal mommy?"

Caught off guard by their directness, I glanced at Ridley for help. He merely raised an eyebrow, apparently as interested in my answer as the children were.

"We haven't discussed that yet, sweethearts," I said gently, attempting to change the subject. "Ridley, has the doctor been by? What did he say?"

Ignoring my diversion, Ridley tilted his head thoughtfully. "I've always wondered something. Why did all of you immediately decide Cedar was your mother from the very beginning?"

The room fell silent. The children exchanged meaningful glances, even Oliver's perpetual energy momentarily subdued.

Aiden, always the most composed, finally spoke. "Because we knew Mommy was Mommy."

"That's not an answer, Aiden." Ridley's tone was gentle but firm.

Aria grabbed Oliver's hand and whispered, "Maybe we should tell them now."

I looked at the three children, confused yet strangely anticipatory, as if my body somehow knew what my mind didn't yet comprehend.

"I found Grandma's files about Mommy," Oliver admitted. "It said our genetic donor was a 19-year-old female college student from Chicago. So now she should be 26. I compared DNA profiles of everyone matching that description and confirmed it with Mommy's birthmark."

Aiden continued, "I only found out because I discovered Oliver had been staying at Cedar's place and was calling her Mommy. Then I confirmed it myself."

"Yes, it was all thanks to Oliver," Aria added softly.

"He must have spent months searching until he finally found her," Aiden added.

Ridley sat up straighter, motioning Oliver closer before pulling him into a hug. "Oliver, I'm sorry. I didn't realize how much you all needed a mother. I should have paid more attention."

I stood frozen, trying to process what I was hearing. Was I really their biological mother? But that was impossible—I had never donated eggs.

Ridley seemed to read my confusion. He took my hand and said, "I believe the children. Let me call my mother to confirm the details." He put the call on speaker.

"Mother," Ridley began without preamble, "I need to know exactly how the children were conceived seven years ago."

Rachel's voice filled the room. "Why would you ask about that now, Ridley? It's ancient history."

"Please, Mother. It's important."

A sigh came through the speaker. "I only saw the profile of the genetic donor. We selected a college student, but I never knew her name—just that she attended a university in Chicago. After the children were born, I destroyed those records."

"Why would you do that?" Ridley pressed.

"At that time, I didn't want the children knowing who their biological mother was. And I didn't want that woman showing up one day. She's just a donor." Rachel's voice was matter-of-fact, clinical.

"I see. But everything is different now. The kids found their mom, Cedar."

"What! Cedar is that girl! Oh, that makes sense why the kids like her so much... Well, I might have been wrong seven years ago," Rachel replied.

The room seemed to spin around me. Donor? But I had no memory of any such procedure. Unless...

After Ridley ended the call, he turned to me with concern. "Cedar? What is it? You look like you've seen a ghost."

A cold realization was creeping up my spine as fragments of a long-buried memory began to surface.

"Cedar?" Ridley's voice seemed distant. "What are you thinking?"

"Seven years ago," I began, my voice barely audible, "just before my twentieth birthday, the Wrights insisted I get a comprehensive physical. They said it was required for some new health insurance policy." I met Ridley's intense gaze. "They took me to a private clinic. The doctor gave me something—said it would make the examination easier."

"When I woke up," I continued, "my abdomen was tender. When I asked about it, they dismissed my concerns. Said it was normal after the tests they'd run." My hand unconsciously moved to my stomach. "They never showed me any results. Never mentioned it again."

"They harvested your eggs without consent," Ridley stated, his jaw tightening visibly.

I nodded, the violation washing over me anew.

"Wright Creatives was struggling financially then," I realized aloud. "Jonathan needed money. But they couldn't have known where my eggs would end up."

Aria's small fingers wrapped around mine. "But we were naturally drawn to you? Like a miracle?"

Her innocent question lightened the heaviness in my chest. "It does seem that way. Like we were meant to find each other."

Oliver hugged me tightly. "But it's good, right? Because Mommy has us three now, and Daddy too."

His simple perspective cut through my shock. Looking at these three children—my children in every sense that mattered—I felt my anger transforming into something else entirely. These three beautiful souls were fundamentally part of me. The Wright family's manipulation had, in its twisted way, given me an extraordinary gift.

"Yes, sweetheart," I said softly, stroking his cheek. "Everything turned out beautiful in the most unexpected way."

The tension in the room gradually dissolved. Aria leaned against my shoulder; Aiden nodded thoughtfully; and Oliver, with his boundless capacity for joy, had already moved on to his next thought.

"So," he bounced slightly on the edge of the bed, "when are you and Daddy getting married? Henderson says you need to get married so you can be our legal mommy forever and ever."

After the emotional revelation we'd just experienced, his direct question caught me off guard. A surprised laugh escaped me as I looked at Ridley, whose eyes now held a new depth of emotion.

"Soon, little man," Ridley answered, his thumb tracing circles on my palm. "If your mother will have me."

"Yes," I said softly. "I will."

---

Two years later, I lounged in a chair in the Pierces' backyard, cradling month-old Lily in my arms.

Ridley and Rachel had taken the older children to their swimming lesson and were due back any minute.

The treatment protocol Dr. Hoffmann had developed had proven more effective than we'd dared hope. Ridley had spent eight months in a specialized facility in Switzerland, and while the road to recovery was long, he was steadily improving.

Elizabeth, my mom, brought over glasses of iced lemonade and settled into the chair beside me.

"She's beautiful, Cedar," Elizabeth said softly, gently touching Lily's cheek. "She looks just like you."

"With Ridley's eyes," I replied, pressing a kiss to my daughter's forehead.

The distant sound of car doors slamming and children's laughter announced their return. Seconds later, Oliver raced into the yard, his hair still dripping water everywhere.

"Slow down, Oliver!" Rachel called after him. "You'll slip!"

"Is Lily awake, Mommy?" Aria approached carefully, her expression full of big-sister pride.

"Just woke up. Want to see her?" I adjusted my position so Aria could get a better view of her baby sister.

"She smiled!" Aria exclaimed delightedly. "She recognizes me!"

Aiden walked over, notably taller than he'd been two years ago. "Lily's growing fast, Mom. I measured her last week—she's grown half an inch already."

Ridley was the last to join us, setting down the swim bags before taking the seat next to me and draping his arm around my shoulders. "The kids were fantastic today. The coach thinks Aiden might have real swimming talent."

"Of course he does," I said proudly. "My son excels at everything."

Owen emerged from the kitchen carrying platters of marinated meat. "Ready for the grill, everyone? I'm about to show you what a true barbecue master can do."

Sunlight bathed our perfect family gathering as I looked around—my husband, my four children, our chosen family. I thought about that lonely girl from seven years ago and the shock of discovering the truth two years back. Looking at everything I now had, I knew every hardship had been worth it.

Life had given me an unexpected beginning, but I'd written my own ending with love.

Ridley leaned close, whispering in my ear, "Happy, Mrs. Sterling?"

I rested my head against his shoulder and smiled. "Happier than I ever imagined possible, Mr. Sterling."

Baby Lily gurgled contentedly in my arms, as if agreeing with my assessment. This was our family, our place, our happiness.

- The End -