Chapter Three: A Boy's Silent Cry

Julianne lay in her small but cozy quarters, staring at the ceiling. The soft ticking of the clock was the only sound in the room.

She had only been at the Kingston Estate for one day, and yet, it felt like she had stepped into a world where emotions were locked away and warmth was a foreign concept.

Her mind kept circling back to Liam.

The loneliness in his eyes… the way he had hesitated before speaking to her… the way Adrian had shut her down the moment she showed kindness to his son.

She couldn't understand it.

If he had lost his wife, if his child was clearly hurting, why was he acting so cold?

A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.

She frowned, glancing at the clock. It was past midnight.

Pushing the blanket off, she padded toward the door and cracked it open.

Her heart stopped.

Liam stood there, his tiny figure wrapped in an oversized blanket, clutching his toy car against his chest. His dark curls were messy, and his big brown eyes shimmered with something that made Julianne's chest tighten.

Tears.

She knelt immediately. "Liam? What's wrong?"

The boy didn't speak. He just looked at her, his small body trembling.

Julianne's heart squeezed.

Instinct took over. She gently reached for his hand and guided him inside.

Liam climbed onto her bed without a word, curling up into a small ball. Julianne sat beside him, smoothing his curls away from his damp cheeks.

"Did you have a bad dream?" she asked softly.

A tiny nod.

Her fingers traced soothing circles on his back. "It's okay," she whispered. "You're safe."

For several minutes, Liam remained silent. Then, barely above a whisper, he asked, "Do mommies come back?"

Julianne froze.

Her throat tightened as she looked down at the boy's tear-streaked face.

She wanted to lie. To tell him something comforting. But she couldn't.

"No, sweetheart," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "But they never really leave us. They're always in our hearts."

Liam pressed his face into her arm. "I miss her," he mumbled.

Julianne shut her eyes against the sting of tears.

"I know," she murmured, hugging him close. "I know."

She sat with him until his breathing evened out, until his small body relaxed against her.

By the time she realized she had fallen asleep, it was morning.

An Icy Warning

The sound of heavy footsteps made Julianne's eyes snap open.

Her heart lurched.

Adrian Kingston stood in the doorway.

And he did not look pleased.

His eyes locked onto the sight before him—his son curled against Julianne, still fast asleep, her arm draped protectively over him.

A storm brewed in Adrian's gaze.

"What," he said, voice dangerously low, "do you think you're doing?"

Julianne tensed but carefully shifted Liam off her, making sure he didn't wake. Then, she stood.

"He came to me," she said firmly, meeting Adrian's gaze. "He was crying."

Adrian's jaw clenched. "That is not your responsibility."

Julianne swallowed the sharp retort on her tongue.

How could he be so blind? Couldn't he see how broken Liam was?

She exhaled slowly. "Mr. Kingston, with all due respect, he's just a child. He needed comfort."

Adrian's expression darkened. He took a step closer, his presence overpowering.

"You work for me," he stated. "Not him. Do not overstep your boundaries."

Julianne's hands curled into fists.

The arrogance. The coldness.

She had dealt with cruel bosses before. But this? This was something else.

He wasn't just cruel. He was hurting.

Julianne didn't back down. "Then maybe you should start acting like his father instead of his employer."

A tense silence fell between them.

Adrian's eyes flickered—something dark, unreadable flashing through them. But just as quickly, the emotion vanished.

His lips pressed into a firm line. "Do not speak to me like that again."

Julianne lifted her chin. "Then don't treat your son like a business deal."

Adrian's nostrils flared, but before he could speak, a small, sleepy voice interrupted them.

"…Papa?"

Both of them turned.

Liam sat up, rubbing his tired eyes. His gaze moved between them, confused by the tension in the room.

Adrian inhaled sharply and stepped back, schooling his expression into its usual unreadable mask.

"Come," he said shortly. "Breakfast is ready."

Liam hesitated, then slid off the bed, his tiny hand reaching for Julianne's without thinking.

Adrian stiffened.

But Julianne didn't let go.

And for the first time, Adrian Kingston had no choice but to watch as his son chose someone else.