Ethan let out a deep sigh. "We’ll adopt a child from an orphanage."
"NO!" Her voice was shrill, her eyes stabbing into me. "That is not an option."
I clenched my fists. "Then what?"
"The heir to this family must be of Anderson blood. Not some child off the streets."
I bit my lip. "But I… I can’t get pregnant again, Mom. How could—" My voice broke.
"That’s your problem, Zoey." My mother-in-law's gaze turned even colder.
"Find a way… or bring your dead baby back to life."
I froze.
In an instant, all the air in my lungs vanished.
She left the room, but her words still echoed in my mind.
*****
A few days later, Ethan suddenly asked to talk.
"I've been thinking about Mom's request regarding an heir," he said.
I scoffed, already predicting where this conversation was going.
"And what’s the solution?"
"I've found the best solution for all of us."
I stared at him sharply, my forehead creasing. "What do you mean?"
At that moment, the front door suddenly swung open.
A little boy ran inside and immediately hugged Ethan as if answering all my confusion.
"Daddy, I missed you!"
My heart plummeted to my stomach as I saw the child I had once seen in Ethan’s photo gallery now standing before me.
Ethan stiffened, his body tensing. I saw him bite his lip as if wanting to take back the boy’s words.
"Zoey, I'm sorry. Don't misunderstand."
Ethan's voice wavered.
He took a deep breath, then looked at me. "Zoey… let me introduce you. This is Jackson."
I didn't move. Didn't blink.
Ethan swallowed hard. "Jackson… is my nephew. I've already explained to him that I'm his uncle, but he's just used to calling me Dad."
The child looked up, his big eyes full of cheerfulness. The same eyes as Ethan's.
Even without a DNA test, I knew—Jackson was not his nephew.
A smile formed on my lips. A forced smile. A smile that felt like a slap to my own face.
"Oh? Really?" My voice sounded light, but my world was shaking.
Before I could react, Mrs. Sophia had already stepped forward.
She gazed at Jackson with pride, as if the boy were the long-awaited prize.
"So, this is the heir of the Anderson family?"
Ethan nodded. "From now on, he will live with us."
Mrs. Sophia crouched down and pulled Jackson into her embrace. "Of course! A wise decision, Ethan."
I remained frozen.
Then Ethan touched my shoulder, his voice gentle, trying to soothe me. "Zoey, don’t worry. Just focus on your recovery. Jackson has had a babysitter caring for him since he was little. I'll bring her here."
Before I could respond, the door opened again.
Someone walked in.
I held my breath.
Nora.
She stood at the doorway, smiling. Wearing a babysitter’s uniform.
"Hi, Zoey. Long time no see."
I stared at her without blinking.
My fists clenched.
"I'm Jackson's babysitter. I've been taking care of him for years and have earned the family's trust. From now on, I'll be working here."
My heart pounded violently.
She was once my best friend.
Now, she was the woman who had destroyed me so effortlessly.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm raging in my chest.
Ethan stood beside me, looking awkward as if he sensed the sudden tension filling the room.
"Mom, are we going to live here?" Jackson's innocent voice made my heart sink.
Mom? He called her that. Nora.
I stared at him intently, then shifted my gaze to Nora, who still wore that sweet expression.
For a moment, she looked surprised, but her face quickly regained composure. She lowered her head slightly, gently stroking Jackson’s hair.
"Sweetheart, you must be polite. From now on, we’ll live here, but remember what I taught you, okay?"
I saw her glance at me with a meaningful look.
I crossed my arms over my chest, struggling to hold myself back.
"Don't get the wrong idea, Zoey. Ever since I started taking care of Jackson, he’s always called me Mom. You see, he lost his parents when he was little."
Her voice was so natural as if there was nothing wrong.
I gave a thin smile.
"Oh? So you've been teaching him to call you Mom for a long time?"
Her expression flickered for a split second, but she quickly masked it.
"It wasn't me who taught him. He got used to it on his own. He just needed a mother figure."
My smile widened. "Really? Then you must be very close to him, huh?"
Nora nodded, still pretending to be calm.
"Of course. I’ve been taking care of him for years."
I glanced at Ethan, who was rubbing the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable with this conversation.
Then I looked back at Nora. "In that case, welcome to my home, Babysitter Nora… and Jackson."
I heard her breath hitch for a fraction of a second before she forced another smile.
