Chapter 3
Mira walked in, smiling brightly. Her gaze swept over me, and for a split second, there was a sharp glint in her eyes.
"Your daughter is so sweet and pretty. Can I hold her?" she asked, reaching out her hands.
I was instantly on high alert.
I let out a piercing wail, my face turning bright red as I kicked and flailed wildly.
My mom quickly pulled me closer. "I'm so sorry. She's really shy around strangers. She cries whenever anyone but me tries to hold her."
Mira awkwardly pulled her hands back. "No worries, it's totally normal for babies."
She didn't insist and instead started talking with my mom about parenting tips.
They discussed formula, diapers, and postpartum meals. All the while, Mira subtly inched closer to my mom as they chatted.
Whenever Mira got within three steps of the crib, I'd start to whimper. But as soon as she moved away, I'd settle right down.
By the third time, my mom finally caught on.
She didn't say a word, but she instinctively held me tighter in her arms.
Mira stayed for over half an hour before finally leaving.
As she was heading out, she said, "If you need a break, just let me know. I can watch the baby for you anytime. I'm right next door."
My mom responded politely.
Once the door closed, she looked down at me. "Sweetie, you don't like that woman, do you?"
I nuzzled her palm and blinked up at her.
My mom smiled, but her smile turned a bit more serious. "Alright, I'll listen to you. From now on, I'll keep her away from you."
Later that evening, my dad came. Something was clearly bothering him.
His face was grim as he shut the door and spoke in a low voice to my mom. "I had someone look into that nurse from last night, Fiona Green. She's only been here three months. Her credentials and work experience listed on the resume were all fabricated."
My mom's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
My dad added, "And the hallway cameras? They happened to break down right at that exact time, so nothing got recorded.
"I've been in security for twenty years, and I've never seen a glitch with timing this suspicious."
My mom's face went pale.
She instinctively hugged me tighter, her voice trembling. "Are you saying the person from last night wasn't really here to check on the baby?"
My dad didn't answer directly.
He sat down on the edge of the bed, took my mom's hand in one, and gently stroked my head with the other. "Don't be scared. I've already had my assistant call the police, and I've told the hospital to beef up security.
"From now on, when I'm not here, no one is allowed to touch Naomi."
My mom nodded hard.
I closed my eyes and pressed my face against my mom's chest.
My dad was already on the move. It was twenty years sooner than in my previous life.
All I had to do was continue playing the part of my mom's angel baby, bonded solely to her.
*****
On the day we were discharged, my dad came to get us with four bodyguards in tow.
Two luxury minivans were waiting, and the whole transfer was seamless.
During the twenty-minute drive from the hospital to the Sherman residence, my mom held me tight the entire time.
My dad sat in the passenger seat, making call after call. "Upgrade all the security cameras at home, not a single blind spot.
"Add a smart alarm system to the nursery. I want real-time notifications on my phone whenever anyone goes in or out.
"And yeah, re-evaluate all the nannies and staff. Run thorough background checks on everyone, and trace their family ties up to three generations."
Snuggled in my mom's arms, listening to all these orders, my worries melted away.
In my previous life, I got kidnapped because, even though the Sherman family had money, they never took security seriously.
The idea of a baby swap never crossed their minds.
This life was different. My dad was already gearing up for battle.
Back at the Shen family villa, I was carried into the house for the first time as its rightful owner.
In my previous life, I didn't walk through these doors until I was twenty.
Back then, I was wearing a cheap thrift-store dress, clutching a crumpled DNA test report, trembling all over.
The security guards at the gate stopped me three times. "Who are you looking for? You don't belong here."
Right now, the butler respectfully opened the car door, and the house staff rolled out a red carpet for us.
My grandpa was waiting at the entrance, his face breaking into a huge grin. "My little princess is finally home. Come here, let me get a good look at you."
He reached out to hold me, and as usual, I made a little face. But this time, I held back my tears.
After all, my grandpa had always treated me well in my previous life. He was the first one who wanted to give me part of his inheritance after we reconnected.
I simply turned my head away and buried my face in my mom's neck.
My grandpa wasn't the least bit angry. Instead, he was all smiles. "This little one's got the same stubborn streak as her mom. Once she's set her mind on someone, wild horses couldn't drag her away. That's what I call real character."