Chapter 4

I thought Aaden would, just like in my previous life, jump to conclusions and make me apologize without caring about the truth.

But instead, he just silently glanced at Dexter, who was curled up in the corner, clearly not himself.

Then he looked at me, totally unfazed.

There was a flash of emotion in his eyes that I couldn't figure out.

It was absurd, curious, and even... a trace of amusement he was trying hard to hide.

"Mom," Aaden finally spoke.

"Miss Zamora knows what she's doing. If you keep this up, it's going to mess with Dexter's treatment. Why don't I take you home first?"

He didn't even blame me.

Kenley looked at her son in disbelief.

But when she caught Aaden's gaze, she huffed in frustration and turned to leave.

A showdown that had once left me sobbing my eyes out in my past life was now smoothed over with nothing but a contract.

And to top it all off, I even scored some overtime pay.

I didn't even look at Aaden. Instead, I went straight back to Dexter and quietly tried to calm him down.

Behind me, Aaden's gaze stayed fixed on my back for a long time.

I could sense that, from this moment on, I was no longer just a replacement for his late wife in his eyes.

I'd become an intriguing employee he couldn't quite figure out or control.

Lately, Aaden was showing up on the second floor way more than before.

He wasn't just hanging around the doorway anymore. He was always coming up with some reason to step inside.

One time he'd show up with a plate of fruit, another time he'd just pop in to ask about Dexter.

And his eyes, always so deep and unreadable, would somehow end up on me, whether he realized it or not.

I kept my head down and stuck to my professional boundaries, acting like the perfect employee.

Whenever he came by, I'd get up and give him a concise, businesslike update, just like I was delivering a project report.

Once he left, I went right back to work, never saying more than I had to, never even looking his way.

My cool detachment was like an invisible wall, keeping all his probing and attempts to test me firmly on the outside.

And with my steady, consistent company, Dexter was getting better every single day.

He stopped pulling away when I got close, and sometimes he'd even tug at my sleeve, wanting me to join him in play.

He was still quiet, but there was a spark in his eyes now.

Before I knew it, a whole month had slipped by.

The afternoon sun was warm and gentle.

I was teaching Dexter how to shape little animals out of colorful clay.

My hands were quick and skillful, a little rabbit, so lifelike it looked ready to hop away, soon took shape in my hands.

Dexter watched, completely absorbed. He reached out his small hand and gently touched the rabbit's long ears, then looked up at me with wide eyes.

For the first time, I saw something so vivid in his gaze, pure longing and fondness.

I handed him the rabbit, smiling as I encouraged, "You can try it too."

He took the rabbit and cradled it in his palms like it was the most precious thing in the world.

Then, imitating me, he picked up a piece of white clay and began to mold it, his movements awkward but earnest.

Just then, the study door opened, and Aaden came out, his steps light and careful, probably just wanting to check on Dexter.

Dexter had been trying for ages, but the clay just wouldn't cooperate. He was getting anxious, his cheeks flushed bright red as he looked up at me for help.

I took his small hand in mine and gently guided him, "No rush, buddy. Look, you roll this part into a ball, and then pinch here..."

Maybe it was the calm in my voice that soothed him, because little by little, his tense body started to loosen up.

He looked up at me, his little mouth opening and closing, and then a faint, unclear sound slipped out from his throat. "Ro... Ro..."

I froze, my hands going completely still.

At the doorway, Aaden was rooted to the spot, as if he'd just been struck by lightning.

Dexter had no idea just how earth-shattering what he'd done was.

When I didn't respond, he tugged at my sleeve again, a little more urgently this time, and called out once more. "Rose."

It wasn't the word "Mom" that had once dragged me into hell in my previous life.

It was "Rose", my name.

In that moment, it felt like something slammed right into my heart.

I looked into Dexter's clear eyes, and what I saw reflected there was Rosemary Zamora, whole and real, not the ghost of another woman.

I was so stunned, I couldn't say a word.

Aaden rushed over, unable to hide his excitement.

He knelt in front of Dexter, his eyes red and watery, voice shaking with emotion.

"Dexter, did you just say something? Say it again for me, will you?" he said.

But Dexter, startled, immediately shut down and retreated into his shell.

No matter how many times Aaden tried to coax him, he just wouldn't say another word.

Finally, Aaden's gaze settled on me.

His eyes were impossibly complex, impossible to decipher.