Nina fixed Rafael’s hair before sending him inside the daycare. She needed to go shopping and didn’t want to leave Rafael with the governess, she hired solely for him.
Doctors had advised her to let him interact with other kids. He had stopped speaking to anyone and used to tell his needs through hand gestures. Nina never wished to send him to a daycare but she couldn’t go against his speech therapist.
People from the social services were already keeping an eye on her if she was able to take good care of the boy.
Thankfully Miles didn’t say anything when saw her coming back home with Rafael. And yes. She had apologized to Gabriel too because now there was no purpose in her life except to stay near Rafael.
She no longer needed Gabriel and she sensed he also didn’t need her.
According to the law of the land, Rafael was the next heir to Sinclair’s wealth. A wife could get half of her husband’s wealth after divorce but she would get a very little amount as a widow.
Now she needed Rafael if she wanted to enjoy all the perks. Shane must have provided her everything but she could never waste his money as her own. It was always his money. Not hers.
She wanted her own money. Not by her hard work but by ripping it off Sinclair’s.
Her fashion designing venture was nothing but a ploy... a pretense to convince everyone in her society that she wasn’t eyeing Sinclair’s money.
The key to that vast wealth was her son now. Rafael Sinclair.
She wished he would never speak again and stay mute!
But the society she was living in!
The people around her were quite judgmental and they would point fingers if she wouldn’t give enough attention to Rafael. Everyone should witness her love for him.
Sometimes she used to feel genuine love too, for the boy. But then the thought that he was conceived behind her back, used to become unbearable for her.
"Be a good boy. Ok?" she kneeled to get to his eye level and caressed his soft cheek with her finger. He nodded and didn’t even smile.
For a moment...
Just for a teeny tiny moment, Nina felt sorry for him.
Urgh. No need to be emotional. He is in good hands. You are good to him, Nina. She told herself.
After kissing his forehead, she left the building and decided to go shopping. Rafael also needed more clothes and she needed to visit a spa where she could relax after a deep and vigorous body massage.
***
After an hour, Rafael was taken to the daycare lawn where the kids of his age, ran to the swings and slides. He didn’t make a move and stood there seeing other kids doing what he used to do before his father’s death.
The past not only brought sadness but also fear.
He didn’t even remember why and what he was scared of.
Everyone around him was so good to him.
Grandpa. Mom. The servants in the house.
Yet, something still felt missing.
Mom had told him several times that he didn’t need to worry about anything and that blonde woman would never try to kidnap him again.
"Do you... do you like it here?" she asked him again and he again nodded, "th-that’s that’s good. That’s good to know... sweetheart... my Alex..." his small body went rigid when Sheila quickly shook her head, "Oh, I’m sorry. I mean Rafael. Right?"
The small boy again bobbed his head.
"If... if you like it here then... then maybe... maybe... you need to stay here, darling. Ok?" this time he didn’t answer her.
She wasn’t waiting for it either.
Leaning her forehead against the fence, she sobbed brokenly, "Oh, Shane!"
Rafael glanced at her hand curiously and with his little finger reached out to touch the skin of her hand through the narrow fence hole.
Sheila quit crying and then wiped her face again, "Rafael! Can you keep a secret, love? Please?"
Rafael whose eyes were still on her face, nodded at her, "Don’t tell anyone. B-but you have a little sister, darling. Her name is Giana. She is at St. Mary’s. When you get big, can you go and find her?"
"Rafael Sinclair!" they both were startled by the sharp voice of a teacher calling out to them, "Who are you talking to? Guards!"
Sheila wanted to kiss her son but it wasn’t possible now. She wished she could hug him tight one last time.
"Just remember, Rafael," she said hurriedly, "Go to your sister, son. Ok. She’ll be needing her big brother," guards were now standing there, giving her warnings.
"Behave yourself!" turning her head, she hissed at them, "A child is standing here and you are threatening me in front of him! Pathetic!"
While leaving the premises, she turned back and found Rafael going inside the building with his teacher.
He kept turning his head until he disappeared inside that door forever.
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