The morning sun spilled softly through the curtains, filling the room with warmth.
Lauren sat by the edge of the bed, her baby nestled in her arms.
She looked down at the tiny face resting against her chest, the rhythmic sound of her daughter's soft breathing filling the quiet room. Her lips trembled as she hesitated for a moment, then gently adjusted the blanket and brought the child closer.
Her daughter's lips instinctively sought her, and soon the soft sounds of feeding filled the air.
Tears gathered in Lauren's eyes.
In her previous life, she had never done this. She had refused to breastfeed her child, claiming she was too weak, too unstable, too… impure.
Those lies, those poisonous thoughts, had come from them.
Her step-sister's gentle tone that always carried hidden venom, her cousin-in-law's concerned face whispering,
"You shouldn't feed her yourself. You're on medication, it could harm her."
She had believed them. Every word.
And because of that, she had pushed away her own baby.
Her hand trembled as she brushed a tear from her cheek. "I'm sorry," she whispered, voice breaking. "Mommy's here now. I won't leave you again."
Her daughter made a soft cooing sound, as if answering her. The warmth spread through Lauren's heart something pure and indescribable.
After the baby finished feeding, Lauren placed her gently in the crib and covered her with the small pink blanket. She stood quietly for a moment, watching her daughter sleep peacefully, her chest rising and falling in calm rhythm.
The house was large and silent, every corner neat and elegant. The Yates family mansion stood on a hill overlooking the city, with tall glass windows that allowed sunlight to flood the halls. Every piece of furniture had been chosen with care Adrian's care.
In her past life, she had thought of it as a cage. Now, looking around, she realized it was a home.
Everything he had built here was meant to keep her safe, to make her comfortable.
Lauren took a deep breath and stepped into the hallway.
The faint laughter of a child echoed from the other side of the corridor. Her heart tightened, and she followed the sound until she reached a door painted sky-blue with stickers of stars and toy cars.
Her son's room.
She paused before opening it, her fingers shaking slightly. In her previous life, she had rarely entered this room. The memory stung like a blade.
She remembered her husband's voice from that time, cold and filled with restraint.
"Don't come near him until you're better, Lauren. Please."
Those words had echoed in her mind for years, twisting into something darker under the influence of the drugs.
He thinks I'm impure.
He doesn't want me near our son.
But now she knew the truth.
He hadn't said those words to insult her. He had said them out of fear, fear that the medication she was being forced to take might harm her or their child. Fear that her fragile body, recovering from childbirth, might give out.
And she had misunderstood him completely.
Lauren pushed the door open softly.
Inside, the room was filled with the sweet chaos of childhood, stuffed animals, toy cars, and picture books scattered neatly by the shelf. Her four-year-old son sat on the bed, kicking his legs as the nanny tied his shoelaces.
He looked up, his big brown eyes bright as he saw her.
"Mommy!" he called, smiling, his small hands reaching for her.
The nanny turned, surprised, and stood quickly. "Young Madam, you should be resting. Mr. Yates said..."
Lauren shook her head gently. "It's fine. I just wanted to see my son before he leaves for preschool."
She walked closer and knelt beside him, her hand brushing his soft hair. "You've grown so much," she whispered, her eyes filling again.
He giggled, tilting his head. "Mommy, you're crying again."
She laughed softly, wiping her tears. "They're happy tears, sweetheart."
The nanny excused herself quietly, sensing the moment wasn't hers to interrupt.
Lauren helped her son with his small tie, adjusting it carefully before kissing his forehead. "You look so handsome. Your daddy will be proud when he sees you."
Her son grinned, wrapping his arms around her neck. "Daddy said he'll come home early today!"
Her heart ached at that. She remembered how, in her previous life, she never heard those words. Adrian had often come home late, and she had always assumed it was because he was avoiding her. But now she knew, he had been working himself to exhaustion just to keep their family strong.
Lauren held her son tightly for a long moment.
"That's good," she said softly. "Let's make sure we're waiting for him with smiles this time, okay?"
He nodded, his little arms tightening around her.
When she let go, she glanced toward the window, watching the sunlight spread over the garden below, the roses blooming, the fountain glistening with morning dew.
A new beginning.
A second chance.
This time, she would live differently.
This time, she would trust the people who truly loved her and destroy the ones who had stolen her peace.
Lauren stood there for a while, watching her son laugh, feeling her heart grow steadier with every passing second.
"I won't fail them again," she whispered to herself. "Not this time."
And somewhere deep in her heart, a spark of strength flickered to life, quiet, steady, and unstoppable.