Chapter 2

2

I went back to my room and locked the door.

I pulled a thick, classified folder from the bottom of my closet.

The lab had sent this to me last week.

It was a project so secret that no one outside the research team was allowed to know it existed.

When I first got it, I had politely declined the offer.

My daughter was still young, and Jasper was always buried in his work.

I was terrified that if I left for ten or fifteen years, I would miss her entire life.

But now, it was clear that Sienna didn't care if I was there or not.

Just a few days ago, at her birthday party, she had made her feelings crystal clear in front of everyone.

She told the whole room that her favorite person in the world was Miss Jocelyn.

That morning, I had stayed up all night finishing my research so I could have the day off.

I went to a boutique bakery and hand-decorated a strawberry shortcake just for her.

When I walked into the house, the living room was already filled with laughter.

Sienna was wearing a designer princess dress, surrounded by our friends and family.

Jasper was on her left, and Jocelyn was on her right.

They were huddled around a massive, five-tier custom cake covered in candles.

After everyone finished singing, Sienna closed her eyes and made a wish out loud.

"I wish that Miss Jocelyn could be my real mommy!"

Those words felt like a physical blow to my face.

The strength left my legs instantly, and the cake I brought hit the floor with a wet thud.

Jocelyn was the first to notice me. She gave me a sweet, smug little smile.

"Oh, Elena, you're back? Don't mind Sienna, she's just being a silly girl."

Despite her words, her eyes were dancing with triumph.

Sienna looked at me and scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, look who decided to show up. Are you even my real mom? You didn't even plan anything for my birthday. Miss Jocelyn is way better than you! I want her to be my mommy!"

The room went silent as everyone stared at me.

I stood there, frozen, feeling like a stranger in my own home.

Jasper stood up, frowning, and gave me a half-hearted tug on my arm.

"Now that you're here, just sit down and celebrate. You can clean up the mess on the floor later."

I brushed his hand off and knelt to pick up the ruined cake.

I didn't even know what expression was on my face.

Jasper didn't care. He went right back to the table and started helping Sienna blow out the candles.

I stood in the shadows, watching them like a ghost.

I eventually retreated to my room, listening to the party through the walls.

"Miss Jocelyn, I'm not kidding," Sienna said loudly. "Will you marry my daddy? I want a new mommy so bad."

"Well, that's up to your father, sweetie," Jocelyn giggled. "I can't exactly marry him by myself."

Sienna laughed delightedly.

"Daddy likes you so much, he'd definitely say yes! I've caught him staring at you all the time."

I stared at the framed family photo on my nightstand and let the tears fall.

My child didn't love me anymore. She hadn't for a long time.

For weeks, I had been agonizing over whether to leave or stay.

I couldn't bear to lose Sienna, and I still remembered the man Jasper used to be.

But after today, the last string holding my heart together finally snapped.

There was no point in staying where I wasn't wanted.

I picked up the phone and called my supervisor.

"Tell the Director I'm in. I'll join the project."

I opened the folder and signed my name on the dotted line with a steady hand.