Chapter 15: The Woman They Claimed

“Yes. I choose —” Lara reached for the side table and handed him the document she had signed. “I choose to be Shay’s governess. Her name on the contract was already corrected to Larissa Reyes.

He accepted it and glanced over her signature. The handwriting was neat, deliberate, and elegant in a way that suggested control rather than decoration.

He nodded once. “I’ll have a room prepared for you. I’ll also take care of your discharge.”

Lara hesitated. “Doctor Fenn said earlier I might not be discharged today. I still need clearance from my four attending physicians.”

Shay brightened immediately. “It’s okay, Mommy! I’m staying here tonight, too!” she chirped. “You stay with me, and I stay with you. We be hospital buddies!”

Lara smiled despite herself. She reached out, ruffling Shay’s hair and flicking her gently on the nose—a reflex, like she did so many times in the past.

The moment the gesture registered, she froze.

She withdrew her hand quickly. “I’m sorry, Shay. I got carried away.”

Shay shook her head with great seriousness. “No. I like it when you do that.”

Ares watched silently, a strange sensation settling in his chest. He felt like an intruder—an observer to a bond that had formed long ago, effortless and complete.

The door opened again.

A familiar voice sliced through the room, edged with sharp disbelief. “Why are you here?”

Liam stood in the doorway.

He looked nothing like the military officer his reputation suggested—no uniform, no polished restraint. Just a tall man in a dark jacket, sleeves shoved up to his forearms, hair slightly undone as if he’d dragged his fingers through it one too many times. He carried himself with quiet authority, the kind that didn’t need to announce itself.

The moment he stepped inside, his eyes locked onto Lara.

They swept over her face, her rigid posture, the faint flush warming her cheeks—small details she hadn’t quite managed to conceal. His gaze lingered, assessing, calculating

Instead of answering the question aimed at him, he fired one back.

“And you?” he asked coolly. “Why are you here?”

Before the tension could sharpen further, a small voice cut in.

“Hello, Uncle Liam.”

.Shay’s innocent tone broke the moment like glass cracking ice. Liam’s attention shifted instantly, disbelief melting into something gentler.

“And why is the Zuvel’s little princess here too?” he asked, his voice easing despite himself.

Shay puffed up with pride. “Of course I’m here to fetch my mommy.” She reached out and grabbed Lara’s hand as if the claim were unquestionable fact.

Liam froze.

“Mommy?” He stared at Shay, then slowly turned to Ares, his expression hardening. “Wasn’t Shay’s mother Moira?” His brows pulled together. “How did Larissa Reyes suddenly enter the picture? Don’t tell me this is some kind of mistaken identity. Or—” his eyes flicked to Lara again, sharp and probing, “—a switch at birth?”

The questions tumbled out of him, rapid and uncharacteristically unfiltered.

Shay blinked, utterly lost.

Ares let out a low chuckle. “You’re letting your imagination run wild, Liam. That’s unlike you.” His gaze flicked dismissively to the child. “Don’t take her nonsense seriously.”

Liam glanced back at Shay—his goddaughter. Since Moira’s disappearance a year ago, the girl had been relentless, pestering Ares about finding her a mother.

He’d thought it childish fantasy.

Apparently, it had evolved.

He crossed the room in three long strides. “Logan had something urgent to handle, so I came alone.” His gaze briefly cut to Ares—measured, guarded—before returning to Lara. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” Lara replied automatically. The words were practiced, hollow with repetition.

Shay watched the exchange with open curiosity, her head tilted. She tugged gently at Lara’s sleeve. “Mommy… how do you know Uncle Liam?”

Liam’s expression softened instantly. He crouched to Shay’s level, a small smile tugging at his lips. “We met yesterday. Dad invited Larissa to our home because she didn’t have anywhere else to go. Mom and Dad wanted to take her in as their goddaughter.”

“But Mommy already said yes to Daddy,” Shay pouted. “She’s coming home with us.”

“What?” The word left Liam like a breath knocked from his chest. His gaze snapped to Ares, shock clear in his eyes.

Was Shay truly implying that Larissa Reyes was her mother?

His mind raced—too fast, too dark. How old would she have been? Eighteen? Younger?

He shot Ares an accusing look. He didn’t need to say a word. Ares saw the judgment plainly written there.

“It’s not what you’re thinking,” Ares said coolly. “Shay likes Miss Reyes. I asked her if she wanted to work as a governess. She agreed.”

“A governess,” Liam echoed slowly.

He studied Ares, then turned back to Lara. If she worked for Ares, there would be no need for her to stay at his family’s mansion.

Good!

“Then why would Uncle Leonard want to make her his goddaughter?” Ares asked flatly.

Liam sighed. “That’s actually the milder option. Mom wanted to adopt her. She convinced Dad to consider it.” His voice softened. “Mom saw her condition after the accident. She pitied her. Thought she owed her something.”

Lara lifted her head at that.

Her gaze collided with Liam’s—hazel eyes so similar to her own, it sent a strange shiver through her.

So that was it. Pity.

Her fingers tightened unconsciously at her side. She didn’t need anyone’s charity.

“I’ll tell Dad I couldn’t bring her home,” Liam continued. “She’ll be working for you.”

Perfect, he thought. Ares had resolved the problem without him lifting a finger.

Still, unease lingered.

Liam didn’t resent Lara. But something about her unsettled him—an instinct he trusted too much to ignore. He wouldn’t gamble his family’s safety on unanswered questions.

“Then she can come to your house during the day,” a lazy voice drawled, “and return to the Norse mansion at night.”

Logan sauntered into the room.

Liam turned, his gaze instantly cold.

Why was Logan here? And worse… why did he look like he’d been pulled into Lara’s orbit?

Before Liam could speak, Logan answered casually, “I’m done with my business. And I figured I’d escort my sister home.”

He turned to Lara, studying her with an intensity that made Liam bristle. “Sis,” he said lightly, “do you want to leave with me?”

The word hit her harder than it should have.

Sis…Sister…

The word echoed in her mind, dragging memories from deep within—six men surrounding her, laughing, protecting her, calling her Sister as if it were sacred.

Shay shifted restlessly. She didn’t know this man. Only Uncle Liam was close to her Daddy.

And this stranger wanted to take her mommy away.

She lifted her chin, glaring. “Bad Uncle,” Shay declared in a shrill voice. “You can’t take my mommy. She already agreed to be my governess. She signed the contract.”

Ares’s gaze sharpened, locking onto Lara.

Watching.

Waiting.

Lara looked down at Shay—now gripping her hand with both of hers—then at Ares, then at Liam and Logan.

Her chest tightened.

“I—”

The word caught in her throat.

And the room held its breath.

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