THIRD PERSON’S POV

The villa felt very cold that night.

Damien noticed it too. He sat inside his office now with several work documents spread across the desk.

His suit jacket had already been removed. He looked exhausted. He had dark circles under his eyes from not sleeping well.

Still...he kept working.

Work distracted him. Work stopped him from thinking about Sophia.

Meanwhile, across the garden at Tiffany’s new villa, Ashley sat quietly on the couch hugging her stuffed rabbit tightly against her chest.

The little girl was too silent tonight.

Ever since Sophia stopped staying at Stone Manor regularly, Ashley’s emotions had become unstable again. And after spending more time around Tasha lately, her nervousness got worse. Especially tonight.

Ashley kept looking toward the kitchen where Tasha was speaking loudly on the phone with someone. Every time Tasha looked at her directly, Ashley lowered her head fearfully.

She missed her mother badly. Even though Ashley had stubbornly pushed Sophia away before because of Tiffany’s influence...deep down, she still loved her mother.

And now that Sophia rarely stayed near her anymore, Ashley finally started feeling the emptiness clearly.

The child’s wolf blood was still weak because of her young age, but she still craved the comfort of her mother’s presence.

Ashley’s eyes became watery again.

“I want Mommy...”

The tiny whisper barely left her lips. Unfortunately, Tasha heard it.

Immediately, Tasha became irritated.

“Again?” she snapped while ending the call aggressively. “Ashley, stop this nonsense already.”

Ashley flinched instantly. Her small fingers tightened harder around the stuffed rabbit.

“But I miss her...” Ashley whispered.

Tasha rolled her eyes “You cried yesterday too. And the day before that. Aren’t you tired?”

Ashley lowered her head sadly.

At first, Tasha had still pretended patience around Ashley because of Damien. But lately, especially after moving into the new villa, her real personality slowly started slipping out. She was becoming tired of pretending.

Ashley’s crying irritated her deeply now.

“You should be grateful Tiffany still cares about you,” Tasha muttered coldly. “Your own mother barely stays near you anymore.”

Ashley’s eyes widened “That’s not true...” 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Tasha snorted. “Then where is she tonight?”

Ashley became quiet. She didn’t know.

Meanwhile upstairs, Tiffany sat inside her bedroom reviewing research documents on her laptop.

Ashley’s crying echoed upstairs again.

Tiffany paused a bit. Her expression became filled with annoyance.

Ashley’s constant crying had started irritating her lately too. since Damien wasn’t here now, Tiffany didn’t need to pretend as much as before.

And deep down...she never truly liked Ashley anyway. The child constantly needed attention. She constantly cried and constantly clung to people emotionally.

It exhausted her.

Then suddenly, Ashley cried louder downstairs.

Tiffany heard Tasha’s voice.

“Stop crying already!” Tasha screamed.

A few seconds later, silence returned.

Tiffany smiled in satisfaction. She felt satisfied.

Good.

Maybe Ashley finally needed learning not becoming too dependent emotionally.

Downstairs, Ashley wiped her tears. She no longer dared crying loudly now. Tasha looked scary tonight.

Several minutes later, Tasha suddenly stood.

“Come on,” she ordered “Time for bed.”

Ashley shook her head nervously.

“I don’t want to sleep here...”

Tasha frowned “What?”

Ashley’s breathing became shaky now. “I-I want Daddy...”

“You’ll sleep here.”

“No...”

Tasha finally lost patience completely. She grabbed Ashley’s wrist harshly then dragged her toward the staircase.

Ashley gasped painfully. “T-That hurts...”

“Then stop acting spoiled!”

The little girl’s eyes filled with tears immediately. Tasha didn’t care.

Inside her bedroom later that night, Ashley shook under the covers. She didn’t even dare crying loudly anymore.

The room felt dark and unfamiliar. And without Sophia nearby, Ashley felt completely unsafe now.

The bedroom door opened. Tasha walked inside carrying a glass of water.

“You’re still awake?” Tasha asked.

Ashley shrank backward fearfully “I’m sorry...”

Tasha’s eyes narrowed “Why are you acting scared of me?”

Ashley remained silent. She was scared.

Tasha placed the water down and grabbed Ashley’s arm roughly.

The child gasped painfully. Then, Tasha pinched her upper arm hard, extremely hard.

Ashley cried out immediately. “Ah-!”

“Quiet,” Tasha hissed “Do you want the whole neighbourhood to hear you?”

Ashley’s eyes filled completely with terrified tears now.

“You’re becoming annoying lately,” Tasha whispered harshly. “Always crying for your mother. Always causing trouble.”

Ashley trembled violently now.

“I-I’m sorry...”

Tasha leaned closer “And listen, you will never tell anyone what happens inside this house. Understand?”

Ashley nodded “Y-Yes...”

“Good.”

Tasha finally released her arm then she stood. She softened her expression forcefully.

“Now sleep like a good girl.” Tasha said with a smile.

Tasha walked out.

The second the door closed, Ashley finally buried her face into the pillow while crying silently.

Hours passed and the villa eventually became completely silent. But Ashley still couldn’t sleep.

Ashley sat up. A thought entered her mind immediately.

Mommy.

Her small heartbeat got quicker. Sophia was still staying at Damien’s villa tonight because Grandpa George remained there.

Maybe...maybe she could sneak over.

Ashley climbed out of bed afterward then quietly opened the bedroom door. The hallway remained dark and silent now.

Thankfully, nobody noticed her.

Slowly, the little girl tiptoed downstairs while hugging her stuffed rabbit tightly again. Then quietly slipped outside.

The garden looked huge and scary at night.

Ashley’s tiny body trembled slightly while hurrying across the path connecting both villas. It wasn’t too far but she felt scared. She still had tears in her eyes.

She just wanted her mother. She just wanted to feel safe again.

But unfortunately, before she could reach the gate, someone grabbed her suddenly.

Ashley screamed in fear.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Tasha snapped.

Ashley started crying again. “I want Mommy...”

Tasha’s patience completely disappeared now.

“You ungrateful child!”

She dragged Ashley harshly back toward the villa immediately.

Ashley cried harder now while struggling weakly.

“No! Let me go! I want Mommy!”

“Shut up!”

Tasha’s voice sounded terrifyingly cold now.

The moment they entered the villa again, Tasha forcefully pushed Ashley toward the staircase.

“You’ll stay inside your room tonight even if I have to lock the door myself!”

Ashley trembled violently. Her tiny wolf instincts screamed danger now. And for the first time... Ashley genuinely started fearing Tasha deeply.

-

Much later that night, after Tasha finally fell asleep, Ashley tried again.

This time, she moved even more quietly.

And somehow...she successfully escaped.

The moment she got outside, Ashley immediately ran toward Damien’s villa with tears rolling down her face.

Her little legs moved as fast as possible through the dark garden.

Mommy. Mommy. Mommy.

Inside the villa, Sophia had just finished reviewing patient reports quietly inside the guest room. Sleep still hadn’t come easily lately.

Her wolf remained emotionally exhausted after everything happening with Damien and Zade recently.

Then suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

Sophia frowned. At this hour?

She opened the door carefully. To her surprise, Ashley stood there crying.

Her tiny face looked pale and frightened while tears covered her cheeks completely.

“Mommy...” Ashley whispered.

Sophia’s heart tightened painfully.

Ashley threw herself into Sophia’s arms desperately.

“I-I missed you...”

Sophia stiffened slightly from shock. Ashley hadn’t willingly hugged her like this in a very long time.

Her wolf softened instantly.

Sophia slowly looked down at her daughter with concern.

“What happened?” she asked.

Ashley only cried harder while clutching her tightly.

“I want to sleep with you...”

Sophia’s chest ached deeply now. Despite everything, despite Ashley rejecting her repeatedly before...Ashley was still her daughter. she was still her baby.

Sophia carried Ashley inside and placed her gently onto the bed.

“You can sleep here tonight.” Sophia said.

Ashley’s watery eyes widened “Thank you”

Ashley looked relieved beyond words. She laid down beside Sophia while still clutching her sleeve like she feared Sophia would disappear again.

Sophia remained stiff. The emotional distance between them lately still hurt badly.

But eventually, she slowly pulled the blanket properly around Ashley.

And sometime later, Ashley finally fell asleep peacefully for the first time in days.

-

The next morning, the atmosphere inside the villa turned tense almost immediately.

Sophia had barely stepped downstairs after breakfast when another voice suddenly echoed through the living room.

“Well... look who’s still here.”

Sophia froze instantly. Declan.

He leaned casually against the sofa while smirking mockingly at her.

Declan slowly looked her up and down as she walked into the living room.

“I heard the divorce still hasn’t finished yet,” he mocked “You really refuse letting go of wealth that badly?”

Sophia’s expression turned cold. Her wolf growled inside her.

Declan smirked “Honestly, I still don’t understand how someone from your background even entered this family in the first place.”

Sophia’s eyes darkened instantly. Declan always mocked the fact that she didn’t come from elite bloodlines like them.

Declan chuckled “I mean seriously. Our family practically picked you off the street compared to-”

“Shut up.” Sophia snapped.

Declan looked amused “Oh?”

Sophia stepped closer to him with anger burning in her eyes.

“You think money makes you superior?” she snapped coldly. “At least my family raised me with basic human decency.”

Declan’s smirk faded a bit.

Sophia continued “You sit around insulting people while depending entirely on your family name. What exactly have you accomplished yourself?”

The atmosphere became tense. Even the servants nearby looked shocked now. Sophia rarely exploded like this openly.

But today...she was already emotionally exhausted.

And Declan insulting her family became the final straw.

For the first time in a long while....Sophia looked absolutely furious.