Hey, Little One

Amelia

Ever since I was eighteen, I had always dreamt of my wedding day, of marrying the love of my life and being the happiest woman alive.

Lies. There were just foolish dreams, and nothing more.

As I walked down the aisle toward Sebastian Hawkins, the man I was about to marry, I drew in a deep breath. He stood tall in a black tuxedo, strikingly handsome with his chiseled jawline, sharp cheekbones, and well-groomed dark hair that framed his face like something out of a fashion magazine.

What a pity about his eyes. He wore dark sunglasses, the kind that gave off a cold, powerful vibe, almost like he was untouchable. In one hand, he held a sleek golden cane that shimmered beneath the sunlight.

If anyone had looked closely under my veil, they would have seen the fury written all over my face. I kept stealing bitter glances at my stepmother and Stella, who stood proudly nearby, smiling like they hadn’t thrown me into this nightmare.

When I reached the altar, the ceremony moved quickly. We exchanged vows, placed the rings, and then came the part where he lifted my veil.

Too bad he couldn’t see the anger burning in my eyes.

“You may now kiss the bride,” the officiant said.

Sebastian leaned in as I guided his hand gently toward my face. He tilted his head, ready to kiss me—

But his lips landed just below my ear.

“That’s not my lips,” I whispered to him.

Surprisingly, people around us applauded, acting like they’d just witnessed the most romantic moment of their lives.

“I know,” I heard his deep voice reply. “I know you don’t want to kiss me either.”

Rude.

And then we pulled away. Finally, I could breathe.

Throughout the rest of that annoying event, I kept my expression neutral. The only thing that made me smile was the group of flower girls—especially one of them, a tiny girl with blonde pigtails and a gummy smile. Even after she took her seat, she kept looking at me and waving. I couldn’t help but wave back. She was just too adorable.

Eventually, I felt the urge to use the restroom and figured it was the perfect excuse to get away from everything. I still didn’t understand why the wedding had to drag on so long. Rich people and their show.

I also hated the way everyone kept staring at me like I was some new toy on display. Days like this made blindness seem like a blessing.

I politely excused myself and made my way to the restroom, all while feeling Stella’s eyes follow my every move. Whatever. She could choke on her fake smile.

After using the toilet, I moved to the sink to wash my hands, when I suddenly felt a small tug at the bottom of my dress. I turned and looked down.

It was the little blonde girl from earlier.

“Oh, hello,” I smiled at her, gently squeezing her cheek. “Aren’t you a cutie?”

The little girl’s smile grew even brighter. “You’re so pretty, Mommy.”

I blinked. I thought I hadn’t heard her right, until she said, even more excitedly, “I can’t believe you’re going to be my mommy!”

My smile faltered. “Mommy? Are you looking for your mommy?”

She shook her head. “You are my mommy.”

“Me?” I laughed nervously and shook my head. “I’m not, sweetie. But I can help you look for your mom if that’s what you want.”

She just stared at me, her small brows knitting together.

I crouched down, brushing her hair back gently. “Where did you last see your mommy, dear?”

“Aren’t you my mommy?” she asked again, her lip starting to pout. “You married my daddy because you wanted to be my mommy, right?”

“Your daddy?” I repeated, my mouth suddenly dry. “Who… who is your daddy, sweetheart?”

“You kissed him minutes ago. He’s the handsome man with the glasses.”

My heart plummeted straight into my stomach. Sebastian Hawkins had a child? A daughter? Why hadn’t anyone told me? This couldn’t be real. It felt like something out of a twisted dream.

“What’s your name?” I asked carefully, trying to keep my voice steady despite the pounding in my chest.

“Rose Hawkins,” she replied with a proud little smile.

“Okay, Rose,” I said softly. “How about you go back to the wedding for now? I’ll be right out.”

She nodded, still smiling, and wrapped her arms around me in a sweet hug before skipping out and waving. I forced myself to wave back, though my hands felt numb.

The moment she disappeared, I rushed into the nearby dressing room, grabbed my phone from the table, and dialed Stella’s number with trembling fingers.

Fortunately for me, she picked up right away.

“Hey, where are you? The groom’s parents want to see you. The wedding’s almost over.”

I swallowed hard, trying to calm the storm rising inside me. “I need to see you now. Come to the dressing room or I’m going home.”

“What?” she snapped.

But I didn’t bother explaining. I ended the call and started pacing, my heels clicking against the floor as I struggled to process everything. I came here to be a wife, not a mother. Raising a child had never been part of the plan, even though I adored kids. I just wasn’t ready for this. And the worst part? I was sure both my stepmother and Stella knew all along and purposely kept it from me.

The door swung open, and Stella walked in wearing that usual cold look on her face. “What the hell was that?”

“I should be the one asking you that!” I shouted, slamming the door behind her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

She narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms. “Tell you what?”

“That Mr. Hawkins has a child!” I snapped, my voice trembling with frustration. “You knew, didn’t you?”

“Oh,” she let out a small laugh, like it was no big deal.

“Oh?” I repeated, my voice rising. “So you did know. Why the hell would you hide that from me? How could you not tell me something so important?”

“I didn’t think it mattered,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“Not matter?!” I was practically shaking. “I just got married to a man I barely know, and now I find out I’m a stepmother too? I’m twenty-six, Stella! I’ve never even changed a diaper, and now you expect me to raise a child?”

I threw my hands up, nearly losing it. “No. I’m done. I’d rather beg in the streets or take out loans for Dad’s treatment than stay in this lie. You and your mother tricked me into this, and I swear, I’m not doing it.”

“You think that would work? We’re already bankrupt!” she snapped.

“Then you should’ve done it!” I shouted, jabbing a finger toward her face. “Why didn’t you marry him instead? Why?! And don’t you dare give me that bullshit about him being blind.”

“Do you really expect me to take care of a little kid and her blind father? That would be exhausting, stressful, and completely beneath me. You’re better at this sort of thing. I’m no good for a nanny job.”

“A nanny job?” I repeated, my voice hollow with disbelief.

“Yes,” she said casually, admiring her perfectly manicured nails. “Did you actually think Sebastian was marrying you out of love? Because he needed a partner?”

I stared at her, fists clenched tightly at my sides, nails digging into the satin of my dress.

“His parents pushed him into this because they needed someone to raise that child. That’s all. And when she’s older, when they no longer need you, they’ll toss you aside, just like they found you.”

That was it.

The last cruel, heartless straw.

“You bitch!” I screamed, my voice sharp with fury. “I never should’ve trusted you or your wicked mother!”

Before I could think twice, I launched at her, grabbing her hair with both hands. She shrieked, clawing at mine in return. The two of us struggled, screaming at the top of our lungs like wild animals. Her nails scratched, mine pulled, and for a moment, it felt like nothing else mattered but tearing her apart.

Our shouting echoed down the hall, and soon enough, footsteps thundered toward us. The dressing room door flew open and people rushed in, some trying to pull us apart, others shamelessly recording the chaos with their phones.