The Anniversary Gift My Son Gave Me Was Hiding My Husband’s Biggest Secret Chapter 03

The Anniversary Gift My Son Gave Me Was Hiding My Husband’s Biggest Secret Chapter 03

That night before bed, Liam didn’t beg me for a story like he usually did.

“Mommy, I want Sugar to sleep with me.”

He climbed onto the alpaca’s back and rode her to his room, excited.

Owen watched them go. There was a softness in his eyes I’d never seen before.

I watched my son hug Sugar’s neck tight, and something stabbed at my heart.

Of course. A child that wasn’t mine. I could never feel close to him.

Half an hour later, Liam was asleep. The alpaca walked out of the room like she owned the place.

I tried to lead her to the study.

She dodged with a quick hop, avoided my hand, turned her head, and spat on me again.

Owen walked over to the alpaca and looked at me.

“Freya, Sugar probably doesn’t want to sleep alone in the study. Why don’t we just let her stay in our room?”

He stroked the alpaca’s head, tender and affectionate.

“Come on, Sugar. Give mommy some love.”

The alpaca tilted her head. Ptooey.

I grabbed a couple tissues, wiped the spit off, and turned toward the bedroom.

“I don’t sleep well. I’m afraid it’ll drool on me and wake me up at night. Better let it stay in the study.”

My face must have looked awful.

Because Owen didn’t push it. He agreed to put the alpaca in the study.

“Alright then. Poor Sugar, you’ll have to make do tonight.”

Before he closed the door, the alpaca turned her head and stared at me.

Pure malice in her eyes.

In the middle of the night.

I was half asleep.

Then I felt warm breath on my face.

Followed by a cold wetness.

My eyes shot open.

The alpaca was standing by the bed, looking at me. Right in my face.

She opened her mouth. Ready to spit again.

I didn’t know how she’d gotten in.

But I was ready.

The first thing I did after being reborn was drive out to Hermit’s Retreat on the edge of town. I found the hermit sage and asked for an amulet.

I reached under my pillow and grabbed it tight.

The alpaca froze.

Like an invisible hand had grabbed her throat.

She tried to scream. Nothing came out.

Her legs gave. She collapsed on the floor.

The light in her eyes went half dark.

I pulled out a wet wipe and slowly, calmly cleaned my face.

Then I looked down at her.

“Feel good?”

She couldn’t speak.

She just shook.

The next morning.

The first thing Liam did when he got up was run to see the alpaca.

He found her lying on the ground, limp. Her wool looked dull. Her eyes were half closed.

Liam screamed, “What’s wrong with Sugar?!”

Owen walked over at the sound. The alpaca lifted her head with great effort, her eyes pitiful.

His brows snapped together. He turned to me right away.

“Did you get mad because she got into the bedroom last night? Did you hit her?”

Liam glared at me, furious.

“Bad mommy! You made Sugar sick!”

I crouched down and looked calmly at my son.

“Liam, Mommy was sleeping all night. I didn’t do anything. Sugar might just need time to adjust to a new place.”

“And aren’t either of you curious how an alpaca opened two doors to get from the study into the bedroom?”

They both tensed at that.

Right then, the alpaca lifted her head with all her remaining strength. Ptooey. On my knee.

Liam hugged the alpaca and cried.

“See?! It’s still drooling on you. You must’ve upset Sugar yesterday!”

Owen’s voice dropped low. “Freya, when did you get so petty that you’d take it out on a little animal?”

“It only drools at you because you don’t like it. You really ought to check yourself!”

The last bit of warmth in my heart went cold.

It was the same in the past life.

Whether it was the alpaca or Serena, whenever there was conflict, I was always the one in the wrong.

But she was the imposter heiress who’d stolen my identity for over twenty years.

While she lived in luxury at the Ashfords’ house, I was picking through trash to pay for school.

While her whole family spoiled her, my adoptive parents nearly sold me to a remote farm for profit.

They even used my womb to carry her child.

And still, in their eyes, Serena was the victim.

Even when she was hiding inside an alpaca. Even when she was stealing my life.

I wiped the spit off my knee and walked away.

This time, I was done giving anyone a second chance.