Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)
Chapter 505

Hannah glanced my way with a nod, "Never thought they'd exploit Fidelia like that."

"Guess we were too complacent, should've seen it coming," I mused aloud to Hannah while pondering another issue.

"Let's head downstairs," I suggested, tugging at her sleeve.

We descended the staircase, and Hannah reached to flick off the lights. I stopped her, "Leave them on."

She caught on and nodded, "I have a hunch they haven't gone far."

"But surely they won't dare come back here today!" I surveyed the backyard, truth be told, I'd always had a soft spot for this place.

After a moment's thought, Hannah bent down and picked up a maple leaf, carefully wedging it in the door frame. She gave it a pull to test; unless someone opened the door, it wouldn't fall. I grinned at her cleverness.

Exiting the courtyard, I took a moment to shut the gate properly without locking it. We then circled back to the rear garden of our own place, where I secured the padlock on the back gate.

Once inside, I placed the keys on the hall stand, and we both made our way upstairs to the family quarters. Peeking in on Carl, I saw he had turned over in his sleep, his little mouth moving as if nursing - he looked utterly adorable.

But every time I saw him like this, my heart sank, and I couldn't help but think of my own son, alive somewhere out there, unknown.

Feeling a lump in my throat, I stepped out of the room. Hannah gestured towards Fidelia's room, "I'll snoop around her tomorrow. Let's play it cool, see what she's up to next."

I nodded, "Right, don't spook her. We need to figure out who these people are, what they're after."

Easier said than done, I thought, bracing for the inevitable trouble ahead.

"I'll try and befriend that cat eye account," Hannah proposed. "It could be Jerome, I'll slip into his DMs, see if he spills anything."

Hannah gave me a mischievous wink, a sly smile spreading across her face.

"Just be careful, and maybe run it by your boss first," I cautioned her. "If Jerome only has Fidelia as a contact, that could definitely tip them off."

"You're right. We need to find out who Fidelia sent those photos or videos to," she said. "If they didn't have detailed info on this place, like with the courtyard, they wouldn't dare to trespass. This is private property. Their boldness says it all."

I listened as Hannah speculated, then whispered, "My fear is, those who dared to enter the courtyard will dare to enter here as well."

Hannah fell silent for a long while before finally speaking, "That would be truly terrifying."

"Tomorrow, I'll talk to Fidelia," she said, looking at me.

"Stick close to them tomorrow," I advised. "Keep an eye on her, see if anything else is off."

Suddenly, Carl's cries echoed from the room. I rushed in to find him sitting up in bed, his little face twisted in sorrow, calling out, "Mommy!"

I sat down beside him, and before I could speak, he crawled into my lap, "... Mommy, don't go..."

"I'm here, baby, I just went to the bathroom," I soothed him, taking him in my arms. Helga knocked and entered, "What's wrong, sweetheart?"

Carl used to sleep with Helga, but since that whole incident with Zora, he's been clinging to me. "It's okay!" I hugged Carl close. "Mommy's here, I didn't leave, look at me!"

He sobbed, glanced at me, touched my face, and managed a tearful smile, "Mommy's here! Not gone!"

"Do you need to pee?" I asked. He nodded.

Helga quickly fetched the potty, helped him, and he laughed with relief after, looking up at me, babbling, "Mommy stay, Mommy doesn't leave me!"

I couldn't help but kiss his forehead, "Mommy won't leave you!"

But my heart ached, knowing the price of having him meant losing my own son.

He licked his teary lip, hiccuped, and said, "Baby thirsty, Mommy!"

Helga chuckled and went to get him water, "Out with the old, in with the new, right?"

I teased, "Thirsty and hungry, and so clingy!"

He guzzled the water and then looked at me seriously, "Mommy is good, Zora is bad."