Chapter 251 She Is An Outsider

Despite his small stature, Locke spoke with the sharpness of a child who understood more than most gave him

credit for.

“If you’re really my mom, then why didn’t you come with Dad to get me?”

Linda’s smile faltered for the briefest moment, a flicker of unease crossing her features. But she quickly masked

it, smoothing out her expression with practiced charm.

“I wasn’t your mother before,” she cooed, her voice honeyed yet hollow. “But now I will be. Isn’t that nice?”

“Why?” Locke asked bluntly, eyes narrowing with distrust. “You don’t even like me. I don’t want you to be my

mom.”

Then, just like that, he stood up, ready to leave–ready to run.

Before he could take a step, Linda’s fingers clamped around his tiny arm. Not rough, but firm.

Her voice dipped, low and sharp, a far cry from the gentle act she’d been putting on. “Listen to me, Locke, I’m going to marry your father. That means–whether you like it or not–I will be your mother.”

“No! Let me go!” the boy cried, yanking at his arm, his small body twisting in panic.

Terror surged through him, and without thinking, he ran.

He sprinted blindly, breath coming in quick gasps—until he crashed into Nyla’s legs. “Locke? What happened?”

The way his small hands clutched at Nyla–the way his body trembled against her–said everything. He was

scared.

“Locke!”

Linda stormed after the boy, her expression dark with frustration. Her anger flickered, replaced momentarily by

surprise when she saw Nyla.

“Great–grandma.” At the sight of Nyla, Locke didn’t hesitate–he burrowed deeper into her embrace, his small body trembling as he turned his back to Linda. He clung to Nyla as if she were his shield, refusing to even look

at Linda.

The message was painfully clear.

Everyone in the Flynn family knew–Linda had never liked Locke.

“Locke, don’t be afraid. It’s okay, honey.” Nyla’s voice was a soothing whisper, laced with quiet sorrow.

As her eldest great–grandchild, the boy should have had everything–a childhood filled with warmth, security,

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and love. Instead, he had spent three years in hardship, growing up in a world that never made room for him.

Alone. Forgotten. Unwanted. The weight of it made Nyla’s chest tighten.

held him closer. “I’m here, Locke. There’s no reason

glared at Nyla. “What are you trying to say?

he’s

Nyla exhaled slowly, shaking her head with quiet disappointment.

meant…” she said, her voice gentle but firm. “Locke is just a

nestled against her, his small frame rigid with fear. “He’s still learning. Don’t take his

“I…”

Color flushed and drained from her face

much

into the Flynn family was because of her

brothers. That debt had secured

here… Nyla’s world had shifted.

painfully clear. Linda wasn’t family. Not really. She was an outsider. She would

on

Ernest had arrived.

Before

anyone

answer, Locke moved first. “Dad!”

Nyla’s lap and planted himself squarely in front of Ernest. For someone so small, he stood with

“Dad, I’m sorry!”

clenched, his words trembling

glance up at Ernest, searching his face for

a sharp pang through Ernest’s chest.

was just a child. And yet, he already

That his father had the power to decide whether

Ernest crouched down and pulled Locke into his

fingers curled into his shirt, gripping it as if letting go would mean losing everything. His voice shrank to a whisper, heavy with fear.

his cheeks, his small frame

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251 She Is

Ernest gently wiped the tears from his son’s cheeks, his voice steady, reassuring. “This is your home. No matter what happens, I don’t want you thinking like

“Dad!”

Nyla felt her heart ached. She reached out, stroking Locke’s soft hair. “Sweetheart, let’s not cry anymore, okay? How about

tears slowed. He blinked up at her, sniffling once more

was undeniable–a picture of

comforting.

it was suffocating. She had been

another word, she turned

“Hadley!”

stepped out of his room, freshly changed, his sharp gaze immediately catching sight of Hadley walking toward

his eyes flickered toward the hallway–just in time to see Linda retreat into her room, shutting the door firmly behind her.

furrowed. “What’s going on? What

said casually, chewing thoughtfully. “Seems like Locke doesn’t like her.”

over

“Maybe she just… doesn’t know how to handle kids.”

toward him.

moment before leaning in, taking the bite straight from

it good?” she

swallowed, nodding appreciatively. “Can I have some more?”

it all,” she protested, pulling the bowl slightly away. “Save some for

head. “You’re impossible. How about I have this bowl, and I’ll just

more later?”

echoed softly through the hallway. And then–Linda emerged from her room, suitcase

her gaze landed on them–Eric and Hadley, standing side by side in front of their room, sharing a bowl of

once been so certain–so sure—that Ernest had loved

she had been wrong. The woman he had truly loved… had been someone else entirely. And they

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25 She is in ser

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