Betryed 152

Posted by AdminM, ? Views, Released on February 24, 2025

Chapter 152

SAGE

ི 44%

I quickly scanned the room, checking if there’s anybody there who can see us. I let out a sigh of relief once I was sure that there’s nobody inside the room but us.

“How did you two get here?” I immediately asked after giving them a tight hug.

“Well, you’ve been missing for so long. Mom. So, Cooper and I decided to come and find you,” Harper replied.

I had a hunch that it was Harper’s idea. She’s the bold one. I should have expected that from her. I shouldn’t have waited for a week before I made a move. This was all on me.

1 slapped my forehead upon hearing Harper’s words.

“Are you mad, Mommy? Cooper asked with pouty lips.

No. I’m not mad, sweetheart, I consoled him while gently caressing his soft, chubby cheeks. “But what you did was extremely dangerous. Do you have any idea how worried Gertrude and Robert are? They were blaming themselves, thinking something bad happened to the two of you”

They both bowed their heads and pouted their lips while thinking about what they did.

Tm sorry, Mommy. We were just worried about you. We couldn’t stay there and wait. What if something bad happened to you?” Harper explained.

“And if something bad has indeed happened to me? Then what do you think will happen to you and your brother?” I scolded her. I know that she only did that because she was worried about me. But I need her to understand that what she did was dangerous.

“Don’t scold her, Mommy. It was my idea. Please forgive us,” Cooper butt in, trying to take the blame for her sister.

Even if I wanted to believe it, I knew deep down that this wasn’t really Cooper’s idea. He was just trying to take the blame to protect his sister, hoping I wouldn’t scold her any further. It was a sweet yet reckless attempt, and my heart ached knowing they felt the need to cover for each other like this.

I let out a heavy sigh, trying to release the tension building inside me. Despite my frustration, I couldn’t stay mad at them for long. They were just kids–brave, stubborn, and too innocent to understand the real dangers of the world.

Kneeling down to their level, I cupped both of their faces gently, forcing them to look into my eyes. “I’m so glad you’re both safe,” I said, my voice softer now. “But please, don’t ever do something like that again. If anything happens, I promise you–I *will* come back. No matter how far, no matter how long it takes, I’ll find you. But you have to stay where you are and wait for me. Do you understand?”

Harper’s lip trembled slightly before she nodded. “Yes, Mommy. We understand.”

Cooper followed, his small hands gripping my arms as he buried his face in my shoulder. “We’re sorry,” he mumbled, his voice muffled against my skin.

I pulled them both into a tight hug, holding them as if I could shield them from every danger in the world. “I love you both so much I whispered, pressing kisses onto their foreheads. But then I remembered something: what they said didn’t explain the reason why they’re here. “Wait a minute, how did you two end up here?”

At my question, Cooper and Harper exchanged a look, the kind that meant they were hiding something. Their silent conversation lasted only a moment before I raised an eyebrow, waiting.

“Harper? I said, using the tone that meant I expected an answer.

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16:04 Mon, 24 Feb

Chapter 152

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“Uhmm…” Harper hesitated, her small fingers twisting in her shirt. She glanced at Cooper, who suddenly found the floor very interesting.

That was not a good sign.

“Harper Elizabeth,” I said, using her full name so she’d know I was serious.

She let out a small sigh, her lips forming a guilty pout. “I’m sorry, Mom. We were really careful, but—”

“But what?” I pressed, my stomach tightening.

+5

Harper shifted on her feet, stealing another glance at Cooper before finally blurting out, “We got caught by some bad guys.”

I froze. “What?!” My voice was sharp with fear. My heart nearly stopped.

“But–but we were rescued!” Harper quickly added, waving her hands in the air as if to calm me. “By a kind mister! He promised to find you, Mom. And he did!”

I could barely breathe as I tried to process her words. My babies had been taken. I hadn’t been there. I hadn’t protected them. Panic and guilt crashed over me, but I pushed them down.

And by ‘kind mister, they probably mean Titus. Is the Moon Goddess playing a trick on me? Of all people, who’s going to save my children? It’s none other than Titus.

Just my luck!

Harper’s face lit up with excitement. “He was really tall and strong! He had silver hair like Cooper, and his scary eyes were like mine–blue! But even though he looks scary, he was nice to us. He promised he would bring us back to you!”

A chill ran through me. The air left my lungs. My vision blurred for a second as cold fear settled deep in my bones.

This can’t be happening.

I took a deep, steadying breath, forcing myself to push down the fear clawing at my chest. There was no time to panic. No time to cry. I had to think fast. I had to protect them.

I crouched down, gently placing my hands on their small shoulders, making sure they were looking right at me. “Kids, I need you to listen very carefully,” I said, keeping my voice calm but firm. “Mommy needs your help, okay?”

Their little faces scrunched up in confusion, but after a moment, they nodded.

“Good,” I said, squeezing their shoulders lightly. “Now, listen to me. From this moment on, we have to pretend we don’t know each other.”

Harper’s eyes widened in alarm. “But, Mommy-”

“Like play pretend!” Cooper suddenly gasped, his face lighting up in excitement.

“Yes, just like that,” I said, but before he could get too excited, I quickly placed a hand over his mouth. “But you have to keep your voice down, sweetheart.”

He nodded enthusiastically, his eyes still sparkling with the thrill of a game. I wished I could share his excitement. But this was no game. This was survival.

“Neither of you can call me ‘Mommy‘ when there are other people around,” I continued. “No matter what, you must act like we don’t know each other. Do you both understand?”

They exchanged a quick glance before nodding in unison, though Harper’s lower lip trembled slightly. “How about when it’s just the three of us?” She asked, her voice small and unsure.

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16:04 Mon, 24 Feb

Chapter 152

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I softened, brushing a strand of hair behind her car. “If it’s just us, then it’s okay,” I reassured her. “But when anyone else is around, we have to pretend. I promise I will find a way to bring us home, but until then, we have to be very careful.”