Farewell to Love: The CEO's Desperate Chase novel Chapter 141

That day, standing in front of the preschool, Bella hesitated.

"What's wrong?" Emilia knelt down, pulling off her mask—the one she always wore in public to stay unnoticed. Her eyes were gentle and earnest as she looked up at Bella. "Are you scared?"

Bella nodded, then shook her head, uncertain.

Emilia didn't rush her. She simply waited, patient and calm.

After a long moment, Bella finally looked up and said softly, "Mom."

The word was barely out before she dropped her gaze, too shy to meet Emilia's eyes.

"Should I call you that?" Bella's voice was a whisper.

Emilia smiled, reaching out to softly stroke Bella's hair.

"Only if you want to," she said. "If it feels strange, you can call me Miss Emilia for now."

Bella let out a breath of relief and nodded hard.

"Miss Emilia," she said, almost inaudible, then threw her arms around Emilia in a quick hug before dashing inside the preschool.

Emilia stayed where she was, watching as Bella ran all the way to her classroom door. Bella turned and waved before disappearing inside.

That was the exact moment paparazzi managed to snap a photo of Emilia with her mask off.

She had been so careful, but still, they'd caught her.

The adoption process wasn't finished yet, so although Emilia could take Bella to school, she couldn't bring her home overnight—at least not yet. But it wouldn't be long; usually, it took about thirty working days for everything to go through.

Thinking of this, Emilia spoke up.

"That child has nothing to do with your family, the Ericksons."

"She won't be registered as one of us. So the Erickson estate—your inheritance—it has nothing to do with her."

Emilia pulled her hand free from Tyler's grasp. A gust of night wind swept over them, and the alcohol in her veins made her head spin.

She slipped off her heels, feeling the cool earth beneath her feet. With her back to Tyler, she said, "That's it. That's all you need to know. I'll tell your grandparents the same thing tomorrow."

"If you don't believe me, check for yourself."

"I have no reason to lie about this."

With that, Emilia steadied herself and started to walk away.

"Emilia!"

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