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Who's Child Is She?...
"MISTERāWHERE ARE YOU TAKING ME?!" she yelled.
***
"Scream one more time and I'll throw you out," the man warned in a calm but dangerous voice.
Jasmine immediately zipped her lips in a dramatic gesture. She sat still, but her legs were shaking nervously.
"Relax. I don't bite," he added, glancing at her with a sideways look.
Jasmine only nodded. She didn't trust her voice not to betray how scared she was.
There was a brief silence before the car suddenly screeched to a stop. Jasmine's body jerked forward and she gripped the seat in panic.
They stepped out of the car into an unfamiliar quiet area. Almost immediately, five black SUVs pulled up in a neat line a short distance away, like something out of a movie.
Several men stepped out, wearing suits and earpieces. One of them, a tall man with sharp eyes, hurried toward them.
"Are they bad people?" Jasmine whispered nervously, grabbing the man's hand tightly.
Normally, he hated being touched. Anyone who tried usually lost their handāor at least got a death glare. But this time, he didn't snap. He didn't even pull away.
"Mr. Aiden Hart," the tall man said, slightly out of breath.
"We're very sorry for the inconvenience. Everything has been handled. We know you hate public environments and public transportation. Don't worry about the little troublemakerāwe'll take her straight to an orphanage."
Jasmine flinched at the word orphanage.
Aiden's jaw tightened, his eyes cold.
"An apology won't fix anything, Rafe. And as for the girlā" he glanced at Jasmine, who looked up at him with wide eyes.
"I'm not sending her anywhere. I'll help her find her parents."
Jasmine's heart skipped. She quickly spoke up.
"My mom told me Dad was a disgrace to men. She said he ran away from his responsibilities. Soā¦ I only have my mom."
Rafe blinked at her, taken aback.
"Who tells their kid something like that?" he muttered under his breath.
Aiden didn't reply. He simply turned and walked back into the car.
Jasmine quickly followed him without hesitation, like a lost kitten chasing the only person who'd shown her kindness.
The door slammed, and the car drove off without another word.
Rafe stood still, watching the car disappear.
"Since when did he turn into a good Samaritan?" he mumbled, half amused and half confused.
---
AIRPORT ~
Salma was already in tears. It had been over an hour, and Jasmine was nowhere to be found. Her heart raced with fear, and every horrible possibility crossed her mind.
What if something bad happened? What if she was hurt? What if she was taken? These thoughts sent shivers down her spine.
Lucian had been urging her to leave, but she refused. Her feet were glued to the floorāshe couldn't leave without Jasmine.
Her eyes scanned every corner, every hallway, every face. She prayed silently, desperately hoping for a miracle.
And just when all hope seemed to fade, she heard a familiar voice.
"Mummy!" Jasmine shouted, running toward her with a huge smile.
Salma's legs moved on their own. She ran and scooped Jasmine into her arms, hugging her so tightly it was hard to tell who was holding who up.
She pulled back and held Jasmine by the shoulders, scanning her from head to toe.
"Are you okay, baby? Did anyone hurt you?" she asked, her voice shaky.
"I'm fine, Mom! This handsome uncle helped me. He even bought me ice cream!" Jasmine beamed, showing the cone that was already half-melted in her little hand.
Salma's eyes lifted, and that's when she saw him.
The man stood a few feet away, watching them. His expression was unreadable. Cold. Dangerous. And stunning.
So stunning it made her heart skip. Was he even human? she wondered. Because no normal man should look that good.
She opened her mouth to say thanks, but before she could speak, he did.
"You're careless for a mother." His voice was deep and sharp, like a blade. "If something bad had happened, you'd only have yourself to blame."
Then, without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked away. Leaving only silence and tension behind.
Salma's jaw clenched. The gratitude she had felt evaporated instantly. Yes, she knew she'd made a mistake. Yes, she was scared beyond words. But hearing it thrown at her like thatāby a strangerāsparked something hot inside her.
"Arrogant jerk," she muttered under her breath.
Just then, Lucian walked up to them.
"You finally found this little brat," he said casually.
Jasmine spun around, eyes blazing.
"Call me a brat one more time, and I'll cut your tongue out while you're asleep." Her tiny voice was filled with fire.
Salma gasped and immediately slapped her hand over Jasmine's mouth. "Jasmine!"
She turned to Lucian with an apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry. Please don't mind her."
Lucian's eyes narrowed. "I'll double your work hours if this disrespectful thing says one more word."
Jasmine tensed, ready to snap back, but Salma pressed her palm harder against the little girl's mouth, stopping her from speaking.
"She won't say anything else," Salma said with a forced smile as she picked Jasmine up and headed toward their ride.
In her arms, Jasmine wriggled, but Salma whispered,
"Not now. Please."
AIDEN MANSION
The mansion stood tall and intimidating, bathed in the warm glow of the evening sunset. Its marble pillars and glass walls shone like polished jewels. Everything about the place whispered luxury, power, and pride.
Inside, however, the atmosphere was much less graceful.
A boy sat carelessly on a velvet couch, one leg resting on the back of a kneeling maid. Another maid stood behind him, using a massager on his head, trembling as she worked. Two more maids stood a short distance away, perfectly still, eyes down, afraid to make any wrong move.
This was common.
The boy was youngāno more than five. but his arrogance was bigger than the mansion itself.
"Get me a glass of my favorite," he said, not even looking at the maid he was speaking to. His voice was firm, commanding, as if every word was an order.
"Yes, young master," the maid bowed deeply before scurrying out of the room.
Moments later, she returned, holding the drink with both hands. It was a chilled mango smoothie, decorated with fruit slices, just the way he liked it.
She approached slowly, carefully, her heartbeat loud in her ears. Just as she extended her hand to offer it-
Her foot caught on the edge of the carpet.
The glass slipped.
Cold smoothie splashed across the boy's perfectly ironed clothes and dripped onto the floor.
For a moment, the entire room froze.
The boy's eyes slowly widened.
Then he exploded.
"WHAT THEā!? You blind b*tch!" he screamed, jumping to his feet and knocking the head massager off his lap.
The maid fell to her knees, shaking, eyes full of fear. She scrambled to clean the mess with trembling fingers.
The boy didn't care.
He stomped, flailed, and then his face suddenly changed. A dramatic decision. His voice broke into loud, fake sobs.
"MOMMY!!" he wailed, puffing his cheeks and rubbing at his eyes with exaggerated motions.
"She ruined my clothes! She did it on purpose!"
His cries echoed through the entire mansion, loud enough for everyone to hear.
The maids exchanged glances but said nothing. They knew better.
One wrong reaction could cost them their job.
Or worse.
Sophia's heels clicked sharply against the polished marble floor as she rushed into the room. Her brows were furrowed deep, and her chest rose and fell rapidly as adrenaline coursed through her veins. The sight before her made her stomach twist.
"Who did this to Jordan?!" she demanded, her voice rising half into a shout.
The maid who had spilled the drink froze. Her entire body shook uncontrollably. Each step she took backward seemed slower than the last, her eyes wide with fear.
"Mā¦mā¦mā¦me," she stammered, barely above a whisper.
Sophia's hands shot out like lightning. She grabbed a fistful of the maid's hair and yanked her down to the floor.
"Argh!!!" the maid screamed, pain radiating from her scalp.
Sophia's eyes flashed with a mixture of fury and control as she turned her gaze to Jordan, who sat curled up on the couch, tears streaming down his faceāor so it seemed.
"When someone fails to do their job properly," Sophia said, her voice sharp as a blade, "you punish them."
She stomped on a nearby glass and shattered it underfoot, sending tiny shards skittering across the marble. Then, without hesitation, she turned back to the trembling maid.
"Kneel on it," she commanded.
A cruel, mischievous smirk appeared on Jordan's face as his fake sobs continued. He looked like an innocent child, but the maids new better.
The maid had no choice. She lowered herself onto the jagged glass, her knees pressing painfully into the sharp edges. She gasped and cried out as the fragments cut into her skin, warm blood slowly seeping through.
Sophia knelt slightly beside her, carefully nudging some of the larger shards aside with her feet, ensuring she wouldn't cause more permanent harm than necessary. Then she turned to Jordan, her eyes glinting.
"Give her twenty resounding slaps," she ordered, the smirk still playing on her lips.
Jordan's fake tears disappeared instantly, replaced by a grin that was equal parts smug and proud. He bounded over to the kneeling maid and began raining slaps on her cheek with his small hands, each one sharp and precise, practiced from years of being spoiled.
"Seventeenā¦ eighteenā¦ nineteenā¦"
Before the twentieth could land, the entrance doors swung open with a commanding force.
Aiden stepped inside, the room falling silent immediately. Every head turned to him, even Jordan, who froze mid-motion, unwilling to meet his father's icy glare.
Aiden moved past the scene with a predator's grace. Sophia hurried to catch up, grabbing his wrist in a desperate attempt to slow him down.
He twisted away smoothly, snapping her hand off his. Then, he turned to her, eyes burning with lethal precision.
"Don't forget your place," he said, his voice low, dangerous. "I only allowed you stay here because of the boy. And the sooner you teach that son of yours to respect his elders, the better."
He glanced down at the maid, still kneeling, blood soaking through the thin fabric of her uniform.
"Stand up. I'll send your pay and your medical bills," he said flatly. Then he walked upstairs, leaving silence and tension in his wake.
Sophia stood there, her fists clenched, heart hammering.
"Sh*t," she muttered under her breath.
This wasn't the life she had imagined when she moved in. Ever since the confession, Aiden had barely touched her, let alone slept beside her. They had separate bedrooms. No matter how she triedāseduction, charm, even subtle gamesāit never worked. He was untouchable, distant, and cold.
"Mommyā¦ why doesn't Daddy play with me? Or even smile at me?" Jordan asked softly, his small hands gripping hers.
Sophia forced a smile, brushing a strand of hair from his face. "Nothing. Don't worry. He willā¦ someday," she said gently, hiding her own fear and frustration.
She reached for her handbag. "I'll take you shopping tomorrow, okay? Mommy has some places to be today."
She leaned down and planted a soft kiss on his cheek, careful to mask her unease.
"Okay, Mommy," he whispered, nodding.
With one last glance at the chaos left behind, Sophia turned and hurried out, the mansion's chilling atmosphere pressing down on her with every step.
---
NEXT MORNING ā ARLINGTON HEIGHTS
Salma and Jasmine had already settled into their new apartment. It was simple but elegant, with three bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and even a small garden at the back.
Both of them were still cuddled under the covers when a loud ringtone cut through the quiet morning. Salma groaned and reached for her phone on the bedside table. Her eyes were blurry, so she rubbed them before squinting at the caller ID.
It was Lucian.
She frowned. At 6 a.m.? Seriously?
With a tired sigh, she answered.
"Hello?" she said, a yawn slipping out.
"You're not telling me you're still sleeping," Lucian said. His tone carried irritation.
"You need to be at the modeling agency by 7:30. I paid billions to get Aiden Hart here. Don't keep him waiting. The shoot starts at 8 a.m."
And just like that, he hung up.
Aiden Hart. The name echoed in her mind. Everyone knew the Hartsāthe richest family in America. She knew Aiden had many careers, modeling included, but she couldn't quite remember his face.
Salma sighed again. She couldn't leave Jasmine alone, so she gently woke her too.
---
HUBBLE STUDIO ā 7:41 A.M.
Salma rushed into the studio, panting. She was lateāLucian was definitely going to explode. She had stopped on the way to buy something for Jasmine to eat before they arrived.
Lucian looked at her once, his expression unreadable, and then looked away without a word.
That silence was somehow worse.
A woman in a sharp corporate outfit walked up to her.
"Hi, I'm Michelleāyour personal stylist," she said.
"Hello Michelle, I'm Salā"
"Salma Rodriguez," Michelle finished quickly with a smile. "Glad to see you back."
Salma nodded and turned to Jasmine. "Stay here, okay? Don't go anywhere."
"Okay, Mommy," Jasmine said, happily licking her lollipop.
"Let's go," Salma said to Michelle.
Michelle nodded and led her toward the changing room.
Salma's makeup was professionally done, and her hair was styled so perfectly that she couldn't stop staring at her reflection. She lookedā¦ beautiful.
But the moment they showed her the outfits, her breath caught.
Every dress was revealingāvery revealingāand all from top luxury brands.
Lucian must be trying to humiliate her. There was no other explanation.
Still, she didn't complain. With a tight exhale, she picked an outfit and stepped inside to change.
----
Jasmine sat quietly, licking her lollipop, swinging her little feet. But after a few minutes, boredom kicked in. She glanced around the studio, curiosity shining in her eyes. With her lollipop still in her mouth, she wandered off.
She pushed open a door without reading the sign.
A male dressing room.
And not just anyone'sāAiden Hart stood inside, shirtless, while the makeup artists tried their best to steady their trembling hands.
His presence was enough to make even professionals lose control. His skin glowed under the light, and his muscles looked like they were carved with intention.
Jasmine's eyes lit up. Without warning, she ran toward him and hugged him tightly.
Everyone froze.
"My hero!" she giggled, pulling away.
Aiden stared back at her with a blank expression, clearly unsure how to respond.
"You're so hot," Jasmine added proudly.
One of the makeup artists choked on air.
But then Jasmine noticed something. She pointed at the flame-shaped birthmark on his shoulder.
"You have the same birthmark as me!"
Aiden's expression finally shiftedāfirst confusion, then something deeper. Jasmine tugged down her little jacket to show hers.
Every makeup artist gasped.
Aiden's eyes widened. He lifted a hand sharply, and the room fell silent.
Everyone paused where they stood.
He crouched down in front of Jasmine, studying the birthmark more closely. His jaw tightened.
"Jasmine!" Salma's voice echoed from the doorway.
She rushed in and quickly pulled Jasmine's jacket back up, covering the mark.
Aiden's gaze snapped to her.
For a moment, he forgot to breathe.
Salma looked breathtaking. The dress hugged her curves perfectly, stopping mid-thigh. Soft skin peeked through the cut-out sides, and her neckline exposed just enough to make a man lose his mind. Aiden almost swallowed hard.
But her protective reaction told him something was wrong.
Something she was hiding.
"You all can leave," he ordered the makeup artists.
They scattered out without a sound.
Aiden straightened and turned to Salma, his eyes dark, sharp, and predatory.
He stepped closer.
"How did she get that birthmark?" he asked coldly. "Whose child is she?"
His voice dropped lowerādangerous.
"Don't lie to me." he warned...
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