Chapter 305: A Mother, But Not A Home

Moira straightened her shoulders and quickly plastered a polished smile over her face, burying the irritation that had flashed across her features.

She just arrived home, and the last thing she needed was for anyone to see her losing her temper.

With measured steps, she crossed the lawn toward the group.

"Shay, baby... Mommy’s back."

The little girl was still perched on Asher’s shoulder. At the sound of Moira’s voice, Shay turned around.

For a fleeting second, Moira expected the same bright smile Shay had given Lara.

Instead, the sunshine disappeared from the little girl’s face.

Shay sat straighter and looked at her mother with the stiff politeness of a child greeting a teacher.

"Mommy Moira."

Moira stopped.

Her smile twitched.

"What kind of greeting is that?" she asked, her voice losing some of its sweetness. "Am I your teacher?"

Shay’s small shoulders tensed.

Moira’s expression hardened, but the moment she noticed the Zuvel brothers watching her with cold, disapproving eyes, she forced her features to relax.

She couldn’t afford to make a scene.

"Come here, baby." She opened her arms. "Give Mommy a hug."

She stepped closer, holding her arms wide, clearly expecting Shay to run into them the way she had just run into Lara.

Asher lowered Shay to the ground.

The little girl hesitated.

One small step.

Then another.

She finally stopped in front of Moira.

But she didn’t throw herself into her mother’s arms.

She merely stood there.

Moira kept her arms open, waiting.

The silence stretched.

Shay only stared up at her, confusion flickering in her eyes.

Asher’s mouth curved into a humorless smirk.

"You’re too tall. How exactly do you expect her to hug you from there?"

Moira shot him an irritated look.

She reluctantly bent down.

Only then did Shay move.

With visible hesitation, she wrapped her tiny arms around Moira’s waist.

Moira stiffened for half a second before forcing herself to return the embrace.

She kissed Shay’s cheek.

Once. Then again.

The affection felt more like a performance than a mother’s embrace.

The moment Moira released her, Shay immediately stepped away and hurried toward Ares.

She slipped behind him and wrapped both arms around his right thigh.

Ares looked down at her but said nothing.

He didn’t need to.

Shay knew he was her shield.

She knew that as long as she stayed beside Ares, Moira couldn’t force her to do anything she didn’t want to do.

Moira’s smile finally cracked.

"Shay, Mommy isn’t finished talking to you yet."

Shay peeked around Ares’ leg.

"Why do you keep avoiding me?" Moira demanded, her voice carrying a wounded edge. "You act as though you’re afraid of your own mother."

Shay lowered her eyes.

Slowly, she stepped out from behind Ares—but kept one arm wrapped tightly around his leg.

"Mommy..." she whispered. "I’m just afraid I’ll dirty your dress."

She glanced at the expensive fabric.

"Then you’ll get angry."

For a moment, Moira simply stared at her.

Something hot and ugly twisted inside her chest.

Of all the things she had expected from her daughter, fear was not one of them.

Moira forced her lips upward.

"Oh, sweetheart, you don’t have to worry about that. Mommy—"

"Look at what you’ve done to your daughter."

Asher’s voice cut through hers.

Moira’s smile disappeared.

Asher stared at her, his expression hardening.

"Don’t blame Shay for being distant from you. You taught her to be."

Moira’s eyes flashed.

She had rehearsed what she was going to say on the drive home. She had imagined walking onto the lawn, embracing Shay, smiling sweetly, and making everyone believe she was the devoted mother.

One sentence from Asher shattered all of it.

"You’re one to talk!" she snapped.

Asher’s brows drew together.

Moira took a step toward him.

"Are you any better?" Her voice rose. "You’re a useless, irresponsible father who barely knows how to take care of his own daughter, yet you have the nerve to lecture me?"

The words rang across the lawn.

Shay flinched.

Her little body immediately shrank.

She pressed her left ear against Ares’ thigh while covering her right ear with her hand, desperately trying to shut out the shouting.

Lara noticed.

Her expression changed instantly.

She didn’t say a word.

She simply walked over, scooped Shay into her arms, and held her close.

"Come on, sweetie," Lara murmured, deliberately keeping her voice soft. "Let’s give Midnight his supper, then we’ll wash up."

Shay nodded against her shoulder.

Lara slipped a pair of earbuds into the little girl’s ears and started a lively children’s song on her phone.

The music immediately filled Shay’s ears, drowning out the voices behind them.

Even if Asher and Moira screamed until their throats were raw, Shay wouldn’t have to hear another word.

Lara turned away.

Sandro and Midnight followed as she carried Shay toward the house.

She had taken only a few steps when—

"Larissa Reyes!"

Moira’s furious voice rang across the lawn.

"Stop!"

Lara stopped.

Moira marched toward her, her heels striking the ground sharply.

"Where are you taking my daughter?" she demanded. "Bring her back!"

Lara slowly turned around.

Her expression was calm.

She looked at Moira for several seconds before letting out a quiet, humorless laugh.

"If you want to throw a tantrum, go ahead."

Her eyes hardened.

"If you want to fight with Asher, that’s your business."

She shifted Shay higher in her arms.

"But don’t do it in front of the child."

Moira’s face flushed.

"She’s my daughter!"

"And that gives you the right to traumatize her?"

The question landed like a slap.

Moira’s lips parted.

Lara didn’t give her a chance to respond.

"You’re so busy demanding that Shay call you her mother that you haven’t stopped to ask yourself why she doesn’t feel safe enough to act like your daughter."

With that, Lara turned and walked away.

This time, her steps were quicker.

Moira’s fury exploded.

"Asher, did you hear that?" she shouted. "Look at her! How dare she speak to me like that?"

She pointed accusingly at Lara’s retreating figure.

"I am Shay’s biological mother! Who does that woman think she is? How dare that slut act so arrogantly in front of me?"

"Moira Torres!"

Ares’ voice thundered across the lawn.

Everything stopped.

Moira froze.

Even Asher instinctively stiffened.

There was something in Ares’ voice that reminded him of a battlefield commander—an absolute authority that demanded obedience before thought could intervene.

Why was his brother so imposing? Wasn’t he the one who trained in the military?