Chapter 1617

"Have you heard the story of the galloping horse and its rider? Without the right rider, even the finest horse can fade into obscurity. Kaylee, we rely on each other—don't force my hand," Isabelle warned, narrowing her eyes with a hint of menace. Seven years ago, Helen might have felt a flicker of fear, but now everything felt perfectly aligned. "In that case, it seems you won't be returning here, Ms. Rodrigo. Feel free to leave; I won't be seeing you out," Helen said, making her dismissal clear. "Just remember, you're the one burning this bridge. Don't regret it," Isabelle shot back before storming out. Unfazed, Helen calmly lifted her coffee cup, savoring each sip. Isabelle and Jason were already on the brink; with a few strategic moves, they would be finished, so there was no need to rush. … Night soon fell. Just as Helen was about to drift off to sleep, she suddenly heard a child crying. After listening for a few seconds, she realized the cries were coming from Ivy's room. She quickly got out of bed and rushed over. As she reached the door, Lincoln emerged from his room. "Mommy, it sounds like Ivy is crying." "Yeah, I heard," Helen replied with a nod. She turned the doorknob and stepped inside. Sure enough, Ivy was lying in bed, crying uncontrollably. Helen walked over, gently picked her up, and began to soothe her. "Don't cry, Ivy. Linc and I are here. There's nothing to be scared of…" But Ivy continued to sob, her words tumbling out in a rush. "Aunt Helen, Mommy's gone, Daddy's gone… There's so much blood. I'm so scared—" "It's just a bad dream, Ivy. It's okay; dreams aren't real. Look, Linc and I are right here with you. There's no blood, is there?" Helen said softly, trying to comfort her. Ivy sniffled and slowly opened her eyes. When she saw Lincoln, she finally stopped crying. Seeing her calm down, Helen gently asked, "Ivy, do you remember your last name? Do you know where your home is? Who was with you?" After thinking for a moment, Ivy lowered her head and whispered, "I don't remember." Her evasive answer certainly didn't escape Helen's notice. If Ivy knew, why wouldn't she just say it? Nonetheless, Helen understood that children often have their reasons for holding back. Instead of pressing her, she picked Ivy up and carried her to Sienna's room. Meanwhile, Sienna had also been roused by the commotion and was still quite groggy. As they entered, she sat on the edge of the bed, struggling to stay awake. "Nana," Helen gently called, "how about you let Ivy sleep with you from now on?" "Okay," Sienna replied with a yawn, her eyes barely open. She shifted to make room on the bed and lay back down. Helen placed Ivy beside her, and Sienna instantly wrapped her arms around her. The two children snuggled together and quickly fell asleep. "Mommy, can I stay here and sleep with them?" Lincoln asked, still feeling a bit uncertain. Helen sighed and said, "What did I tell you? Boys and girls shouldn't get too close. As you grow up, it's important to give the girls their space so they don't feel uncomfortable. Do you understand?" "Okay," Lincoln replied, a little disappointed but deciding not to argue. "I'll head back to my room then. Goodnight, Mommy!" "Goodnight."