WINTER'S MATE: FATED ON ICE

Chapter 26–Best Birthday

Rosie’s POV

For the whole day, I did not leave the room, choosing to be cooped up inside the bedroom. I really appreciated the food Jude had brought in for me earlier, although I could not even manage to get the taste of it because my taste buds were not working under everything that had happened. I picked up my phone from the nightstand again, scrolling through the screen as I saw a few unread messages waiting for me from Elena and Kira.

Elena’s message read: Hello, Rosie. How are you doing now? Mia can stay a few more days with me if you need some time.

Kira’s message was much shorter: I don’t even know what to say right now. I just wanted to send this so you know I’m thinking of you.

The typing of Kira’s text sounded awkward, and I chuckled softly at the screen because the thought truly counted. The soft distraction helped clear my head slightly, prompting me to quickly dive back into my mobile banking app again just to verify that the balance was still sitting safely there. The zeros stared back at me, confirming it was real, and I found myself wondering what I was going to use all this money to do now that my primary burden was gone.

“Thank you.” I quickly shot Kira a brief message, and then I typed out a response to Elena: "I’m doing fine. Thank you for taking Mia yesterday. She can come back home. I’m okay now.”

Around evening time, after sleeping for a few hours to finally calm the throbbing headache brought on by overthinking, I reached out to grab a drink of water. My hand caught the handle of the jug on the nightstand, but it was empty. Realising the water had finished, I picked up the empty plate from my earlier meal and carried it along with the jug as I walked carefully and slowly out into the living room.

I felt jumpy with every step I took, constantly looking around the space just in case Jude was standing there waiting for me. When my eyes scanned the room and I did not see him anywhere, I breathed out a sigh of relief. I still did not know how to face him yet, though a quiet part of me realised I was no longer angry about the fact that Mia had been fully involved in his scheme.

I dropped the empty jug onto the counter, refilling it with cold water to take it back to the bedroom when the sound of the front doorbell suddenly rang through the quiet apartment. I set the pitcher down, walked over to the door, and swung it open to find Mia standing on the threshold, escorted by a tall man dressed in a suit.

Confused, I quickly checked my phone and noticed a missed message from Elena an hour ago.

Elena: Oh, I am currently not at home right now, but I will tell one of the trusted security men to bring Mia back to the penthouse. He is trustworthy.

I quickly typed back a response thanking her, and then I looked up at the man, who simply dipped his head respectfully at me. While I smiled back at him in appreciation, watching him turn around to leave before I closed the door.

Mia entered the room silently, having already changed out of her blue princess gown into normal jeans and a tank top. She was looking at me warily, her small hands tightly clutching the straps of the backpack hanging behind her shoulders. I tilted my head to the side, waiting patiently for her to walk over and take a seat on the couch before I sat down in front of her, levelling her with a firm look that immediately made her gulp.

"Jude has already confessed everything to me," I told her, keeping my voice calm but unyielding. "Now, it is your turn to talk." I raised my brow, my hands crossed on my chest while tapping my left foot on the floor.

She began to fiddle with her hands on her lap, looking guilty while trying to project an innocent expression through her wide eyes, but I was not folding or giving in to the act this time.

"Do not look at me like that, young lady," I chided her gently.

Mia let out a heavy sigh, her small shoulders slumping down in defeat. "I and Daddy—" She stopped abruptly, catching the warning look in my eyes before she quickly corrected herself, breathing out a hurried sentence. "Uncle Jude planned it. He told me that he loved you so much, and when I looked at him, I saw the sincerity in his eyes, and I really wanted you to have a happy life, Rosie, so I agreed to go along with it."

I stood still, completely shocked by her words; the realisation that my little girl had been looking out for me from so far away, thinking ahead to ensure my future happiness, made a lump form in my throat. She kept talking, explaining something else about the plan, but I did not even listen to the rest of her words as I reached out and pulled her small body into a tight hug.

"Thank you," I whispered into her hair, pressing a warm kiss against her forehead. I pulled back slightly, reaching up to playfully stretch her cheeks until she let out a tiny whine. "But next time, you need to always carry me along with the plan. You know it is supposed to be only me and you against this world." I released her cheeks, letting her adjust her posture in my arms.

Mia rubbed her reddened skin, shaking her head defiantly as a wide grin broke across her face. "Plus Uncle Jude now."

I could not help but smile at her sneakiness, but the light moment vanished just as quickly as it had arrived when the memory of Sophia suddenly crashed back into my thoughts. I did not know how Mia was feeling about the woman’s sudden appearance yesterday, and I needed to know her thoughts about it. I cleared my throat to catch her full attention, rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly. "About your mum..." I trailed off, unable to finish the sentence because I did not want to decide for her.

Mia looked back at me, her brown eyes steady. "I only have one mother," she started firmly, and I gulped against the sudden emotion rising in my chest. "And that mother is you, Rosie. I don’t care what anyone else says to me; you are the only one who took care of me, fed me, and did everything for me. I only recognise you as my mum."

Hearing her say the words made me smile through the sudden tears stinging the back of my eyes, her statement emotionally overwhelming me. "When did you become so eloquent like this?" I asked, laughing softly as I pulled her close against my chest again.

"Since the very beginning," she responded cheekily against my shoulder, prompting me to reach down and pinch her cheek one more time.

I held her tightly, looking down at her small frame. "I hope I didn’t ruin your birthday celebration yesterday."

She shook her head up and down, her grin widening as she looked up at me. "It was the best birthday ever. Thank you, Mum." She leant up, pressing a warm, sweet kiss directly onto my cheek, and the tears stung my eyes as I held her close. She was just so adorable.

And I went to the fridge to bring out the remaining cake for some bonding.

***

Mia is the best girl :)