Teach Me (18+)

Chapter Forty Four

Eden's Point Of View

When I stepped into Winslow Enterprise, all eyes were on me. All my staff stared at me, telling me that they had found out about Lily and Gianna. I held my head high and made my way to my office as if nothing had happened.

My office was just as I had left it, clean and everything organized, which was a complete contrast to how my life is going right now. Everything is all over the place, so it's all out of my control, and I can't fix it.

I sat down in my large office chair, the weight of the world crashing down on my shoulders. The deep breath I drew in came out shaken as I tried to force myself into work. My eyes stared at the exact numbers absentmindedly, for hours on end, before I got up, taking my laptop to the nearest cafe.

In the cafe, I was able to focus, but only after ordering the strongest coffee they had to offer and a bagel. I worked on fixing the missing numbers and updating clients' portfolios for the upcoming construction projects that were scheduled to be built soon.

My eyes lifted from my laptop when the door chimed as someone walked in. I paused my email mid-sentence as the familiar woman walked over to me. Her usual dark hair was pulled into a neat ponytail.

"Edie, I finally found you," My sisters spoke, opening their arms as she approached me. "I heard about everything. Are you okay?"

I placed my arms out, pushing her away. "I am fine, but where the hell were you?" I stared into her dark eyes. "Your daughter was kidnapped for fuck sake."

"I just found out this morning, I've just been working so much, Eden," she said, sitting down at the table across from me, " I'm just so busy and tired."

"Then stop fucking working, I mean fuck it's not like you're taking care of your daughter Avanna," I said, holding her gaze.

Her jaw tightened, "I can't not work, Eden. I still have bills and have a lot of debt that I have acquired over the years," she said, crossing her arms, "Rehab wasn't exactly fully funded."

"Considering your dumbass went more than once," I spat, "No Avanna, it wasn't."

She scoffed, "You're being so unfair."

"No, Avanna, I'm sparing you from what I really want to say," I declared, looking back at my laptop, focusing on the portfolio again. "I have a lot of work to do since I had to pause my life to find my family, so I'd suggest you go before I actually hurt your feelings."

My eyes shot up as she yelled, " She isn't your family!"

"Avanna, I can make a family with whoever the fuck I please," my voice raised, "Don't you ever open your mouth to say Gianna isn't my family."

"You're lucky enough that I still consider you family."

Her eyes swelled with tears at my words, and yet I felt no remorse. I had officially reached my limit of taking on the world's problems; for once, I needed to stop and take care of myself and my own problems.

" Then I'll just leave you alone," Avanna said, standing from the wooden chair, " I just really hope she makes it with that stab wound."

My ears began to burn, "What the fuck did you just say?" I said, my words stern.

How does she know what's wrong with Gianna or her state at the moment? "Avanna, I swear to God, if you did something to hurt Gianna, I am going to physically hurt you so bad you won't remember your name," I told her, resting my hands on the dark brown table, "That's if you have a name when I'm finished with you."

"Is that a threat, Eden?" She asked, holding her chest, "Are you actually threatening me right now?"

"No, Avanna, I'm making you a fucking promise, let me find out you did something to her, and it's a wrap for you."

I watched as she limped out of the cafe, my ears still burning from the anger that bubbled in my chest. I grabbed my phone off the table and texted Artemis to investigate the kidnappings further.

Artemis Andretti: Already On It.

Eventually, the lunch rush arrived, and that sent me packing to head back to my office. There, I tried focusing on finishing the client's portfolio, but being in my office only made my mind wander, so instead, I left work yet again and headed to my estate.

The iron gates opened for me after I put in the code, allowing me to drive up the long driveway. After parking in the garage, I headed inside, where my moms and Lily sat in the kitchen eating Chinese food.

"Lovie!!" Lily yelled, jumping out of her seat. Her little arms wrapped around me, and I melted into her. I picked her up, and her legs wrapped around my waist. She smelt of cocoa butter and vanilla, soothing me, as I took deep breaths in.

She was dressed in light-washed jean shorts and a yellow shirt, her hair in a sleek braid with a yellow bow at the end, a style I knew only my mother had mastered.

"Hi, my baby," I sighed in her arms.

"I missed you while you were gone, and thank you for letting me hang out with Isla and Adrianna. She got us big donuts from a bakery," She said, hugging me tighter.

"You're welcome, baby," I told her, even though I knew I shouldn't have let her have that playdate.

But at the same time, I didn't think Lily would get kidnapped.

"Where is Gigi?" She asked as I placed her back down, "I've missed her too."

I held her gaze, trying to find the words to tell her, but I fell short. Her head fell to the side, but her eyes never wavered, meaning I have to say something to her. I sighed softly before sitting in one of the chairs, pulling her into my lap.

"Gianna was in an accident, baby, she's okay, but she's at the hospital," I told her, brushing my hand over her braid.

"Can I see her?" She asked, her voice lowering.

"When she feels better, baby, you'll be the first to go, "I assured her.

"But I want to see her now," She said, her lip quivering and tears forming in her eyes.

"I know, baby, but you can't yet," I said softly, watching as the tears rolled down her face.

She hopped off my lap, running out of the kitchen. Tears of my own swelled up in my eyes, but I forced them away. My mom's arms wrapped around me, one in the front and one in the back.

"Eden, it's okay, you can cry," My mother, Evangeline, said, stroking my hair.

"You don't have to be strong right now, baby," My mom, Akeyla, said, hugging me tighter.

"I do," I forced out, tears burning to come out. "They both need me to be strong."

"Eden, you can't just push how you're feeling away," My mother's voice echoed around me.

"I have to," I spoke, my voice cracking with every word.

I have to.

"I need you guys to take Lily home with you," I said, lifting her out of their arms. " I can't let anything else happen to you guys here in Miami. I'll come get her once I fix things here."

"Eden, you can't push us away either," My mom said. "It's okay, baby."

"I just really need you guys safe," I said, wiping the tears that rolled down my face. " I'll tell Lily and pack her bag."

"The jet will leave in an hour."

I really need them safe, even if that means away from me.