Chapter 305

"Mrs. Lambert, you..." one nanny stammered, her voice tight with anxiety.

In their desperation to quiet the baby, they had acted rashly. Only now did they remember that Latisha had been forced to abort two children, and the culprit was Jaden's own mother. A wave of fear washed over them.

Latisha looked up at them, her grip on the baby tightening. Perhaps she held him a bit too tightly, because he started crying again, his wails hoarse from exhaustion.

"Mrs. Lambert, please give the baby back to us. We'll figure something out."

The nanny reached for him again, ready to snatch him away, but Latisha turned and walked off with the child. She hadn't taken two steps before she collided with a man's chest and stumbled back instinctively.

"Mr. Lambert," the nannies cried out in relief.

Latisha finally looked up and saw Clifford standing before her, his face a mask of indifference. Her fingers clenched the baby's swaddling as she stared at him.

Clifford glanced at the crying infant. "What's going on?"

One of the nannies rushed to explain. "Jaden has been crying nonstop for days. We thought Mrs. Lambert could help soothe him, but then... she wouldn't give him back."

Clifford's gaze fell back on Latisha's face. "Why are you holding him?"

Latisha's lips were pressed into a thin line. She didn't speak. She didn't know what she wanted to do. She only knew that when she thought of her two innocent children, she felt she had to do something, or she would be failing their memory. What that something was, she didn't know. She just had a primal urge not to return this child.

Clifford held out his hand. "Give me the baby."

Latisha clutched the infant tighter and took a step back, refusing.

Clifford's eyes turned cold, his voice rising in volume. "I'll say it one more time. Give me the baby!"

Latisha stared at him, motionless.

Losing his patience, Clifford stepped forward to take the baby from her arms. Latisha resisted, holding on even tighter The struggle made the baby cry even louder, his hoarse screams heart-wrenching,

"Latisha!" Clifford's voice was sharp with anger, an anger so palpable that everyone could feel it.

Latisha looked up at him, at the fury

in his eyes, at the concern he showed for this child. The pain in her own heart intensified. He had never looked at her like that when her own children were being taken from her. He could feel so much for Benata for Regata's child, yet he had been so heartless toward hers. Suddenly, an overwhelming exhaustion washed over her. A weariness unlike any she had ever known.

Clifford, reining in his temper, held out his hand again. "Give me the child."

Latisha stared at his tightly furrowed brow, a bitter sense of irony washing over her. But she relinquished her hold handing the baby over to Clifford, Because she couldirt I sure what she might do if she kept holding him.

Clifford took the baby, his tense expression finally relaxing. He turned and handed the infant to the nannies, who let out a collective sigh of relief and hurried away.

Latisha stood silently in the same spot. A cold wind whispered around her, carrying a fine mist that settled on her face, chilling her to the bone.

Clifford raised his hand and gently brushed a tear from the corner of her eye. His voice softened considerably. "If you want a child, we can have one. Don't do things like this."

Latisha remained still, not responding. Clifford took her hand to lead her away, but she pulled free.

He stopped and turned to face her. She took a deep breath, the cold air filling her lungs, making her insides ache as if pierced by needles. She began to sign: *But we had children.*

He was the one who let them be taken. He was the one who was disgusted by the idea of a child who might be mute like her.