Love Unspoken

Her own offspring had never been granted the opportunity to emit its first wail.

"Quinn, have you returned?" A nanny spotted Quinn, her voice laced with warmth as she welcomed her.

Quinn's gaze shifted from the infant, acknowledging the nanny with a slight nod.

The nanny continued, "Then Alexander must have returned as well. You ought to visit Quinn more frequently. She's been in a state of despair recently, barely consuming any food or drink, and she's shed a significant amount of weight." Quinn offered no response, instead rising from the swing and making her way towards the stroller.

As she neared, the infant began to wave his tiny arms about, reaching out for something with evident excitement.

The nanny's voice held a hint of joy as she said, "Quinn, it appears little Alexander is reaching out for you."

Quinn paused, then lifted her gaze to meet the nanny's.

The nanny suggested, "Little Alexander begins to wail the moment he stirs from his slumber, and nothing seems to pacify him. Perhaps you could give it a try?"

A flicker of emotion crossed Quinn's face. She'd laid eyes on the child multiple times but had never made physical contact, never having been afforded the opportunity.

Each time she attempted to draw near, she was rebuffed by either Freya or Kaitlyn.

Her gaze fell to the baby's plump cheeks and inflamed, tear-filled eyes, and her thoughts returned to her own child.

Hesitantly, Quinn extended her hand, her fingertip lightly grazing the baby's cheek.

The sensation of softness, akin to cotton, traveled up her finger as the child's hand closed around hers. In that moment, Quinn could no longer suppress the cracks in her heart. They splintered further, revealing a raw and bleeding emotional turmoil.

The infant clutched her finger and promptly brought it to his mouth. With his toothless little jaws, he suckled on her finger, emitting soft cooing and gurgling sounds.

Quinn found herself unable to resist squatting down to observe the little one more closely.

As the infant's cries began to fade, he maintained a firm grip on her finger. Quinn hadn't cleansed her hands, which meant she was compelled to extricate her finger from his mouth.

If you're loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you!

However, as soon as she had done so, the child erupted into a fresh bout of wailing.

Left with no alternative, Quinn offered her finger once more, successfully silencing the baby as he once again drew it into his mouth.

The nanny chuckled, "Indeed, Quinn has a magical touch. She's far more adept at this than any of us."

"Quinn, why don't you hold him for a while? If you could lull him to sleep, we'd all be able to enjoy a brief respite," the nanny suggested earnestly. It was evident that the past few days had taken a toll on them, and they were eager to delegate the responsibility to someone else.

Quinn hesitated. Faced with such a diminutive child, she was apprehensive about holding him.

However, without further delay, the nanny scooped up little Harold and handed him to Quinn, who appeared utterly uncertain about how to handle the infant.

After a moment's hesitation, Quinn carefully cradled the child in her arms. It was the first time she'd observed him so closely-a newborn life, as pure as an untouched canvas, and fragile.

She found it impossible to associate the little one's face with either Freya or Walter.

As she gently held the baby still, not daring to move, the sight of the little one's flawless face tugged at her heartstrings, stirring a dull ache within.

If her own child was still alive, they would be uttering their first words by now.

They would be expressing joy and sorrow just like this baby.

Reflecting on Kaitlyn, who had declared that foolishness was hereditary and had chosen to terminate her pregnancies, Quinn perceived the child in a new light. The image of her own children's desperate little faces surfaced in her mind as she watched the baby cry.

Her hands began to tremble uncontrollably.

A powerful, eerie urge tempted her to release her hold.

The nanny noticed the change in her demeanor, the way she was fixated on the baby with tears and an indescribable blend of agony and resentment in her eyes.

Alarmed, they exchanged a glance and moved in to retrieve the baby.

But before their hands could make contact with the child, Quinn took a step back.