Chapter 64

Mikayla's POV
Hearing that, my heart beat faster. “What did they prepare?” I asked curiously, my curiosity increasing.
Rudolf glanced at me with his sweet smile, “They just said there would be a surprise. But I guess they must have drawn and made cards for you. The kids are so excited.”
Imagining what they had prepared made me smile. All the pain and fear I had gone through seemed to be paid off by the love before my eyes.
When we reached the car, Rudolf helped me inside and made sure I was comfortable before he got inside. “Ready to go home?” Rudolf asked.
“Ready!” I replied excitedly. Deep inside, I already missed my family and it felt homey.
As the car drove to the house, I felt tears of joy almost falling.
Finally, I was home. And this is where I would return to the happiness I had always adored.
We would begin to heal the wounds that existed and rise again together as a family
When I arrived home, I was greeted by the cheerful voices of children running towards me. “Mommy! Mommy!” they shouted excitedly, and my heart felt warm seeing those little faces full of love. However, when I looked further, I was momentarily stunned.
Who was that?
“Who is she, Rudolf?” I asked, directing my gaze towards a woman standing next to him. She seemed friendly, with a big smile and a neat appearance.
“Oh, she’s the new babysitter who’s taking care of our kids,” Rudolf replied, explaining as he kissed my forehead. “Since I have to go back to work and you still need some rest, I decided to contact someone who could help us out for a while.”
I nodded, feeling mixed about it. “Are they okay with her?” I asked, a little worried. My kids were always my top priority.
“Don’t worry, honey. I’ve done a background check and talked to her references. She’s experienced and good with kids,” Rudolf replied, reassuring me.
My anxiety was starting to ease, but I still wanted to make sure my kids were comfortable with this new person. “Kids, do you like the new babysitter?” I asked, leaning over to see their reactions.
“Mommy! She’s really nice! She played with us earlier,” Emma replied, her smile bright. Daniel nodded in agreement, “Yeah, she even brought new games!”
Seeing the kids’ reactions made me a little relieved. “Okay, I’ll try to trust that decision. But, I want to make sure that I can be involved too,” I said, trying to assert my feelings.
“Make sure you rest, Mikayla. I know how hard this is, but your body needs time to recover,” Rudolf said softly.
Hearing that, I couldn’t help but feel the fatigue that was starting to hit me. “Yes, I’ll try to rest. Thank you for taking care of everything, Rudolf,” I said, looking at him with sincere gratitude.
Rudolf gestured for me and helped me into the house. While the new babysitter and the kids seemed to be busy playing, I felt a little lighter. I knew that with this babysitter, I could rest and improve myself.
“Ahh…” I lay down on the bed, feeling the softness of the pillows soothing me. It was quite boring to just lie around, but thinking about everything that had happened, I couldn’t help but feel relieved to be home. However, it would be even scarier if I wasn’t here.
After lying around for a while, I started to feel uncomfortable just lazing around. An idea struck me. Why don’t I try painting? It always brings me peace of mind. Besides, in my current situation, I think it’s better to use my energy to create something rather than to be trapped in scary thoughts.
I got up from bed, looking for my painting supplies that I usually keep. With a new sense of enthusiasm, I started to organize the paints and brushes that I haven’t seen in a long time. Touching the canvas and mixing the colors felt like reconnecting with my true self.
Although I’m a little traumatized by cooking, painting has always been a way for me to express my feelings and release all the tension. With every stroke of the brush on the canvas, I hope to channel all my emotions, both the happiness and the pain that I’ve felt.
As I mixed the bright colors, I smiled, remembering the good times with Rudolf and the kids. Then, every painful memory that I had just gone through came back to me. But today, I wanted to focus on the positive—the little moments that could warm my heart.
After some time, I started to see the shape of the painting starting to take shape. Maybe it was the beautiful view of the park, where we often played and laughed. In my mind, I imagined our happiness, and every detail I added was the spirit and hope for a better future.
While I was immersed in my painting, the laughter of the children and the babysitter continued to echo in the background. They seemed to be having fun playing, and feeling that gave me a sense of peace. A reminder that in the midst of all these trials, family love is the most important thing that made me feel strong.
A month has passed, and now my condition has improved. I can walk without a wheelchair again, and it is amazing to feel my steps getting stronger. This awakening gave me new hope in living a better life.
But when we talked, Rudolf looked serious. “Mikayla, until now Hannah has not been found,” he said in a tone full of worry.
I understand that she has run away abroad. The anxiety about the possibility of her being in an unreachable place tightened my chest. “I think it’s disappointing, Rudolf, but we have to keep believing that justice will come. We can’t let her continue hiding,” I replied, trying to give him support.
Rudolf nodded, although his expression showed how this burden was not easy for him. “I have contacted the police again, and they promised to continue investigating. There’s a chance they can track her down with international help,” he said, his voice full of determination not to give up.