Lily’s Teddy Bear
Chapter 05 - Lily’s Teddy Bear
Lily had carried the teddy bear since her mother died.
Dante thought it was only comfort.
He did not know Sofia had asked the hospital’s child-life specialist to place a voice recorder inside the stitched heart. The recorder did not transmit. It stored short audio clips whenever Lily pressed the heart twice.
That afternoon, when Vanessa entered the nursery and lifted the music box from the shelf, Lily pressed the stitched heart twice.
Dante noticed Lily’s thumb rubbing the heart now.
“What did Teddy hear?” he asked gently.
Vanessa went still.
Elena looked at the bear.
Lily’s eyes widened.
“She told me not to press it.”
Vanessa stepped forward. “Dante, she is confused.”
Dante raised one hand.
Vanessa stopped.
He knelt in front of Lily, lowering himself until his eyes were level with hers.
“May I hold Teddy?”
Lily hesitated.
May you like
Then she passed him the bear.
Vanessa’s face lost color.
