So, Anathea had stopped daring to hope for anything more. Just being able to keep things as they were was already enough.
Xander didn’t know what was going on in her mind. He just wanted to stay close to her, so he asked, “Mom, can you sleep with me tonight? You haven’t in a while.”
Anathea paused for a moment. When she met his pleading eyes, she didn’t refuse. After all, she’d rather be with Xander than go back to the master bedroom to face Gregory.
“Yay!” Xander bounced up excitedly and rushed to grab his picture book to show Anathea.
Anathea leaned back against the bed and began reading to him, just like she used to. As Xander snuggled into her arms, his face lit up with pure joy.
He was thrilled that she was reading him a story again. Maybe if he kept being good, Anathea would go back to being the mother who loved him most.
At that thought, Xander hugged her arm and said, “It’s so nice to have you here, Mom. I want to be with you forever!”
A ripple of emotion stirred in Anathea’s eyes. Xander had never said anything like this before.
She lowered her gaze to his innocent face that bore some resemblance to her own.
This was her son, the one person in the world who was bound to her by blood.
Her thoughts drifted back to just a few days ago when Xander had insisted on apologizing to her despite feeling sick.
Even adults made mistakes, so why should she hold onto a child’s mistake? Was she taking it out on Xander because she couldn’t stand up to Gregory’s behavior?
That felt unfair and wrong.
Anathea pressed her lips together, a complicated swirl of emotions clouding her mind.
After a long pause,
she sighed softly and whispered, “Xander.”
But the only response was the sound of shallow breathing.
Xander had fallen asleep in her arms. He was curled up in a tiny bundle like a bunny. He was so cute it made her want to give him a gentle squeeze.
Anathea’s fingers rested lightly on the bridge of his nose–the one feature he shared most with her. Everything else his lips, his eyes, even the shape of his brows–was all Gregory. Xander was like a miniature version of him.
Anathea paused, then quietly withdrew her fingers. She no longer reached out to touch him. Gently, she supported Xander’s head resting on her lap and eased it back onto the pillow.
Xander nuzzled her palm in his sleep, murmuring, “Mom…”
Anathea’s gaze softened. She lay down beside him, and soon, she drifted into sleep as well.
Outside, the moon gradually disappeared behind the clouds.
Gregory sat on the edge of his bed, flipping through a book over and over again. His eyes glanced toward the door every now and then, but Anathea was nowhere to be seen. He frowned.
The next second, the door creaked open.
Gregory immediately looked up, but his expression cooled when he saw it was Cyrus. “What is it?”
“Mr. Sinclair, you didn’t seem well today, so I made the soothing soup Mrs. Sinclair Senior recommended,” Cyrus said, holding a tray with a bowl.
1/2
Chapter 230
+25 BONUS
“I don’t need it.” Gregory adjusted his glasses, then remembered how startled Anathea had looked earlier. “Give it to Anathea.”
“She’s already gone to sleep,” Cyrus replied.
Gregory’s fingers halted on the page. His tone was unreadable as he asked, “Where is she sleeping?”
“She’s sleeping with Mr. Xander.”
With a sharp snap, Gregory slammed the book shut. The bandage the back of his hand was stained red again as the movement tugged at his wound.
Cyrus, seeing Gregory’s icy expression, felt a chill run down his spine. “Mr. Sinclair-”
Before Cyrus could say another word, Gregory threw off the covers got out of bed, and stormed out of the room. He headed straight for Xander’s.
Chapter 231
