Gregory never imagined he would one day feel such an uncontrollable impulse.
Back when Xander had said those cruel things to hurt Anathea, Gregory had stood off to the side like an indifferent bystander.
But deep down, he hadn’t been unmoved. There was a twisted sense of grim satisfaction beneath it all. Since Xander had broken Anathea’s heart, Gregory had thought maybe she would finally withdraw all that love she’d poured into him.
For five long years, Xander had always been her priority. Gregory ad always told himself he didn’t care, but that was nothing more than self–deception.
The truth was, not only did he care, but he was bitterly jealous. He just never had the courage to face it.
But with Xander’s actions leaving Anathea so disappointed, Gregory thought he could claim her heart entirely for himself.
Anathea would belong to him alone. No one else. Not even his own son would have the chance to compete for her love.
He’d been shocked by how dark that thought was. But even more disturbing was how satisfied it had made him feel.
But now, Anathea said she no longer liked him, yet she was so kind to Xander.
She could show compassion to Xander, who’d treated her so badly. So why was she so cold and distant with him?
And when Cyrus told him she’d gone to sleep beside Xander tonight, Gregory had felt like he was the one being abandoned.
His expression darkened, and a storm began to swirl in the depths of his eyes. He was jealous of his own son.
Gregory clenched his fists and pushed open the door to Xander’s room.
But the moment he saw the scene inside, he froze in place.
Silver moonlight streamed through the sheer curtains, spilling softly across the bed like scattered stardust.
Under that gentle light, Anathea and Xander lay sleeping side by side, their breathing slow and steady. It was as beautiful as a painting.
Xander’s face, which bore a striking resemblance to his own, gave him an illusion that Anathea was lying beside him instead.
Cyrus, who’d followed closely behind, glanced at Xander and smiled. “Mr. Xander really is your son. You two look so alike. What a beautiful child. They say the more in love the parents are, the more beautiful the child turns out.”
Gregory blinked and looked at Cyrus.
Thinking he’d overstepped, Cyrus immediately shut his mouth and retreated without another word.
But his words echoed in Gregory’s mind. “The more in love the parents are, the more beautiful the child turns out.”
There was no scientific basis to that statement at all.
Xander looked good because Anathea was beautiful. It was as simple as that.
Gregory’s eyes lingered on Anathea’s serene sleeping face, then he looked at Xander again. For the first time, he thought maybe Xander wasn’t so bad–looking after all.
And yet, that just made him more miserable. Anathea could reconcile with Xander, so why couldn’t she make up with him?
Gregory pressed his lips into a tight line.
Just then, his phone buzzed with a message from Theo.
“It’s Natalie’s birthday tomorrow. Aunt Eleanor is throwing a party for her and asked me to make sure you attend.”
Gregory’s first instinct was to ignore it. Why should he go to someone else’s birthday party?
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Chapter 231
But then he remembered what Wesley had told him about how to keep a marriage alive.
So Gregory replied, “Okay.”
And then, without another glance back, he left.
As morning sunlight filtered into the room, Anathea slowly opened her sleepy eyes.
Xander was still nestled beside her. Sensing her stir, he opened his eyes too. His voice was still groggy from sleep as he murmured, “Morning, Mom.”
Anathea smiled. “Good morning.”
Xander had school today, so he couldn’t stay in bed.
Anathea got up and helped him get dressed. Xander was especially cooperative, even pulling on his own socks without being asked.
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