Betrayed by My Ex, Marked by His Alpha Emperor Brother novel Chapter 242

Chapter 242: Chapter 242

Elara’s POV

Lyra’s sobs hit me like a blade between the ribs.

I didn’t think. I moved. Up the stairs, past Kaelen, past everything—straight to her.

She collapsed into my arms before I reached the top step. Her small body shook violently, hiccupping breaths rattling through her chest. Her fingers dug into my cloak like she was drowning.

"Mother—Mother, please—don’t go—"

"Shh. I’m here." I pressed her face into my shoulder. "I’m right here."

Valerius stood behind her, still as stone. Tears tracked silently down his cheeks, but his jaw was locked tight. He didn’t reach for me. He watched with those gold eyes—hard, ancient, betrayed.

Kaelen had followed me up the stairs. He hovered at the landing, haggard. Hollow. His mouth opened, then closed. He looked like a man watching his house burn from across a river.

I ignored him.

"Mother," Lyra whimpered against my neck, "you and Father were fighting again. I heard you. I heard the yelling."

"No more yelling," I whispered. "No more tonight."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

She pulled back, her face blotchy and swollen. Snot glistened on her upper lip. She looked so small. So fragile. So much like me, and so much like him, and the combination was unbearable.

"Stay tonight," she begged. "Just tonight. Please. Sleep in my room. You can have my whole bed. I’ll sleep on the floor. I don’t mind."

"You are not sleeping on the floor, little princess."

"Then we share. Please. Please, Mother."

I looked at Valerius.

He met my gaze. Cold. Guarded. Then he spoke, and his voice was a blade wrapped in silk.

"Go."

One word.

"Val—"

"We don’t need you." Each syllable was deliberate. Precise. Practiced. "You always leave. So just leave now and stop pretending."

The words landed exactly where he aimed them. Center mass. I flinched.

Lyra wailed. "Valerius, stop! Don’t say that—"

"It’s true." His voice cracked on the second word, betraying him. He swallowed hard and rebuilt the wall. "Every time she comes, she leaves. Every time. It’s worse when she stays first. So just—go."

He took Lyra’s hand and pulled her gently away from me. She resisted, reaching back, fingers grasping.

"No—I want Mother—"

"Come on, Lyra."

He guided her toward her bedroom door. She twisted in his grip, sobbing, stretching one arm toward me.

"Mother!"

"Lyra." I caught her hand. Held it. My son’s eyes burned into the side of my face, daring me to make another promise I wouldn’t keep. I crouched down and cupped her wet cheek. "Tonight. Just this one night. I’ll stay."

Her crying stuttered. "Really?"

"Really. I’ll be right beside you. All night."

Valerius’s grip on her other hand tightened. He stared at me for a long, scorching moment. Then he released Lyra without a word, stepped into his own room, and shut the door behind him.

The click of the latch was louder than any shout.

I gathered Lyra up. She clung to me—legs around my waist, arms around my neck, face buried in my hair. I carried her into her bedroom.

I laid Lyra on the bed and pulled the quilt over her. She wouldn’t release my hand.

"Stay," she murmured.

"I’m staying, my little sweetheart."

I kicked off my shoes and lay beside her. She curled into me immediately—her back against my chest, my arm draped over her, her small fingers laced through mine. Her breathing slowed. Hitched. Slowed again.

"Mother?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

"I love you too, my little princess. More than anything in this world."

She was asleep soon after.

I stayed perfectly still, listening to the rhythm of her breathing, feeling her heartbeat against my arm.

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