Rise of the Formidable Ex-wife (Lucia and Alex) novel Chapter 194

Chapter 194 Fathers And Son

Chapter 194: Fathers And Son

Conrad POV

Bethany’s identification of the mystery figure remained under investigation, but life inside the estate did not stop because of unanswered questions.

School continued, the baby continued growing, and the twins continued finding new ways to remind me they were no longer little children.

A few days after Bethany’s discovery, I met Zane near the eastern training grounds before sunrise. He arrived carryingja water bottle and training gear, trying very hard to look uninterested in being there

“You know you’re early, right?” I asked.

He shrugged. “I woke up.”

“You set an alarm.”

“Maybe.”

I fought back a smile and started walking toward the wooded section of the territory. The competition was approaching quickly, and I wanted to help him sharpen practical skills rather than simply increase his strength.

Most young wolves focused too much on speed and power. The wolves who lasted the longest understood observation, patience, and control.

“Today’s lesson is simple,” I said.

Zane glanced at me. “That usually means it’s not simple.”

I laughed quietly. “Fair point.”

The morning air carried dozens of scents through the trees. Deer, rabbits, patrol wolves, and distant pack members had all passed through the area recently.

I stopped near a narrow trail. “Tell me everything you notice.”

Zane immediately crouched beside the path. He studied the ground for several seconds before answering.

“Two patrol wolves passed through recently.”

I nodded. “What else?”

“One was carrying equipment.”

“How do you know?”

He pointed toward several shallow marks in the dirt. “Different weight distribution.”

My approval showed before I could hide it. The observation was correct.

“Good.”

His expression remained neutral, but I noticed the satisfaction in his scent, Zane pretended not to care about praise, but he noticed every compliment he received.

We continued through the territory for another hour. Each exercise focused on awareness rather than combat.

At one point, I deliberately altered my route without warning. Zane immediately noticed and adjusted his pace.

“You were testing me,” he said.

“I was.”

“That’s annoying.”

“It worked.”

He rolled his eyes. “That’s not the point.”

The conversation continued like that for most of the morning. Neither of us was particularly good at emotional discussions, so we communicated through actions instead.

By the time training ended, we had covered several miles. The territory stretched around us in every direction, protected by patrol routes and scent markers.

As we headed home, I noticed Zane seemed u Successfully unlocked! ancing toward the estate before looking away

again.

“What?” I asked.

Chapter 194 Fathers And Son

He hesitated briefly. “Nothing.”

I waited

Eventually he sighed. “The baby gets a lot of attention.”

The statement surprised me because it sounded more vulnerable than usual. Zane rarely admitted when something bothered him.

“He does,” I said.

Zane kicked a small stone off the path. “Everybody talks about him.”

I understood immediately.

The baby wasn’t just receiving attention because he was the newest family member. His unusual wolf abilities had becom impossible to ignore.

That would be difficult for any older sibling.

“You think people are forgetting about you?”

He shrugged. “Not exactly.”

*But?”

His shoulders tightened slightly.

“Sometimes it feels like everything important happens because of him.”

I stopped walking.

Zane looked uncomfortable the moment I faced him directly. He probably regretted saying anything at all.

“Listen carefully,” I said.

He met my gaze.

“The baby needs attention because he’s helpless.”

Zane remained silent.

“You’re getting attention because you’re growing.”

His expression shifted slightly.

“Those aren’t the same thing,” I continued. “Nobody is overlooking you.”

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then he nodded once. “Okay.”

That was as close to an emotional conversation as either of us was likely to get. Fortunately, it seemed enough. When we returned home, we found Kyra sitting in the kitchen with Amorah. Both of them looked frustrated.

I immediately knew something had happened.

“What did he do?” I asked.

Kyra pointed toward me. “See?”

Amorah sighed. “That’s exactly the problem.”

I sat down beside them. “What problem?”

Kyra crossed her arms. “Everybody thinks I’m confident all the time.”

I blinked.

“You are confident.”

“Not all the time.”

Amorah nodded in agreement.

“People assume confidence means you never feel nervous,” she said. “That’s what we’re discussing.”

Kyra looked relieved that someone understood.

“The competition is coming up,” she said. “What if I mess up?”

The admission seemed difficult for her.

Most people saw her enthusiasm and assumed she never doubted herself. The reality was much Amorah reached across the table and squeezed her hand.

More

complicated.

Chapter 194: Fathers And Son

“Confidence isn’t believing you’ll never fail,” she said. “It’s trying anyway.

Kyra stared at her for a moment

“You really mean that?”

“I do”

The tension in her shoulders eased slightly. Sometimes children needed permission to admit they were afraid

The rest of the afternoon passed peacefully. School assignments, training schedules, and baby-related chaos filled most of the remaining hours.

The baby himself remained determined to keep everyone entertained.

Late that evening, Lyra entered the nursery carrying fresh blankets. Before she reached the doorway, the baby suddenly

lifted his head and looked toward the hall.

“He’s doing it again,” Lyra said.

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