Substitute Wife, Genius CEO novel Chapter 141

When Xavier Sterling arrived home, he happened to hear Leo laughing. "Dad, I love you so much! How are you so amazing? When I grow up, I want to be just as smart as you!"

Xavier had no idea Leo was on a video call with Jude Montgomery. He thought the boy was talking to him.

In an instant, the harsh lines of Xavier's face softened considerably. He changed into his slippers and walked over.

His shoes sank into the plush carpet without a sound, so Leo didn't notice him approaching.

It was only when he drew close that Xavier realized he had been flattering himself.

Leo wasn't calling for him at all.

The feeling that washed over him in that split second was, to put it mildly, unpleasant.

On the screen, Jude was still bragging. "You've got to inherit my devastating good looks, too! If we're going to be anything, we're going to be handsome geniuses!"

Leo nodded with a bright smile. "Don't worry, Dad, I definitely won't let you down. By the way, how are you so good at explaining this stuff? You're way better than those experts. I understand it the first time you say it, unlike them—they can never explain it clearly and have to repeat themselves constantly. Great-grandfather even called me stupid and said my genetics were bad."

"Bullshit!" Jude cursed through the phone. "Your mom is Summer Vance. How could your genetics be bad? Even if they were, it would be because your scumbag biological father dragged you down. It's his fault, not your mom's. Remember that."

Leo nodded earnestly. "Yeah, I'll remember."

"Leo."

A low, icy voice drifted over from the side. Leo snapped his head up, finally noticing Xavier standing there with a dark, predatory gaze.

The little mouth that had been chattering away just a second ago snapped shut, as if sealed with superglue.

He couldn't open it. He couldn't force out a greeting, nor a single word.

After a few tense seconds of silence, Xavier spoke first. "Look at the time. Why aren't you in bed?"

Xavier stepped forward with his long legs, stopping behind Leo to stare down the man on the screen with pitch-black eyes.

On the video call, Jude smirked. "Oh, is Mr. Sterling back from his little date?"

After Leo had hung up with Summer, he had started his online classes and studied independently.

Once he finished, he video-called Jude to ask him about all the difficult questions he had jotted down.

They covered every subject, and Jude spent an entire hour explaining them to him.

There was no trace of impatience; instead, Jude had been incredibly thorough.

Leo had listened intently, his dark eyes sparkling with stars of sheer admiration. From time to time, he would burst into joyous laughter at Jude's witty explanations.

Looking at those starry eyes, Xavier was suddenly reminded of the days at the orphanage years ago, when he used to help Lily with her homework.

Lily used to look at him with those exact same starry eyes.

Xavier's fingers traced the condensation on his glass. After sitting there for a moment, he downed the water in one gulp and got up to check on Leo.

Leo had already showered and changed into his pajamas. He was lying obediently in bed, hugging a little stuffed bear that Summer had bought for him.