The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 10

Leo looked up at her, his sweet, childish voice ringing out. "Mommy said I have to be nice to Christian."

"Exactly." Lyra smiled, a complex glint flashing through her eyes. "Christian adores you, so you must stay very close to him. Do you understand?"

"I understand!" Leo nodded vigorously, though his tiny brows quickly furrowed. "But... that lady was angry."

The "lady" he was referring to was Evelyn.

Lyra's hand paused in mid-air.

She folded the handkerchief, slipped it back into her purse, and reached out to gently pinch her son's cheek. "That lady is Christian's wife, and she lives in Christian's house. But..."

She paused, lowering her voice even further. "But Christian doesn't like her. He only likes you and Mommy. So, it doesn't matter if she's angry or not. The only thing that matters is that Christian is happy. Do you understand?"

The three-year-old only half-understood, but he nodded anyway.

Lyra stared at her son's innocent face, her eyes growing darker.

This child looked far too much like her—his eyes, the bridge of his nose, even the slight upward curve of his lips were identical. Yet sometimes, when she looked at this face, she would catch the haunting shadow of someone else entirely.

She squeezed her eyes shut, fiercely suppressing those unpleasant memories.

"Leo, Mommy is going to teach you a few things." She leaned in, pressing her lips near the boy's ear, her voice as gentle as a bedtime story. "If that lady ever asks you who your daddy is, you have to say..."

She hesitated for a split second, a flicker of conflict flashing through her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by ruthless resolve.

"You tell her that you don't know. And if she keeps asking, you cry, and you tell her you miss Christian."

Leo tilted his head in confusion. "But Daddy..."

"You don't have a daddy." Lyra cut him off, her tone suddenly turning harsh. "Remember this. You do not have a father. You only have Mommy, and... Christian."

Startled by her fierce tone, the boy's lower lip quivered, and his eyes instantly welled up with tears.

Lyra immediately realized she had lost control. She took a deep breath, pasting on a gentle, soothing smile, and pulled him into a tight embrace. "I'm sorry, baby. Mommy shouldn't have yelled at you. But Leo, you have to remember that there are some things you absolutely cannot say out loud, okay? If you say them, Mommy will be very sad, and Christian will be very sad too."

"Mommy, don't cry." Leo reached out his tiny hand, clumsily wiping at her eye—there were no tears, but the child thought his mother was about to cry.

Lyra caught his small hand and pressed it against her cheek, savoring the innocent, tender warmth.

"Mommy won't cry," she whispered softly. "As long as I have you, Leo, Mommy isn't afraid of anything."

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