Aurelia wrapped her arms around him protectively, "Skyler, calm down, I'm here for you. I'll always have your back."
Skyler, his heart brimming with vulnerability, leaned into her shoulder and began to cry.
Aurelia faced Tanya, her tone firm yet compassionate, "Lady Tanya, I understand your concern, but your words are cutting deep. Whether Skyler is an adult or a child, he deserves respect. How would you feel if I called you out in front of everyone, saying you were not in your right mind?"
To Aurelia, Tanya's actions seemed too deliberate. The more she insisted on broadcasting Skyler's illness, the more Aurelia was convinced there was no illness at all. It seemed like an attempt to cover up something else.
William reached for a tissue and gently cleaned Skyler's tears.
"Don't cry, Skyler," he said softly, "I know you're not sick. It's probably your twin, Geoffrey, impersonating you, causing trouble, and framing you for it."
Tanya let out a weary sigh, "There's no such person as Geoffrey. Geoffrey is him, and he is Geoffrey. I admit, I wasn't thinking straight earlier. You all are his friends, and I thought it was essential that you know about his condition so you can encourage him to take his medication."
Aurelia responded, "There's no need to worry. Skyler might have dysnoesia, but he's incredibly sharp and can take care of himself. He's earned four Ph. D.s and three Master's degrees, one of them in pharmacology. Does he need medication? I trust him to make that call. After all, none of us have his expertise."
Tanya reached out to caress Skyler's head, but he recoiled because he disliked Tanya.
A sad look crossed Tanya's face as she said, "Skyler, all I want is for Geoffrey to be gone from your life. If he could just disappear, I'd do anything."
Skyler sniffled, "You're lying. You've always praised Geoffrey and wished I could be more like him. You said only Geoffrey could handle the big responsibilities. That I'm just a fool, incapable of anything but bringing you shame."
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The CEO’S Unplanned Heir novel (Aurelia and Leopold)