Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 430

At that age, he simply couldn't understand.

Why did his mother hate his little brother so much? How had she changed into someone unrecognizable, the gentle mom he knew suddenly turning terrifying overnight?

But he never wanted to make her upset.

That night,

Unable to sleep, the boy crept down the hall to his parents' bedroom, hoping to apologize and comfort her. He silently promised himself never to mention his brother in front of her again.

As he passed the study,

He overheard his father talking with a doctor.

He hurried on to the bedroom.

No one was on the bed. Water dripped behind the bathroom door. He rushed in— and witnessed the nightmare that would haunt him forever.

Red water spilled over the edge of the tub.

His mother's slender, pale arm hung lifelessly across the porcelain. Dark crimson trickled down, curling across the floor toward his feet, wrapping itself around the boy's frantic, screaming soul, dragging him into darkness.

He collapsed beside the tub.

His trembling hands clutched her wrist, tears streaking his face. His chest heaved so hard he could barely breathe, choking out broken words between sobs.

"No, please... don't..."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Mom, I'm so sorry, please, open your eyes, look at me, don't, don't... don't die!"

"It's my fault, it's all my fault!"

"I lied, Mom, I lied. That wasn't my brother, I don't have a brother. His eyes aren't green, not green at all!"

"Mom, I lied!"

"I'm a liar! A liar!"

"That wasn't my brother-it was a monster, a monster!"

"I tricked you, please don't die, I'm begging you, it was all a lie, I'll never lie again, never again..."

His hysterical screams brought people running.

The house plunged into chaos that night.

Afterwards,

His mother returned.

But the terror-the deep, bone-chilling red-never left him. It clung to him, binding him for life.

In the bedroom.

Lysander clung tightly to the woman in his arms, drawing comfort from her

warmth. Only after a long while did his ragged breathing and thundering heartbeat finally settle.

With Mila by his side,

deep enough to

But now,

was on the verge

you can't leave

what, he wouldn't let that

do anything-anything-to

"A party? Tonight?"

the news and immediately suspected what

denied it. "Your dress

this was it-the

But she didn't understand-

party, what need

their

figure it

if I don't

Mila asked.

parties here

if one party could be so different from

meant: she had no choice. Like it or not,

that she was

had to go. No matter what, Cossio needed to

it was impossible

That day,

They stayed in.

quietly

dress had been

satin, the skirt sweeping down to her ankles. A gold belt, sculpted in the shape of a string of stars,

leather strap with a

down t

cover it. Suddenly, he

chuckled.

only that old dress

were

meant

destroyed

it up

slipped her arm from his

was held at a Gothic castle

drive felt slow-almost endless but finally, the car

of the

crowd had

first, offering his hand to Mila. When she hesitated,

anyway,

me tonight," he said

their way through the throng and

at Leonard, who stood by the car, his expression as cold as ice, and

"He's not coming in?"

had shadowed

has other things to take care

Mila didn't press further.

didn't know the details of the plan, but as she stepped

Her breath

scanned the crowd,

full of elegantly dressed men and women, laughing