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

But now,

the verge of

you can't

matter what, he wouldn't let that

would do anything-anything-to

"A party? Tonight?"

Mila heard the news and immediately suspected

nor denied it. "Your dress is ready.

this was it-the final

But she didn't understand-

to the party, what need was there for bait?

decoy in their plan,

couldn't figure it

don't want to

Mila asked.

"Darling, parties here

party could

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

she was really

she had to go. No matter what, Cossio

and it was impossible to predict what

That day,

They stayed in.

music in the hotel, passing the day quietly until dusk,

dress had been custom-made with

sweeping down to her ankles. A gold belt, sculpted in the shape of a string of stars, encircled her waist, and gold tassels shimmered from the gown, catching the light with every step. The style was pure clássical Rome-elegant regal, and

wore a matching dark blue suit. He knelt to fasten a leather strap

down t

cover it. Suddenly, he

chuckled.

old dress were still

were tinged

knew exactly what he meant the

destroyed with those same

bring it up

arm from his grasp, and headed for the

at a Gothic castle on the outskirts

drive felt slow-almost endless

the castle's towering,

had

out first, offering his hand to Mila. When

her anyway, intertwining their

me tonight," he said

their way through the throng

who stood by the car, his

"He's not coming in?"

Leonard had

things to take care

Mila didn't press further.

plan, but as she stepped inside the hall,

breath came shallow

the

elegantly dressed men and women, laughing and