Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 452

The study door swung open.

Adrian shot out first, his navy school uniform wrinkled and bunched in his hand, swinging carelessly as he went. He'd just endured a stern lecture from his great- grandfather, and the marks of a recent fight still showed on his face. Leonard followed calmly behind, closing the heavy door with a quiet click. The two moved down the long corridor, its gray stone and dark wood echoing with their footsteps -one adult, one child, the younger trailing a bit ahead.

After a while, Adrian suddenly stopped and turned, looking up at Leonard. "Leonard, did I really mess up this time? But Mom wasn't even mad at me."

He'd accomplished what he wanted, all on his own. Why was his great- grandfather so angry?

Leonard paused, glancing down at Adrian's bruised, medicated face. “Master Adrian, your great-grandfather and your mother are both right. Violence might work sometimes, but it won't solve most problems and always brings more trouble. And to be honest, you handled this rather poorly."

If Adrian hadn't been hurt and Mila hadn't rushed in out of worry, the whole messy scene could have easily been picked apart by anyone paying attention. There were holes everywhere, flaws obvious to any outsider.

He considered for a moment, then added, "At the very least, your father would never have handled things this way."

"Dad?" Adrian's eyes brightened, then quickly dimmed. He moved closer, tugging gently at the cuff of Leonard's crisp black suit. “Leonard, what would Dad have done?"

“Sir?” Leonard tilted his head, pausing in thought. “If it were your father, he'd never have given anyone the chance to say a word. This problem would never have reached your mother. It would have been handled so quietly no one would even notice."

Of course, knowing Lysander, no one would dare cause trouble in front of him in the first place. The very thought wouldn't even cross their minds.

"Would he just... scare them into silence?" Adrian asked, tilting his head in confusion.

Leonard shook his head, sighing softly. "There are many ways to keep people quiet, Master Adrian. Resorting to violence is the least effective. Solving problems without bloodshed is always better-it's safer, and far more permanent."

"So how do you do that?" Adrian pressed, curiosity lighting his face.

"Even if

frustration. "Great-grandpa said I did a bad job, and I don't even

all, whenever he fought back, people stopped

It always worked before.

do it your

Adrian's eyes widened. "But Leonard, you just

that doesn't mean it never works." Leonard's gaze softened as he met the boy's eyes, his tone firm and reassuring. "Remember this, Adrian: you have a lot of room to make mistakes. You're young-you've got plenty of chances to try, fail, and learn. There's no need to limit yourself

right not to understand. Childhood is meant for stumbling, for falling into

do mess up,” Leonard continued, "you have to be ready to

if you lose

Never regret it.

just life-a road paved with both

"But Mom will be mad. I don't want her to be

Mom hated violence.

"If you're worried or afraid, stop and consider what you might lose. Adrian, you won't always be so

voice gentle as he continued, "This time, your smartest move was the tears. Your mother can't stand to see you cry. You're her only child, her flesh and

biggest difference between Adrian and

Adrian could show weakness.

if things would have turned out differently if Lysander had been able to show vulnerability—if he could have cried, or

Mila. But Lysander never allowed himself

let

Mila, even

Mila

loved, the rare moments he lowered