The Unveiled Rose
Chapter 13

Nigel tilted his little head back, gazing up at Leander with eyes brimming with tears, their sparkle revealing the innocence and confusion unique to children. He was pitiful yet irresistibly endearing. Leander crouched down to his level. Nigel no longer had to look up to meet his father's eyes.

With a shaky voice, Nigel pleaded, "Daddy, please promise me."

"You're still young." Leander spoke with the indulgence of a father, gently ruffling Nigel's hair. "Nigel, acting up with Mom like this, you'll regret it someday."

Nigel shook his head vigorously. "I won't!"

As if fearing Leander wouldn't believe him, Nigel wiped away his tears, insisting as he did so, "Daddy, I dream of living with Luna instead of Mom. I want Luna to be my mom!" His every word was laden with conviction.

Leander, without responding, simply patted Nigel on the shoulder and stood up.

I turned my head with difficulty towards Nigel.

I had always thought his wish to make Luna part of our family was just a whim...

But...his repeated tantrums and his attitude weren't a joke!

He genuinely longed for Luna to be his mother.

And what about me?

The mother who had given everything unconditionally for him?

Was I just supposed to be discarded?

A dense pain spread through my heart as if countless ants were gnawing at it.

"Honey," Leander came over and hugged me, his large hand gently patting my back soothingly. "Don't be upset. Nigel is still young; he doesn't understand what he's saying."

I had repeatedly told myself not to take Nigel's words to heart. He was just a child; I should be more forgiving...

Yet, Nigel's blunt words could easily pierce me.

I managed a weak "Hmm" in his embrace, waiting until my emotions stabilized before stepping back. "Let's have breakfast."

Leander let go of me.

I turned to the kitchen, serving the food I had prepared on the table.

Leander, careful not to let me scald myself, took over the task of carrying the casserole to the table.

Nigel, not having achieved his goal, was visibly upset. "Daddy!"

"Eat your food!" Leander's tone left no room for argument. "Don't make me repeat myself."

Only then did Nigel obediently sit down, taking small sips from his bowl.

With too much broken glass around, I feared they might get hurt, so I began cleaning up while they ate.

Nigel, still munching, swung his little legs back and forth, muttering, "I hate Mom. I despise her!"

I paused in my sweeping.

Before the pain could fully hit, I reminded myself... Hadn't I anticipated this?

The initial period of forbidding Nigel from seeing Luna was bound to provoke a fierce backlash and his words would naturally become more extreme. But it would get better in time.

After cleaning up the glass shards, they had finished their breakfast.

Leander, leading Nigel to the door, reminded him, "Say goodbye to Mom."

"I don't want to!" Nigel huffed, turning his head away, refusing to look at me.

I stood inside, watching them leave. My heart, once in agony, seemed finally to calm...

"Honey." Leander took my hand, drew close, and stole a kiss on my lips. "Don't take it to heart. This phase will pass."

"Okay."

...

Nigel's daycare runs from eight in the morning until six in the evening.

Usually, Leander would insist on picking Nigel up after work to spare me the trouble...

But from today on, I decided to take back the task of picking up our child.

I just hoped to spend more time with Nigel and strengthen our bond through these moments together.