M had no idea what Conrad and Lysander discussed in the study. After they finished their conversation and Felicity had rested enough, the family of five gathered in the dining room for dinner.


    Lysander''s younger brother, Eugene, was still absent.


    At the long dining table, Conrad and Felicity sat at the head. Lysander and his son, Adrian, were seated on the same side as Conrad. Unlike before, M chose not to sit beside Lysander; instead, she took a seat closer to Felicity.


    Everyone''s eyes fell on M.


    Before Felicity could say anything, M served a dish Felicity loved into her bowl and smiled, "I haven''t been around muchtely. I''d like to spend more time with you, Mom."


    In truth, M wished to avoid sitting next to Lysander.


    Felicity seemed pleased and didn''t insist she join Lysander. Lysander, however, frowned slightly but remained silent.


    The meal proceeded with a semnce of warmth and peace.


    Before their visit, they had agreed to leave from the family home for the Lockwoods'' gathering the next day. That night, the three of them stayed at the family residence.


    ...


    In the old house, M and Lysander shared a bedroom, while Adrian slept in the adjacent room.


    "Mom, I want to take a bath."


    After ying games online with his friend Jamie for a while in his room, Adrian grew bored and came next door to call for M.


    He wasn''t as upset anymore about his mom''s disapproval of Jamie. If she didn''t like it, he would simply avoid mentioning Jamie around her. Besides, M hadn''t contacted him muchtely and seemed less affectionate, which made him feel uneasy and miss her.


    Adrian hoped she woulde to bathe him and tell him a bedtime story like she used to. This time, he promised himself he''d listen well and they''d make up.


    However, after a long while, there was no sign of M.


    So Adrian came over to find her.


    Seeing Adrian standing awkwardly at the door, M sighed inwardly, set aside her design book, and went to him.


    Regardless of the oue of her marriage, she felt responsible for Adrian as his mother.


    Adrian brightened up, thinking they had reconciled.


    M gently prepared a warm bath for him, washing him and helping with his


    toothpaste, while Adrian chatted away about recent fun events.


    Adrian seemed to have learned his lesson; he didn''t mention Jamie at all.


    After the bath, M dressed him in soft pajamas. At Adrian''s insistence, she sat by his bed to read him a story.


    Barely a few sentences in, the tablet on the nightstand pinged with iing messages.


    M instinctively nced at the screen, spotting notifications marked with Jamie''s name. She looked away, pretending not to notice.


    Adrian quickly grabbed the tablet, flipping it face down, and frowned, urging M to leave.


    "Mom, maybe we should skip the story tonight. You can tell me one tomorrow."


    M didn''t respond immediately. She simply watched Adrian for a moment. When he averted his eyes and urged her again, she put the storybook down.


    "Get some sleep, and don''t-"


    She wanted to caution him about staying upte ying games but held back, remembering how much he resented such reminders.


    Why bother, she thought, when it wouldn''t change anything.


    Adrian watched her leave, feeling a sudden pang of difort.