He stepped into the bedroom.


    Adrian was sitting on the floor with his back to the door, surrounded by broken model pieces scattered across the carpet. Among them was the shredded remains of antern, once painted with little animals.


    Lysander remembered.


    Nathaniel''s young nephew had just started school a while back and had gotten along with Adrian rather well; he''d even given Adrian antern decorated with animals. Thinking back, it was probably M who painted it before giving it to Adrian as a gift.


    Adrian had loved it at the time-he''d even found a special box to keep it safe.


    But now, ity torn to bits among the mess.


    He must be truly upset.


    Lysander didn''t rush tofort the heartbroken child. Instead, he pulled over a chair and sat down, looking down at Adrian''s turned back with a calm, unreadable expression.


    "Have you been crying?"


    "I haven''t!" Adrian shot back instantly, though his voice trembled.


    "Are you upset?"


    "I''m not!"


    "It''s alright to cry if you''re sad. This time, you can let it out."


    "I don''t want to cry."


    Adrian insisted stubbornly, but his resolve cracked as soft, choked sobs escaped him. After a long moment, he finally whispered, voice raw with hurt, "Dad, does Mom not like me anymore? Does she not want me?"


    "...Of course not."


    "But she doesn''tfort me anymore. She goes to other kids-instead of me, she goes to that Julian! I hate him!"


    "But you''re her child," Lysander replied quietly.


    Adrian fell silent, staring down and pushing pieces of the shattered models around with his small hands. "But Julian called her ''Mom'', and she didn''t correct him. She went tofort him, to protect him. Dad, did Mom betray us?"


    Lysander leaned back in his chair, his gaze settling on Adrian''s messy hair. His voice was measured, almost gentle. "And if she did betray us-what then?"


    Adrian didn''t answer.


    Lysander continued, "Adrian, do you remember what your great-grandfather and I taught you? What should you do if someone betrays you?"


    Adrian''s voice was barely a whisper. "But she''s my mom..."


    "What if she decides to leave and you never see her again?" Lysander''s tone remained soft, almost detached.


    "I don''t want that!"


    Adrian spun around suddenly, shouting. His eyes, so much like his father''s, were wide and red, filled with panic and a flicker of anger.


    Lysander stood and crouched in front of him, gazing down as he gently ruffled Adrian''s hair. His voice dropped low. "Adrian, you''re still too small. There''s nothing you can do right now."


    "I''m not weak!" Adrian snapped, batting his father''s hand away. "I''m just not old enough yet!"


    Lysander let out a quietugh.


    "But when I was your age, I could do a lot already. At the very least... I wouldn''t have let Mom get so upset."


    "Adrian."


    "Anger, shouting,shing out, crying-when you have no strength behind them, they''re useless. They only show everyone how helpless you are."


    "And you can''t afford to be helpless."


    Adrian''s eyes filled with tears.


    He choked, stumbling over his words. “Dad, can''t you give me strength?”


    "Of course I can."


    Lysander''s tone softened. "But Adrian, I can help you once or twice. Do you really want toe running to Dad for help every single time something happens?" "Why can''t I?"


    "Can or can''t—I''ve told you before. Your great-grandfather told you, too. Have you just forgotten everything?"


    "I haven''t!"


    "Then do you know what you should do?"


    Adrian dropped his head, silent.


    Lysander didn''t press further, nor did he leave. He simply picked up theptop Leonard had brought in earlier, sat back down, and got back to work.


    For a while, the only sounds in the room were the faint clicking of keys and the soft rustle of Adrian''s fingers sifting through the broken model pieces.


    This was the way father and son had always interacted a quiet, gentle kind of closeness, uniquely their own.


    And so the silence stretched.


    Time slipped by unnoticed until Harper''s voice drifted in from the hallway, breaking the unusual calm. “Sir, Ms. Harvey is here."


    Lysander nced at Adrian, who was still on the floor but had lifted his head just a little, then replied, "Let here in."


    "Lysander, Adrian-oh my goodness!"


    Giselle swept into the room, her waves of blonde hair cascading over a pale gold dress. She froze at the mess on the floor, eyes wide. "What happened here? Adrian, are you hurt?"


    She knelt down, her skirt pooling around her, and gently checked Adrian for bumps and bruises.


    The warmth in her voice almost made Adrian start crying again, but then he remembered what his father had just said. Swallowing his tears, he managed only a choked, "Giselle."


    "I''m right here," she soothed, brushing his flushed, tear-streaked cheek. "If you''re sad, it''s okay to cry. Sometimes you just need to let it out. Don''t be afraid, I''m here."


    Adrian shook his head.


    Giselle looked up at Lysander, who sat off to the side. "Lysander, what happened?"


    "Why don''t you ask him yourself?" Lysander said mildly, then added, "Did you need something?"


    "Well..." Giselle hesitated, ncing at Adrian as if unsure whether to continue. When it was clear Lysander wasn''t leaving, she went on, "Since our coboration with the Forest Team fell through, we need to find a new research group. There''s an established team overseas facing a funding crisis—they''re on the verge of breaking up. I did a little digging, and I think we could either acquire them or buy in. Their area of expertise is really close to ours, and they have a lot of experience. I thought maybe we should fly out and take a look-you and me, together."


    "Overseas..." Lysander frowned slightly.


    "Yes, it''s a great opportunity." Giselle pulled out a folder from her purse, handing it over. "Take a look-this team is a rare find: solid skills, simr direction, and plenty of potential."


    Lysander flipped through the documents, still looking hesitant.


    "Dad, are you going abroad?" Adrian, still feeling low, tugged on his father''s sleeve. "Can Ie too?"


    "No."


    "No."


    The answer came in perfect unison from both adults.


    Lysander gave Giselle a nce-she''d been quicker to answer than he was. His expression softened a little as he closed the folder and spoke, his tone gentle.