He nced up, seeking Wesley’s help


    “Uncle Wesley, can you help Mommy?”


    Wesley sighed, guiding Cecilia to the sofa, his tone softening. “Let me see.”


    Cecilia recoiled from his closeness.


    Grabbing tissues to cover her eyes, “I’m fine.”


    Wesley froze mid–reach,ughing bitterly before striding away.


    Noah leaned against Cecilia, his voice soft.


    “Mommy, better now?”


    Cecilia mumbled “Mm–hmm.”


    Drying her tears, she kissed Noah’s cheek. “Why’d youe with Uncle Wesley?”


    Noah’s eyes sparkled, tinged with a hint of shyness.


    “I miss Mom and my sister.”


    So when Uncle Wesley suggested it, he agreed immediately.


    “Uncle Wesley also said I could stay here forever and be with Mom.”


    His eyes curved into crescents, a pure smile that warmed the heart.


    Cecilia’s sadness melted into tenderness as she hugged Noah. “Alright,


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    Noah will stay with Mom.”


    The child was Prisci’s legacy. All Cecilia could do was raise this boy to adulthood.


    She coaxed Noah to y with the servants before stepping onto the balcony to call Luciano.


    Luciano had just learned the news, his astonishment palpable.


    Coincidentally, he’d wrapped up his case and nned to fetch Noah from the Wilkinson family for a few days together.


    He was already en route to the estate.


    Upon arrival, Luciano went straight to Gracelyn Wilkinson’s quarters.


    Only after inquiring did he discover Mrs. Wilkinson had taken Noah


    out.


    Though Luciano hadn’t pursued the political career his family envisioned, he remained the eldest son. Noah was his child, and Gracelyn assumed her daughter–inw cherished this grandson. Thus, she permitted Mrs. Wilkinson’s outing with Noah.


    None could have foreseen Noah ending up with Wesley.


    “Send for Mrs. Wilkinson.”


    Gracelyn was furious.


    Soon, Mrs. Wilkinson arrived.


    Gracelyn looked sharp and full of vigor, her stern expression radiating authority.


    “Tell me, where’s Noah?”


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    Mrs. Wilkinson remainedposed: “While I was shopping with Noah, we ran into Mr. Chu. He said Ms. Johnson missed her son, so she took him.”


    Luciano saw through her lie immediately.


    His heart ached with anxiety. “Mom, that’s my son.”


    Mrs. Wilkinson forced a smile. “Of course, Noah is also my grandson.”


    Luciano sneered.


    Grandson?


    They’d never truly epted Noah as part of the Wilkinson family.


    Already guilty, Mrs. Wilkinson broke down at her son’s mockingughter, tears welling up instantly.


    “Luciano, you’ve watched over that child for three years. Enough.


    Someone else cares for him now–it’s time you focus on your own life.”


    As the most promising Wilkinson of his generation with aw degree, pursuing a career in politics remained viable.


    But Noah couldn’t stay with the Wilkinsons.


    “Son, please listen to your mom. Follow the family’s arrangements.”


    Mrs. Wilkinson wept openly.


    Understanding her daughter–inw’s nature, Gracelyn sighed. “I hadn’t realized you never liked Noah.”


    Mrs. Wilkinson’s voice turned bitter. “I do care for him.”


    That was Luciano’s son, her grandson. How could she not love him?


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    She simply chose her son.


    Luciano interrupted Mrs. Wilkinson, “What exactly happened back then? Tell me.”


    He couldn’t remember anything from three years ago and had been searching for those memories.


    Now it seemed Mrs. Wilkinson knew something.


    Mrs. Wilkinson sobbed without uttering a word.


    Luciano stayed silent, his mind in turmoil. He simply walked away.


    Mrs. Wilkinson stumbled after him two steps, covering her face as tears slipped through her fingers.


    Back then, she personally led people to Baritel and ordered them to knock him unconscious.


    If she hadn’t, he would’ve died.


    Cecilia received Luciano’s call, learned the whole story, and fell silent.


    She watched Noah through the balcony door, her gaze softening. “In that case, stay with me.”


    She hung up.


    Noah ran onto the balcony waving a paper ne, eyes sparkling. “Mommy! Airne!”


    Cecilia pushed aside her thoughts, ruffling Noah’s hair with gentle praise.


    “Clever boy, Noah.‘


    Noah gleefully dashed around the balcony with his ne.


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    “I’ll fold lots and lots of paper nes for my baby sisterter!”


    Cecilia’s eyes stung, tears nearly falling.


    The balcony door closed.


    Downstairs, by the roadside outside the vi.


    Wesley withdrew his gaze, a careless sneer ying on his lips.


    See? When alone, she’d linger on the balcony for ages, never minding her pregnancy.


    But with Noah here, she instantly transformed into a warm, attentive mother.


    This was the difference between love and indifference.


    Seeing Wesley’s darkened expression, Elijah cautiously offered, “You could exin to Mrs. Carlton–bringing young master Noah over was for her health’s sake.”


    It wasn’t ckmail at all.


    A trace of irony flickered across Wesley’s stern face. “Let her think what she wants.”


    After all, in her heart, he remained utterly irredeemable.


    Exining changed nothing.


    Noah emerged from his bath and tumbled onto the plush bed.


    He clung to Cecilia, begging for a bedtime story.


    Cradling him, Cecilia reached for her well–worn perfumery book–no storybook at hand–and began reading aloud in measured tones.


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