Madeline had been absolutely resolute, but his relentless badgering was starting to disgust her. She didn't give him an answer, only shooting him a look of pure disdain. "You're filthy. Get out."
Lucius was overwhelmed with disappointment, but then he rationalized it. He had just hooked up with Liliana and even let her call Madeline while it was happening. Anyone would find that sickening and dirty.
Not wanting to trigger another intense emotional reaction from her, he decided to make himself scarce for a few days and walked out. After all, he was injured, and given everything that had happened, it was perfectly reasonable for Madeline to shut him out.
As long as she had time to cool off and remember that he was the man she loved, Lucius was confident their eight years of history wouldn't just vanish into thin air.
He vowed to cherish her properly this time. He was completely certain that once things went back to normal and she got pregnant again, he would make her forget all her unhappiness. He would make sure nothing ever happened to their next child.
With that thought, he had the butler prepare a separate bedroom for him. He needed time to decompress anyway; too much had happened recently.
Madeline went back to her work. A while later, Millicent asked her to come over and instruct Leo's nanny on his dietary restrictions and daily routines.
Leo had been moved to a secluded corner upstairs. Arthur had already made the arrangements: after this incident, Leo would not be allowed to return to the main house. They were also sending someone to withdraw him from his elite international kindergarten and transfer him to a local preschool in the suburbs.
Because of this, there were many details to go over.
Madeline felt like she was in a trance. The child she had loved and cared for so deeply had suddenly been exposed as an illegitimate son, then a tool for Liliana's social climbing, and now a sacrificial lamb. She couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt and pity for the boy.
As she stepped out of the room, she found Leo standing by the door, pointing down the stairs at a stray rubber ball.
"Mom, can you help me get that?"
Madeline was taken aback. Ever since Liliana had brainwashed him, the boy had stubbornly called her "Auntie." Why the sudden change back to "Mom"?
A soft spot in her heart was instantly touched.
She quickly hurried toward the stairs to retrieve it. But the moment her foot landed on the next step, it rolled over a tiny glass marble. Her foot shot out from under her, and the world spun violently as she tumbled straight down the staircase.
Agony instantly seized her entire body. Tears sprang to her eyes uncontrollably. She looked up at Leo, only to find not a trace of concern on his face. Instead, his expression was twisted with sheer hatred.
"Mommy Lily said you're the reason Dad won't acknowledge me anymore. You're evil. You're a bad person, and you deserve to die."
The childish voice echoed down the hall.


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