Chapter 229

“Mom,” Aurelian continued softly, his eyes still fixed on the televisien, “why were you always scared of me?”

The question hit Isla like a sudden slap. Then she froze.

Her breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, she forgot how to speak. She turned slowly to look at her son, really look at him. His face was calm. Well relax, and there was no accusation in his voice, no anger. Just a simple question, asked as if he already knew the answer.

“What made you think that?” she finally asked, her voice careful, almost cautious.

Aurelian shrugged lightly, like the answer was obvious and needed no explanation.

“It’s how I feel,” he said simply. “For instance, you don’t scold me the way you scold Sebastian and Elara. You treat me differently. Why?”

Isla’s heart tightened.

She couldn’t reply immediately.

Had she really been this distant? Had her fear shown so clearly that even a child could feel it? She had thought she was being careful, gentle, or more protective. But now, listening to him, she wondered if she had been pushing him away instead.

She swallowed and forced a small smile.

“Maybe because you’re not as clumsy as them,” she replied at last.

Aurelian turned to her and smiled, but there was amusement in it, tike he found her answer funny.

“I am never clumsy, Mom,” he said calmly. I will never be.

That fact is clear.”

The way he spoke. The confidence, and the certainty.

His voice was smooth and steady, his words chosen carefully, far beyond his age. And once again, Isla understood why she had unknowingly built a distance between them. He didn’t act like a child. He never had.

But this time, she didn’t feel the need to pull away.

She exhaled slowly.

“I’m sorry if I made you feel that way, Lian,” she said gently. “And I don’t want you to ever think that I’m scared of you.”

Aurelian looked at her for a long moment. Then he smiled slightly and nodded, accepting her words without question.

Then, there was a pause.

Isla remembered what had troubled her earlier.

“Earlier, by the poolside,” she said carefully, what were you saying to the security men? And why were theybowing to you?”

Aurelian smiled again. He was calm and unbothered.

” only gave them security tips, Mom,” he replied.

Isla’s heart skipped a beat, but she hid her shock well.

“They’re too old school,” he continued, shrugging lightly.”

They need more training. That’s all.”

He looked away, like the matter was too simple to discuss further.

Then he added casually, “And about the bowing…” He shook his head slightly and smiled.

“I didn’t ask them to. I guess they recognised their master.

That’s all, Mommy.”

Isla stiffened.

“Their… master?” she repeated slowly.

She wasn’t scared anymore.

This was her son. The child she carried, the child she gave birth to. Fear had no place inside her again. She was beginning to understand him and not comparing him to others anymore.

When he didn’t answer, she spoke again. “Aurelian, I asked you a question.”He finally turned to her.

“Mom,” he said calmly, “isn’t it obvious?”

Isla’s eyes widened.

Her mouth opened slightly, words forming but refusing to come out. She wanted to say something-anything-but. stopped herself.

But now, she realised something clearly. Her son was not just different.

He knew it himself.

“Mommy, is there a problem?” Aurelian asked calmly.”

You look shocked.”

Isla blinked, pulling herself together. She inhaled deeply before answering.

“Yes, there is,” she said carefully. “Just because those people work for us does not make you their master, Lian.

You need to understand that.”

Aurelian nodded once, accepting her words without argument.

“Okay, Mom. I understand,” he replied.

Then he stood up and began to walk toward the door.

“Lian,” Sebastian called out suddenly.

Aurelian stopped and turned to look at his brother.”Come and join us,” Sebastian said brightly. “The game is getting boring without you.” *-com Aurelian tooked at them for a brief moment. Then he shook his head slightly.

“I have a lot of responsibility on my shoulders,” he said calmly. “I don’t have time for games. But thank you for inviting me.”

ISlas hands flew to her mouth.

Those words were not normal words. Not from a seven-year-old child.

But Sebastian did not think much of it. To him, that was just how Aurelian was. He didn’t feel insulted or hurt.

“Oh, okay,” Sebastian said innocently, before turning back to the game with Elara.

The two younger children continued playing, laughing softly.

But Isla stayed frozen.

Those words sat heavily in her chest.

Responsibility? What responsibility could a child have?

Still, she forced herself to calm down.

It’s fine, she told herself. I just need to keep watching him.

Guide him. Correct him when needed.***

That night, Isla moved quietly around the house, checking on everyone before going to bed.

She first entered Sebastian’s room. He was sprawled across his bed, fast asleep, his blanket half on the floor.

Isla smiled softly and pulled the blanket up over him before leaving.

Next, she walked into Elara’s room.

The little girl was deeply asleep, her television still on. A cartoon played quietly in the background. Isla sat on the edge of the bed and leaned down, placing a long, gentle kiss on Elara’s cheek.

Elara giggled softly in her sleep.

Isla smiled, watching her tiny chest rise and fall. She pulled the blanket higher over her daughter, turned off the television with the remote, and placed it neatly back on the table.

Then she quietly left the room, closing the door with a soft click.

The last room was Aurelian’s.

She opened the door and looked inside.

He was sleeping peacefully, lying neatly on his bed. His blanket was properly arranged, his television was already off, and his room was perfectly tidy.Just like always.

Isla nodded in satisfaction, though she didn’t know why she still felt the need to check on him more than the others.

After all, he was just a child.

She closed the door softly and returned to her bedroom.

Finally, she climbed into bed. The stress of the day settled heavily on her body. She stretched her arms, yawned, rested her head on the pillow, and slowly closed her eyes.

Sleep took her. Or so she thought.

Suddenly, a strange noise echoed through the quiet house.

Isla’s eyes flew open. Her heart began to race. She listened closely. The sound came again.

It was coming from the children’s side of the house.

Fear rushed through her veins. She kicked off the blanket and jumped out of bed without even wearing her slippers.

Barefoot, she rushed into the hallway.

The closer she got, the clearer the noise became. And then she realised. It was coming from Aurelian’s room.

Her chest tightened.

Slowly, and carefully, she pushed open the door.

What she saw froze her to the bone.On the floor lay Dora, one of the new housemaids they had just employed. She was groaning loudly in pain. Her legs were trapped in a metal device, and blood was already staining the floor beneath her.

Isla’s breath caught. Then she saw Aurelian.

He was standing on his bed.

In his hands was a toy gun. Isla’s eyes widened in horror.

“What is going on here?” she screamed.