Chapter 541
[ 501 words ]
Chapter 541:
“Lianne, Ruby likes listening to The Lonely Prince before bed, and she’ll need her stuffed bunny. I’ve packed both. Since tonight is your family reunion, I won’t disturb you. I’ll have someone leave them at the restaurant entrance later.”
My chest tightened painfully as I read it.
Frank had always been like this. Thoughtful to a fault. He remembered every one of the children’s habits, every preference, every tiny detail others would overlook. He also understood perfectly that his presence tonight would only complicate things.
So he quietly stepped aside and willingly accepted the role of an outsider while continuing to care for the children from a distance.
The selflessness of it made my heart ache. After a moment, I texted a reply. “There’s no need to send anyone. I’ll come pick them up myself after dinner.”
I couldn’t avoid him forever. If anything, I should have gone to see him the moment I returned. At the very least, I owed him my gratitude, and perhaps I owed him the honesty I had been avoiding for far too long.
The instant I pressed send, a familiar presence appeared beside me.
Looking up, I found Ethan standing there.
I wasn’t sure when he had walked over, but judging by the look in his eyes, he had clearly seen enough of the conversation to understand who I had been messaging.
The atmosphere immediately turned tense.
Before I could open my mouth to explain, Ethan asked, “He sent that?”
𝗥𝖾аd 𝘸і𝘁𝗵𝗈𝗎𝘁 іոtеr𝗿u𝗉𝗍𝗂𝗈𝘯𝘴 𝗼ո 𝗴𝘢𝗹n𝘰𝘃е𝗅s.𝖼𝗈m
His tone was calm, almost too calm. Beneath it, however, I detected a bitterness he couldn’t quite conceal.
I sighed. “Frank only wanted to send over some things for Ruby and Silas.”
“I’ll get them.” The interruption was gentle but firm.
With that, Ethan took the phone from my hand. His fingers brushed mine briefly, cool against my skin. Then he gave me a faint smile that revealed nothing. “Lianne, don’t worry. I simply want to thank him in person.”
“Ethan…”
He cut me off. “I want to thank him for taking care of you and our children all these years.”
The words sounded possessive, but there was also something else beneath them, as though he were trying to convince himself as much as he was reassuring me.
Together, we walked toward the private dining room. Just before we reached the door, it suddenly opened. Tracy emerged so quickly she nearly ran straight into me.
She looked as though she couldn’t get away fast enough.
I immediately stepped aside and shot Ethan a meaningful look, silently urging him to go in first.
His gaze flicked toward the room beyond. Inside, Jeremy sat alone, looking utterly dejected. A cold look crossed Ethan’s face before he walked past us without a word.
“What’s wrong?” I asked softly, taking Tracy’s hand. Her fingers were freezing.
“I don’t want to stay.”
The vulnerability in her voice caught me off guard. She paused and drew a shaky breath.
Normally, Tracy carried herself with effortless confidence, but now there was a fragility in her eyes she couldn’t quite hide.
She continued, “Lianne, I’m heading home. You all enjoy dinner.”
“I’ll come with you.”
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