Chapter 205
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Leonard’s gaze had already shifted away from Finnegan. He simply said, “As you wish.”
Then, he looked at Elara with a calm, distant expression. “Thank you for saving Xavier.”
Elara, however, dismissed it lightly. “It was Xav who saved me.”
Xavier grasped Elara’s hand, patted his own chest, and then pointed at his smartwatch. Elara quickly understood what he meant. He was saying that as long as he was there, he would always protect her.
Elara smiled warmly and praised him. “Xav, you were so brave today!”
“Xav! Can I kiss you?” Merida hugged Xavier, and when he didn’t resist, she planted a kiss on his cheek.
Elara crouched down and gently kissed the top of Xavier’s head. His cheeks turned a soft shade of pink, and his dark eyes shimmered like a sky full of stars.
On the way back to the camp, Elara had already told Merida about what had happened when she and Xavier went searching for mushrooms. After hearing the story, Merida had been furious, and she was eager to confront Beau right then and there.
But when she found out Beau would be spending the night at the bottom of the slope, she decided to wait until he returned to school. Then, she would show him her fists while having a “peaceful” chat with him.
Finnegan noticed something. As Leonard watched Elara and Xavier together, he seemed different. Beneath the cold sheen of his glasses, his usually unreadable eyes held a rare hint of warmth.
“Prof. Fisher, have you ever thought about finding a mother for your son?”
Just as Finnegan spoke, a housekeeper setting the dining table chimed in. “Mr. Xavier is so close to Ms. Jones. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if she could be his mother?”
The staff working at Oakread estate knew that Elara had once been his niece–in–law, but they rarely interacted with members of the Fisher family.
When they saw Elara entering Leonard’s study and noticed that Xavier didn’t resist her affection, they couldn’t help but feel that she was special to both father and son.
However, just as the staff finished speaking, Xavier had a particularly strong reaction. Still in Merida’s embrace, he suddenly started squirming uneasily. Merida quickly let go after sensing his distress.
Xavier took two steps back in a panic, his eyes reddening as he looked at Elara. Then, he turned and ran toward his room without a word.
“Xavier!” Elara called softly, but his footsteps only quickened.
Realizing her mistake, the housekeeper immediately lowered her head. “I’m sorry. I misspoke.”
Leonard let out a cold scoff. “Leave.”
Seeing both Elara and Merida looking toward where Xavier had disappeared, he said indifferently, “Leave him be. Let’s eat.”
Elara turned and punched Finnegan’s rock–solid arm. Finnegan scratched the back of his head. There was a rare look of embarrassment flashing across his usually firm and sharp features.
“Did I say something wrong too?” From the moment he laid eyes on anyone from the Fishers, his whole body bristled like a porcupine, itching to stab them with his barbs. It was just his nature.
Chapter 205
Elara whispered, “Xavier is a very sensitive child. The next time you see him…”
She mimed zipping her lips shut.
+25 BONUS
Finnegan pressed his lips together and nodded obediently. At the dining table, Elara picked up a serving plate and placed some food onto it.
“I’ll take this to Xavier.”
Merida watched Elara leave, her eyes filled with concern. Would Xavier ever talk to them again?
“Xav, it’s me. I brought you some food. If you want to be alone, that’s okay. Just take the plate and eat in your room, alright?”
Elara knocked gently, but the room remained silent. There was no response from the other side of the door. “Xav…” Just as she spoke again, she suddenly sensed something.
Lowering her head, she saw a piece of paper being pushed out from under the door. Elara crouched down and picked it up. On it were a few simple words: “I don’t want you to be my mom.”
A moment later, another sheet of paper slid out. It was a drawing.
A blond–haired queen
in a pink dress wearing a crown stood beside a king in a uniform with his own crown. Next to them were a little girl and a little boy.
