The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep - Chapter 31: Chapter 31

"Enough, Leon. Stop making a scene," Eliza said with a stern face.
The teacher, standing nearby, hesitated, clearly unsure of how to proceed. "Madam, this situation..."
Before the teacher could finish, Eliza interrupted and forced Leon to apologize.
Back at home, Leon saw Victor and couldn't hold it in any longer. He burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably as if the world had just turned against him. His cries were heart-wrenching, full of raw emotion.
Victor's heart ached upon seeing that. He gathered Leon into his arms, gently patting his back as he spoke softly, "Leon, what happened? Tell Daddy what went on at school today."
Leon clung to Victor's shoulder, his voice shaky as he recounted what happened at school. His fists clenched tightly, his face filled with frustration and hurt. "Daddy, I didn't do anything wrong.
"E-Ellie made me apologize, but I really didn't do anything wrong. He insulted me first and took my notebook. I just pushed him, and he started crying. They're all taking his side."
Victor's heart ached even more as he saw his son almost crying his eyes out. He pulled and held Leon closer.
But suddenly, something caught Victor's eyes. He saw a noticeable scratch on Leon's arm, and it made his blood boil.
"How did you get a scratch? Who did this?" asked Victor.
Hearing that, Eliza rushed to explain, "Vic, stay calm. The teacher told me Leon had a conflict with another boy. Leon pushed the boy, and the boy's mother came to the school demanding an apology, threatening to escalate the matter."
"What about the scratch on his arm?" Victor's voice was tight with anger.
Eliza replied, "When the boy fell, he scratched Leon by accident."
Victor's face turned shockingly dark. After hearing what Eliza said, Victor knitted his brows and pursed his lips, looking furious.
He had initially thought Leon was the victim, but now it seemed Leon had been the one to start the confrontation and even push the other child. No wonder the boy's parents would be so upset.
Eliza noticed Victor's expression and spoke up, "Well, it's not entirely Leon's fault. However, he shouldn't have hit the boy."
Hearing this, Leon cried even harder, his voice rising in protest. "I didn't do anything wrong. He insulted me first."
Victor's patience snapped, and he scowled. "Enough. You fought with another kid last time, and now again."
Eliza pulled Leon close to her, trying to comfort him. "There, there. Don't cry, okay? Just promise you won't do this again, alright?"
She turned to Victor and said, "Vic, I've already apologized to the boy's parents. Please don't blame Leon too much. He's still young."
Victor's voice turned stern as he addressed Leon directly, "Leon, you cannot fight with other kids whenever there's a problem. You don't solve things by fighting. Do you understand?"
"But he was rude to me." Leon's voice was small but insistent.
"Fighting doesn't solve anything. It only makes things worse," Victor said firmly.
Seeing that Victor misunderstood Leon's intentions, Eliza gently stroked Leon's hair, seemingly trying to comfort him, yet a satisfied smirk was hidden beneath her concern.
She said softly, "Leon, if something like this happens again, tell the teacher first, instead of hitting others. Understand?"
Leon nodded and he choked out, "Got it."
Victor breathed a heavy sigh. He knew Leon was still young, and many things were beyond his comprehension. But he had to make it clear that violence wasn't the solution.
Eliza continued comforting Leon, her voice soothing. "Alright, no more tears. How about I have Ollie take you upstairs to play for a bit?"
She turned to Oliver and said, "Oliver, can you come here?"
"What's up, Mom?" replied Oliver.
"Take Leon upstairs and play with him."
"Okay, sure. Come on, Leon." Oliver nodded and gestured for Leon to follow.
Leon wiped his eyes, glancing at both Victor and Eliza before slowly following Oliver up the stairs.
In the room, Oliver looked at Leon with open disdain. His tone was full of mockery. "Look who's still crying like a baby. Big kids don't shed tears, you know?"
Leon stared at Oliver, his eyes wide in disbelief. He couldn't recognize this cold, menacing version of the boy in front of him.
Oliver leaned in closer, his voice low and threatening. "Listen, this is my house now. You better behave, or I'll make you regret it."
Leon instinctively stepped back, his face pale. He had never seen Oliver this cruel. For a moment, he didn't know how to react.
Later that night, Eliza slipped into a silky, revealing nightgown and made her way to Victor's bedroom. She knocked on the door and then pushed the door open.
Victor was sitting on the edge of the bed, his brows furrowed. His mind was clearly still troubled by what had happened to Leon.
"Hey, you're still up?" Eliza walked over.
Victor replied, "Leon keeps getting into fights with other kids. If this goes on, I'm afraid he's going down the wrong path."
Eliza placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and sat beside him. "Leon is just a kid. He doesn't understand everything yet. You just need to teach him patiently. Don't stress yourself too much."
She then suggested, "Vic, you look exhausted today. Let me give you a massage, alright?"
Victor's gaze fell on Eliza. Her nightgown dipped low at the neckline, revealing her smooth skin and a delicate collarbone. The sheer fabric clung to her curves, and under the warm light, she looked even more alluring.
His Adam's apple bobbed unconsciously, while heat flickered in his eyes.
Seeing that he didn't refuse, Eliza placed her slender fingers on his shoulders, her touch soft and soothing.
She began at his neck, gently pressing along the vertebrae with her fingers. Then she moved down to his shoulder blades. Her thumbs circled slowly and kneaded each tense muscle with practiced care.
She spoke up, "Vic, do you remember what you once told me? When we get married, you'd love me forever, and only me."
As Victor heard those words, a memory rose unbidden—Eliza leaning over her desk back in school, stealing glances at him, her eyes filled with adoration.
She asked him the same question back then in just as soft a voice.
"I do," Victor replied instinctively, his voice hoarse and low. His eyes lingered on her face, his breathing gradually growing heavier.
However, he suddenly opened his eyes and caught her hand. "Ellie, I..."
"Vic, relax." Eliza gently moved his hand away and returned hers to his shoulders. This time, her movements were even softer and more teasing.
Victor's restraint began to slip.
Eliza's fingers trailed up to his cheek. Her voice turned to a whisper. "Vic, do you know? Over all these years, I've never stopped loving you. I think of you constantly, even in my dreams. Vic, I love you. I truly love you."
She leaned in close. Her breath was warm and fragrant, brushing softly against his skin as she drew nearer.
Victor didn't push her away. Instead, he reached out, his fingertips gliding over the curve of her back, feeling the silk and the warmth of her skin beneath.
His hand followed the line of her spine, lingering at every subtle dip. His breathing became uneven, his pulse racing.
Just as Eliza's lips were about to touch his, a familiar image flashed through Victor's mind—Serena.
Abruptly, he placed both hands on Eliza's shoulders and gently pushed her back.
Eliza paused, a bit startled. Her eyes, which had been soft and inviting, cleared in an instant. She stared at him, emotions swirling in her gaze. It looked like she wanted to say something but stopped herself.
Victor shut his eyes. No matter how he tried, he couldn't banish Serena's face from his mind. He had to turn his head away and say, "Sorry, Ellie, I'm too tired tonight. Why don't you go to sleep now?"
Eliza's smile faltered just for a second before she regained her usual gentleness. "Alright. Have a good dream."
After speaking, she walked toward the door, but the faint stiffness in her back betrayed the unwillingness she refused to speak aloud.