The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep - Chapter 60: Chapter 60

In the courtyard of the Powell Manor, Leon squatted on the ground, giggling as he played with a tiny sparrow fluttering its wings.
Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, Leon spotted a black car slowly pulling into the courtyard. He immediately sprang to his feet, excitement written all over his face.
As soon as the car door opened and Victor stepped out, Leon let out a cheer. "Daddy," he cried, pumping as he dashed toward him.
Victor broke into a warm smile and spread his arms wide, catching him securely.
Leon threw his arms around his neck, his face lighting up with excitement as he pressed his cheek against his dad's shoulder. "Daddy, I missed you so much."
"I missed you too, Leon. Have you been good today? Did you listen to Grandpa?" Victor asked.
"Look. I was good today. I helped Grandpa feed the sparrow, and I even drew a picture. Grandpa said it was so pretty," Leon smiled.
"Really? Then you'll show me later, won't you?" Victor patted his little head.
Leon clapped his hands in delight, tilted his head up with a beaming smile, and said sweetly, "Sure, Daddy. I've got so much to tell you."
Victor nodded and adjusted his hold, making sure he was safe and snug in his arms.
He carried Leon into the living room, where Albert sat on the sofa reading a newspaper.
"Dad, I'm here," Victor said. He gently set Leon down. He immediately scampered over to Albert, tugging at his hand coquettishly.
Albert set his newspaper aside and looked up, giving Victor a once-over as he walked in. His tone was measured as he asked. "What brings you here today?"
"I came to see Leon," Victor explained.
Albert gave a dismissive snort, carelessly tossed the newspaper onto the coffee table, picked up his cup, and took a deliberately slow sip before remarking coolly. "Well, look who finally remembered to visit Leon.
"I thought you were too busy being head over heels for Eliza to care."
"Dad, must you always be so sarcastic? Leon is my son. Of course, I care about him," Victor retorted.
"If you really understood your responsibility as a father, you'd be thinking about what he needs most now that he's lost his mother." Albert rolled his eyes.
"You're right, Dad. I promise I'll take better care of Leon from now on. You're not getting any younger, and looking after a child is too much for you. Let me take Leon home with me today, so you can get some rest," Victor offered.
Albert's expression darkened as he watched Leon circling playfully around his knees.
'Eliza puts on a gentle and virtuous front, but who knows how she's mistreating Leon behind closed doors,' he wondered.
The mere thought of Eliza still being in the Powell Villa makes Albert's chest tighten with unease. He just couldn't shake the feeling that as long as Leon was living under her watch, he was bound to suffer sooner or later.
"No way. As long as Eliza is still there, Leon isn't going back with you," Albert demanded.
"Dad, about what happened with Leon's allergy last time, Ellie honestly had no idea of it. That day, she went out of her way to cook for Leon, just wanting to make something good for him.
"It was all well-intentioned, but unfortunately, it turned into an unfortunate misunderstanding.
"Well-intentioned? Huh?" Albert mocked.
Seeing his father's unyielding attitude and realizing there was no point in arguing further, Victor crouched down and gazed tenderly at Leon. He asked gently, "Leon, do you want to come home with me?"
Leon's face paled as he recalled how Eliza and Oliver had bullied him before.
He instinctively ducked behind his grandfather, clutching tightly at the hem of his robe with tiny trembling hands.
'I really want to go home with Daddy, but I'm scared that Eliza will bully me again,' Leon wondered.
"Daddy, I'm scared," Leon said.
Victor hugged him tightly, very guilty. "Don't be scared, Leon. Daddy will protect you. I promise. No one will ever hurt you again."
After a moment's hesitation, Leon finally nodded.
Albert watched as Leon nodded in agreement, then glanced at Victor, his eyes filled with a mix of emotions.
After a pause, Albert sighed deeply and waved in resignation, "If Leon wants to go with you, as his grandpa, I can't really stand in the way."
"Don't worry, Dad. I promise I'll take good care of Leon and make sure he never suffers again." Victor stood up and swept Leon into his embrace.
He turned and walked toward the door. Victor carefully settled Leon into the back seat and fastened his seatbelt securely.
Victor shut the car door and was heading to the driver's seat when Albert called out to him.
"Victor, take good care of Leon. Don't let him be mistreated again. I won't tolerate a repeat of what happened last time," Albert warned.
Victor nodded solemnly. "Understood, Dad."
Eliza had just stepped out of the kitchen carrying a plate of fresh fruit when she heard a car pulling into the mansion. Hastily, she set the plate down and hurried toward the entrance.
As the door swung open and Victor stepped in carrying Leon, Eliza rushed forward with outstretched arms, ready to take the child from him. "Vic, you're back. Leon, did you miss me?"
"Daddy, I don't want her to hold me." Leon buried his face in Victor's chest, clinging tightly to his father's neck.
Eliza's hand froze mid-air, her smile instantly turning rigid. She slowly withdrew her arm, the forced pleasantry fading from her face.
Seeing this, Victor reached out and gave Eliza a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Don't take it to heart. Leon's still just a little kid."
"I know, Vic. It's not Leon's fault. It's all my mistake," she said. Eliza watched as Victor carried Leon to the sofa and settled down, doing her best to keep her composure.
She gritted her teeth, fingers curling into a fist so tightly that a sharp pain shot through her palm. She turned slowly, forcing a gentle smile.
'Leon is so annoying,' she wondered. 'If it weren't for—'
Eliza forced her expression into one of calm, making sure not a hint of her disgust showed. She walked over to the sofa and cooed an apology to Leon in an overly sweet tone.
"Leon. I didn't know you were allergic to eggs. I'm really so sorry, Leon—it's all my fault. I'll be more careful next time," she said.
Leon clung tightly to Victor's shirt, refusing to look at her and pressing his lips together in silent protest.
In the silence, Victor bent down and whispered, "Leon, Ellie has already apologized. Don't you think you should say something back?"
A calculating glint flashed in Eliza's eyes as she made to reach out and gently caress Leon's cheek.
Leon instinctively took half a step back, avoiding Eliza's outstretched hand.
Leon tugged at Victor's sleeve and mumbled, "Daddy, I'm so sleepy. Can I go to bed now?"
"Alright, I will take you to bed now," he offered.
Victor watched as Leon instinctively shied away from Eliza. 'It seems Leon's resentment toward Eliza won't fade anytime soon,' Victor thought with a sigh.
But Ellie didn't mean to hurt Leon either. Victor hoped Leon would get along with Eliza, but he didn't want to push Leon.
Victor sighed inwardly, "When will Leon ever let go of his grudge?"
After Victor carried Leon upstairs, a small figure peeked out from the kitchen doorway—it was Oliver. "Mom, why are you trying so hard to please him again?"
As Oliver spoke, he shot a resentful glare up the stairs.
Eliza averted her gaze, made her way slowly to the sofa, and sat down. Picking up the fruit knife on the table, she began peeling an apple absentmindedly.
She cut a small piece from the peeled apple and handed it to Oliver. "Oliver, don't provoke Leon at home these days. We all need to be extra nice to him, understand?"
Oliver pouted, taking a bite of the apple before grumbling, "Why?"
"There's no why. I have my reasons for doing this. Just be a good boy and listen," she said.