Chapter 143: Getting Caught

The dimly lit apartment was filled with uneasy tension as Eleanor watched her son Xander silently playing with his action figures on the living room floor. She sighed, rubbing her temples, as she considered how to broach the delicate subject. She had promised herself that one day she would explain everything to Xander, but that day had come much sooner than she expected. Now, with the situation pressing down on her, she had no choice but to confront the situation head-on. Xander looked up, his innocent brown eyes meeting hers. "Mommy, why didn't you tell me about Daddy?" His small voice trembled slightly, but there was a firmness in his tone that made Eleanor's heartache. She forced a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Sweetheart, it’s complicated…” she began, her voice soft, trying to find the right words. “Your father... he wasn’t good to me. That’s why I didn’t tell you about him.” Xander's face scrunched up in confusion, his brows knitting together as he narrowed his eyes.