Chapter 13

"You must've seen the news about wealthy people finding their lost children, haven't you? In those reports, have you ever seen a child who wasn't overjoyed upon discovering they had a rich biological father?" Leon spoke with pure pragmatism. Samuel and Eleanor fell silent. It was true that they'd never considered that. "When he grows up, he'll understand what the right choices are," Leon continued as if discussing business. "Plus, I'll be present throughout his childhood and never miss any of his important moments." "But Edwin doesn't seem like such a child. What if he doesn't turn out the way you imagined?" Eleanor hesitated. She thought of the well-behaved and sensible Edwin, who'd never been greedy or compared himself to others. "I'll be there as he grows up," Leon firmly reiterated. "You two should stop pestering her about the child. The more you interfere, the more likely Edwin is to resent you. Just treat them as you normally would," he warned. It was clear he disliked having them meddle in his business. At that moment, Victoria finally understood why Leon hadn't fought her for custody, and she finally realized why people had said he was calculating and ruthless. She had to admit that some of his words were flawless logic. As long as he occasionally visited Edwin, spent important holidays and birthdays with him, and bought him gifts, he'd always be a good dad to Edwin. She was the only one hurt by his infidelity. His love for Edwin hadn't changed. To him, whether or not Edwin stayed with him didn't matter. "What if she doesn't let us visit Edwin?" Eleanor recalled Victoria's earlier attitude. "I'm his father, and I have visitation rights. If she refuses, I can make sure she loses everything." Leon's tone was indifferent and laced with threats. Victoria pressed her lips into a thin line as her heart grew colder. There was no such thing as a free lunch, and it was now she realized that a beam of light cutting through despair might not necessarily be hope. It could be the entry to a deeper abyss instead. "Understood," Samuel responded in a heavy voice and accepted the arrangement. Leon said no more and hung up. Immediately after, the living room fell silent. "If it weren't for Leon speaking on your behalf, you wouldn't have had the chance to obtain custody," Eleanor said as she stood up. She was unwilling to stay any longer. "For a woman like you, who only dreams of marrying into wealth, how good of a mother could you possibly be?" Before leaving, Samuel cast Victoria a glance. "If anything happens to Edwin while he's with you, you'll answer to me." Victoria ignored him. She didn't know how she made it upstairs, and before she knew it, she found herself standing in Edwin's study, gazing at a framed family photo of the three of them. Memories of their time playing together surfaced in her mind. At that moment, she felt a pang of guilt. She'd never asked Edwin for his opinion before making the decision on his behalf. "Mommy," a soft childlike voice called out behind her. Victoria turned to see Edwin at the door. Before she could say anything, he ran forward and wrapped his arms around her. She tried to act normal and asked, "What's wrong?" "Nothing. I just wanted to hug you. I want you to know that you're the most important person in the world to me." Edwin's soft voice and sweet words warmed her heart. He'd seen everything through the surveillance cameras and witnessed how Eleanor and Samuel had aggressively confronted Victoria. He'd heard how Leon had spoken to her so coldly. Only now did he realize just how much Victoria had endured for him. Victoria froze and didn't understand why he'd say that. "Did anyone tell you anything?" she asked. "Nope." He shook his head, and seeing the worry in her eyes, he decided to tell the truth. "I just accidentally overheard your conversation in the living room."