Chapter 7

Edwin scanned the room before his gaze fell on the suitcase in Victoria's hands. His soft innocent voice carried a hint of seriousness. "Mommy, why are you holding a suitcase?" Victoria opened her mouth but struggled to think of a reasonable explanation. "It's for me." Leon squatted down to meet him at eye level. "I'm going on a business trip for a few days. You behave and listen to Mommy while I'm away, alright?" Edwin obediently nodded. "Okay." Leon ruffled his hair. "Good boy." "Who's this lady?" Edwin's gaze shifted to Eva. "She's my secretary, and she's coming with me on the business trip." Leon lied effortlessly. Victoria's grip on the suitcase tightened, but her face betrayed none of the emotions stirring inside her. Leon got up and walked over to take the suitcase. Then as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he pressed a kiss on her lips and gently said, "I'm leaving now. Call me if you miss me, okay?" Victoria forced herself to endure the discomfort and stiffly replied with a hum. "That's more like it. I'll be back really soon." Leon tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, and his fingers trailed down the curve of her earlobe. He caressed her intimately. "Hurry up and leave, or you'll miss your flight," Victoria urged. Every extra second of close contact with him felt unbearable. Now she just wanted him gone as soon as possible. Leon noticed her rejection. Before leaving, he dipped his head on purpose and stole another kiss from her lips in quick fleeting actions, barely giving her the chance to resist. By the time she looked up in anger, he'd walked out with her suitcase and Eva following behind him. "Mommy," Edwin said just as they left. Victoria adjusted herself and turned to face him with the best smile. "What's up?" Edwin opened his mouth yet swallowed the words at the tip of his tongue. Then, he changed the subject and said, "It's lunchtime. Let's eat." "Okay." … During the meal, Victoria's mind was still occupied with what had just happened. From how Leon had lied to Edwin so naturally, she wondered how the former was not afraid that she'd exposed his affair to their son. And those kisses… Why would Leon kiss her when he clearly had someone else? That was when she remembered he'd taken her suitcase. It contained all her important documents, including her ID card and passport, which she frequently needed. She picked up her phone and sent him a text, saying, "When will you return my suitcase?" Leon didn't reply though he saw the text. An hour later, another notification popped up on his phone. He first assumed it was an urgent text from Victoria, only to find a voice message from Edwin. "Daddy, that lady isn't your secretary, is she?" Leon froze. He hadn't expected such a question, and just as he was about to reply, he suddenly remembered telling Edwin that he was going on a business trip. Edwin should assume he was on a plane at this hour and couldn't receive texts. Meanwhile, Edwin waited in his room. If Leon replied, that'd mean he wasn't on a business trip and had lied. As the father of such a brilliant child, Leon wasn't about to make such a low-level mistake. … Victoria waited for hours and received no response, so she decided to call him. As soon as the call was connected, Eva's voice came from the phone before she could even speak. "Leon, I've showered." Leon's deep and gentle voice followed. "Get some rest. I need to take this call."