Chapter 4

Silas was dressed in a black suit, noble and aloof. His gaze briefly swept over Serena's face before stopping on Shawn, who was still crying.

"Come here, Shawn," he said, waving Shawn over.

Hearing this, the maids let the boy go quickly, almost out of fear.

Shawn ran towards Silas immediately. "Dad, you're finally here! Dad…"

Silas ruffled his hair, his tone low and gentle. "Can you tell me what happened?"

Shawn hadn't had the chance to speak before Dawn walked over, wiping the tears off her face, her tone tinged with guilt.

"It's all my fault. I didn't think things through before making an appearance, so Shawn couldn't accept that I'm his mother and got emotional…" she sobbed.

"You're not my mom!" Shawn shouted, shoving Dawn as hard as he could. "You're a bad lady! You're not my mom!"

Dawn let out a startled cry as her heel twisted, and she nearly fell.

At that moment, Silas stepped forward and caught her, wrapping her in his arms.

"Are you alright?"

Dawn couldn't muster any strength in one of her legs. "I think I twisted my ankle… It's fine. What's most important is Shawn."

Silas furrowed his brows softly, bending down and carrying Dawn in his arms. "I'll take you to the hospital."

Turning around, his eyes met Serena's. Her eyes were tinged slightly red as she stared at him, unblinking. "Is she really Shawn's mother?"

"Yes, she is."

Silas met her gaze steadily—Serena couldn't so much as find a single trace of guilt in his expression.

Her cold, stinging heart sank lower and lower.

"Shawn listens to you more, so take him back. Explain things to him properly."

With that, Silas left with Dawn in his arms, leaving the estate in his black car.

Serena lowered her head, feeling the sting in her eyes. Her pale lips parted slightly as she took a few deep breaths, forcing the tears back in.

"Mom…" Shawn's small hand held Serena's gently. "Mom, your eyes are red… Are you crying…?"

Serena crouched down and caressed Shawn's cheek, squeezing out a forced smile.

"Mom's not crying, see? I'll take you home, alright?"

Then, she stood up and turned towards Freya. "You heard what he said, right?"

Freya could do nothing but glare at Serena. She hated it, but she had no way to keep Shawn here anymore now that Silas had given the order.

However, Dawn was already back and Silas was going to get a divorce soon, so Serena had no way to use Shawn as a means to leech off their family anymore.

At that thought, Freya felt much better.

-

On the way back home, Serena tried to explain Dawn's identity to Shawn, but he didn't want to hear it. She had barely gotten a few words in before he started crying again.

Helpless and heartbroken, Serena couldn't do anything but try and calm him down.

After sobbing and crying for so long, Shawn got tired and fell asleep before they reached home.

Serena had placed Shawn in his bed in the children's room when the sound of a car came from downstairs.

She tucked him in gently and went downstairs. Silas stepped in from outside.

Their eyes met, and the air grew tense.

"Where's Shawn?" he asked.

"He's sleeping upstairs."

Silas made a low sound in response, brushing past her and heading straight upstairs.

Serena turned around and watched him, her hands clenching into fists beside her. After hesitating momentarily, she followed him upstairs.

They had been married for five years and had spent countless nights together. She felt like she had the right to ask for an explanation.

On the second floor, Silas walked into the children's room. He bent down, carrying Shawn, who was still fast asleep, and turned to walk out of the room.

Serena stood outside the door and watched. "Where are you taking him?"

"Dawn has depression, so she needs Shawn now."

That was the last thing he said before he left with Shawn in his arms, leaving Serena standing there, stunned.

It was only until the sound of his car faded into the distance that she came back to her senses.

How could he act so naturally about everything? To not even give her a chance to question him?

Serena looked around at the house, empty and desolate, and laughed.

She laughed and laughed, even as the tears flowed down her cheeks.

-

In Northlorn's most expensive district, known for its top-tier security and property services, a black car drove up the winding road to stop inside the courtyard of the prestigious Moonlight Manor.

Inside the car, Shawn had already woken up.

Silas held him close as he explained that Dawn was his birth mother, and that Serena was just his adoptive mother who had taken care of him for five years.

After hearing this, Shawn didn't throw a tantrum. He only asked, "Does this mean I have two moms now?"

Silas only gave a non-committal hum in response, before adding, as if stressing the fact, "Dawn went through a lot of pain to give birth to you. She loves you, so you should apologize to her and call her your mother, alright?"

Shawn nodded obediently.

Inside the house, Dawn sat on the sofa, a blanket over her legs and her injured ankle wrapped in a thick gauze.

The moment she saw them, her delicate face lit up with a sweet smile.

"Shawn, Silas, you're here."

Holding Silas' hand, Shawn turned to look up at his father.

Silas ruffled his hair gently. "Go."

Encouraged, Shawn walked towards Dawn, who reached her hands towards him. "Shawn, can you let me hug you?"

Shawn hesitated for a moment before going closer to her.

Dawn held him close, tears streaming down her face.

"I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I didn't mean to leave you, and I've been thinking about you every day…"

Shawn stood stiffly in her embrace.

He smelled the floral perfume she was wearing.

It was so different from the soft, sweet scent that he associated with Serena…