RedNovelRegret 171 It wasn't until Evander appeared in the doorway that Hans finally quieted down. The frail little boy was curled up under the covers, his face pale as he shrank away from anyone who tried to get close.
"Hans, look, Mr. Howard's cto see you," Tricia coaxed gently.
She reached out to ruffle his hair, but Hans dodged her touch, turning instead and flinging himself into Evander's arms.
For a fleeting second, Tricia's expression stiffened, but she quickly covered it with a helpless smile. "Hans has been having sepisodes,” she explained. “He won't letor the bodyguards near him.” Evander stood by the bed, letting Hans cling to him, though a faint frown creased his brow.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHans held onto him in silence, refusing to let go.
After a while, Evander gently grasped his small, narrow shoulders, bending down so they were eye to eye. His voice was calm and reassuring. "Hans, don't be afraid. I'm here." Hans blinked, as if surfacing from a fog, and gave a small nod, though his eyes were still clouded with uncertainty about what lay ahead.
Tricia moved to his side. "Evander, ever since the fall, Hans has becso withdrawn. He doesn't even wantclose anymore. But I never expected he'd still trust you this much." Evander straightened, his tone carrying a trace of reproach. "You're his mother. Shouldn't he feel safest with you?" Tricia's heart gave a nervous jolt. She clenched her hands, swallowing her frustration. “I wish I knew why. Maybe he blames me. If only I hadn't kept him withthat day, maybe it never would've happened." Evander said nothing, his gaze fixed on Hans lying in the hospital bed.
Hans gripped the blanket, his face blank, lips pressed in a thin line. The chubby cheeks he once had had wasted away, leaving him thinner than most children his age. Tricia, on the other hand, was as impeccably dressed and energetic as ever. With all her resources, there was no reason Hans should look like this.
It was impossible not to wonder just how well she'd really been taking care of him.
1/3 14:45 Chapter 171 The scrutiny in Evander's eyes made Tricia uneasy, as if she feared he might see straight through her. "Evander, I admit I've been distracted lately and neglected Hans. But if he could stay with you, maybe he'd finally heal." Evander was silent for a long moment before finally speaking. "Tricia, is it true that Hans was pushed off the balcony by the old Sterlings?" He'd already had Natalie look into it. The security cameras had just happened to be out of order, and there were no witnesses except a barista from a nearby café, who claimed to have seen Hans pushed.
Tricia stiffened, her face clouding with wounded indignation. "Why are you askingthat? Do you think Hans and I would lie about something like this?" She didn't dare ask for details, didn't dare even hesitate.
Evander didn't answer. He simply stroked Hans's hair, his voice softer than before. "Hans, can you tellwhat happened?" Hans's face drained of color as the memory surfaced. He glanced nervously at his mother, clenching his shirt in his fists, head bowed. His voice was barely a whisper. "It was... they pushed me." Tricia felt a swell of satisfaction.
He really was her son-obedient when it mattered most.
Evander asked nothing more. He called for a bodyguard to cin and pack Hans's things.
When he brought Hans to Howard Manor, Tricia followed close behind. For her the fact that the Howards Nthe were willing to take Hans in was a promising start. But she'd gotten her hopes up too soon.
Neither Rosemary nor Miranda cout to greet the child. Instead only the housekeeper Linette and two maids were waiting at the door.
Linette stepped forward, polite and efficient. "Sir, I'll take care of the boy from here." Tricia's expression m shifted. As Evander gently nudged Hans to go with Linette, she hurriedly grabbed his arm. "Evander, isn't Hans supposed to stay with you and your aunt? Why is he-" Mrs. Howard had agreed to let Hans stay at the manor. She'd assumed Mrs. Howard herself would look after him.
2/3 14:45 Chapter But now, he was being handed over to a servant!
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