Chapter 1092: Young Master, Please let me go

[FLASHBACK]

The young Zoren stood by the door, his eyes fixed on the bed where a woman was lying down. She had her back facing him, her shoulders trembling every once in a while.

"Mama," he called, catching her shoulder flinch. "Are you crying?"

The woman didn’t respond, pulling the sheet over her shoulder. A shallow breath slipped past Zoren’s nostrils, but then he felt a hand land on top of his head. Looking up, all he saw was a man with a kind look on his face, gazing down at him.

"Zoren, your mother is not feeling well," he said, reaching for the doorknob and then squatting down to his son’s eye level. "She’s resting for a little while until she recovers her strength. So, until then, don’t come too close to her, so you don’t get sick as well."

Zoren stared into the man’s eyes, letting him stroke his hair with that smile on his face. "Why is she sick?"

"Hmm?"

"Why is Mama sick?"

For some reason, the man’s smile cracked as he shrugged. "I don’t know," he breathed out, and somehow, he looked exhausted. "I guess... it just happens?"

Zoren’s mouth curved down, seeing that look on his father. "Papa, are you leaving now too?"

"I have to," he said, glancing at the bedroom door bitterly. When he faced the young Zoren again, a shallow breath escaped him. "I’m sorry, Zoren. I have to leave today."

"Where are you going, Papa?"

"Mommy is sick, so Papa will find someone who can help her," he said under his breath. "I know someone who can help, but... I have to pick up this person first."

"..." Zoren pressed his mouth into a tight line, but his eyes gave away his reluctance to let him go.

"Zoren." Aware that his son was upset, Enzo patted his head. "I’ll be back as quickly as possible. Before you know it, I’ll be back. Once I do, I’m going to take a break. So, let’s go on a vacation, alright?"

"A vacation...?" Zoren blinked.

"Yes." Enzo nodded, grinning. "A vacation trip. Will you look after Mama until I come back?"

Zoren glanced at the door before he nodded at his father. "Alright!"

"That’s my boy." Enzo ruffled his son’s hair before checking his wristwatch. "Ah, I’m going to be late."

But instead of leaving immediately, he smiled and faced his son. He ruffled his son’s hair to show his affection, spending that one minute just with his son, even though he might be even more late.

With that, the young Zoren sent his father off.

Standing under the residence’s porch, he watched the car drive away quietly. He just stood there, his eyes following the vehicle, and his gaze remained on the gates even when the car was out of sight.

"Young Master?" Suddenly, a young woman’s voice broke the silence. She smiled when the little master looked up at her. "Let’s go inside?"

Zoren blinked at the young woman and casually asked, "Nanny, I think Grandma called today."

"Hmm? The Madam called?"

"Mhm." He nodded. "I think she said you should pick up some of the dishes she made for Mama. She heard Mama is sick."

The young woman furrowed her brows, but before she could think of anything else, the young Zoren spoke again.

"I think you should hurry, Nanny," he added. "Otherwise, Butler Hubert will get angry again."

"Hah... Butler Hubert..." The young nanny sighed heavily, imagining the look on Butler Hubert whenever he was upset. "Hehe. Young Master, why don’t you get inside first? I’ll prepare you a snack before I make a quick run to the Old Residence."

With that, the young nanny placed her hands on the young Zoren’s shoulder as she ushered him back inside.

---

Minutes later...

Naylani hiccuped quietly, hiding herself under the blanket while still lying on her side. She felt cold, and her tears seemed to be drying quickly. She stared at the window, noticing that the weather outside was darker than usual.

It was the same as her heart: depressing.

’I want to leave,’ she told herself. ’I don’t want to be here anymore. I have to leave. Enzo left today... I have to...’

Her thoughts trailed off when she suddenly heard a loud creak from the door. Naylani’s body quickly froze, and her breath hitched, her grip on the blanket tightening. She listened to the soft, little footsteps approaching, making it more difficult for her to breathe.

And then, silence.

Naylani was still cold, but sweat had already started forming on her forehead and back. Every breath she took was calculated, afraid that it would make a sound. There was no other noise in the room after those little sounds moments ago, but she knew someone was in there with her.

He was here.

Again.

"Naylani," called someone, the voice soft and childlike with a sweet tone. Yet Naylani quickly paled. "Are you scared of me?"

Naylani quivered, her entire body shivering as her heart began racing. She gulped, her eyes shaking as she thought of many ways to leave. But as if he could read her mind, he continued,

"Do you think... there’s a way for you to escape?" the same voice asked. "Or do you think there’s room for redemption? For you and I?"

Tears quickly welled up in her eyes as she shut them, trying to hide beneath the blanket. "Please... no more," she whimpered through gritted teeth. "Stop this now..."

"No more..." she repeated quietly, sniffing hard. After another moment of silence, she slowly pulled the blanket down and mustered the courage to push herself up.

Naylani kept her head down, not even wiping her tears and sweat as she could barely keep herself together. Slowly, she turned her head to the person who had come into her room.

One would think that the person who would scare a grown woman would be a big man. But alas, the person seated on the chair beside her bed was a child. A child with such dark and malicious eyes.

"Renren," she whimpered. "I mean... Young Master, please... let me go."