Chapter 750: I’m scared, Mama.

[TRIGGER WARNING: THIS Chapter CONTAINS DISTURBING AND GRAPHIC CONTENT. READ WITH CAUTION.]

The young Zoren went to the mansion’s attic, where he usually spent his time. It was his father’s leisure room whenever his father wanted some peace alone—or whenever his father needed to study, and his usual study room felt too crowded for his mind to function.

The attic wasn’t large, so it was perfect for young Zoren to spend his time there. Standing in front of the round window, which had no opening, he gazed at the driveway where he had seen the helper leave earlier. After a while, he heard the door creak behind him. Due to the overwhelming silence in the house, the creak sounded loud and almost eerie.

At the door, Naylani stood holding a plate of sliced fruit for her son. Her other hand, however, was hidden behind her back.

"Zoren?" she called quietly, her steps cautious. "Are you ready to eat? I prepared your snacks, just the way you like them."

Naylani placed the plate on the table, cautiously keeping her eyes on the little boy by the window. Her brows rose when Zoren didn’t react to her voice; he just stood there, staring out the window.

"Zoren?" she called again. "Renren, did you hear Mom?"

The young Zoren blinked ever so slowly before he turned around and smiled. "Yes, Mama," he answered, marching over to her and sitting down on the couch in front of the plate. Looking at the plate full of fresh fruit, he smiled with satisfaction and looked up at his mother.

"Thank you, Mama," he expressed, his voice sounding so innocent and sweet.

Naylani smiled back at him, sitting down on the floor while resting her arm on the table. "Enjoy it, my dear."

"Yes, I will." Zoren beamed, then his eyes fell on his mother’s other hand. "Mama, what’s behind you?"

"Huh?"

He blinked, moving his gaze to his mother. "You’ve been holding your hand behind you, Mama. Why? Is there a surprise for me?"

"Ahh..." Naylani chuckled awkwardly before slowly retrieving her hand from behind her back, revealing a bandage around her finger. "I just didn’t want to show you my cut, that’s all."

"Does it hurt, Mama?"

Naylani shook her head, smiling. "It’s alright, but I don’t want you to see it. It’s... unpleasant, and I know you don’t like the sight of blood."

Zoren pressed his mouth into a thin line, still smiling at his mother. "Thank you, Mama," he said, shifting his attention back to the plate in front of him. His eyes scanned the sliced fruit, and he took the fork to spear a piece.

Naylani watched him guide the fork into his mouth, holding her breath as her eyes were fixed on the fruit. As his little mouth parted, she gulped. ’Eat it, eat it, eat it.’ But then, Zoren stopped.

"Why did you stop?" she asked quickly. "Don’t you like it? Is there — is there something wrong?"

Zoren shook his head. "Mama, you’ve been staring at my snacks. Do you want a bite too?" he asked. "I can share."

"Ahh... it’s alright."

"But you’ve been looking at it." He frowned, moving the fork toward her. "It’s okay, Mama. You can have the first bite."

"Zoren." Naylani let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "It’s okay. Don’t worry about me. You should eat. It’s almost past your snack time."

Zoren maintained a smile, still holding the fork in front of her. His mother nodded at him reassuringly and encouragingly, but he didn’t budge.

"Renren —"

"Mama, why don’t you want to take a bite?" he asked curiously, tilting his head to the side. "Don’t you want Renren to share? Please, Mama. Take a bite. Mama, don’t be —"

CLANG!

The smile on Zoren’s face faded as the fork he was holding clattered to the floor. He slowly looked down, spotting the piece of strawberry and the fork lying on the floorboard. His brows rose as he carefully lifted his eyes back to his mother.

"I said, I don’t want to," Naylani breathed out. "Why don’t you listen to me? Just eat the damn food!"

"Mama..." A tinge of sadness shone in his eyes as his lips turned downward. But Naylani only reacted with dismay.

Clenching her teeth, she moved the plate closer. "Eat."

"But Mama —"

"Stop calling me that." Naylani pounded her hand on the table. "Don’t call me that."

"Ma —"

"I said don’t!" she shouted, making him flinch. Naylani took in a jagged breath, eyes locked on the little boy in front of her. After a moment, she exhaled and tried to smile. "Just eat, okay? Stop asking questions and... just stop talking."

Zoren pursed his lips, watching her before he glanced at the glass in the corner behind her. He then lowered his gaze, sadness gleaming in his eyes. When he looked back up and held his mother’s gaze, he frowned deeply.

"Mama, what’s behind you?" he asked innocently.

The look on his face made her breath hitch, and she backed away to put some distance between herself and her son. "What?"

"There," he said, pointing at the glass that reflected his mother’s back. "There’s something behind you. What is it?"

"Uh... it’s... nothing." Her eyes wavered as she looked to the side, glancing toward the door.

"Mama, you’re scaring me," Zoren confessed, his voice trembling slightly. "I’m getting scared now, Mama —"

"Stop!" she hissed, looking back at him before finally pulling out the knife from behind her back. "Stop calling me that! I don’t have a son like you — why do you keep calling me that?! I’m not your mother!"

Zoren’s hands trembled a little, clasping them together. Despite his age, he remained composed—unsurprising, as Zoren was known to be a mature child. People even said he was more mature than most adults.

Naylani lowered the knife, pointing it at the plate. "Eat, Zoren. Eat it."

"But I’m scared..."

"Eat!" she shouted aggressively. "Eat it!"

Zoren quivered as he pressed his mouth shut. Studying his mother’s eyes, he saw neither disgust nor disdain. Instead, fear swirled in her eyes, as if she were looking at a monster.

"Okay," he replied, reaching out to take a piece of fruit. But as he did, a glint flashed in the corner of his eye, and when he looked, all he saw was the knife coming toward him.