Chapter 529

At night, in the children’s bedroom, the air was thick with tension.

Teresa was fuming because Manley and Hayes had pleaded on behalf of Yuna. The two little boys were now trying their hardest to cheer her up-one brandishing a doll and the other waving a superhero mask in her face.

But Teresa was having none of it. With a sharp turn, she crossed her arms and gave them her back, sulking in silence.

Manley and Hayes scurried around to face her, their eyes wide with concern. Hayes took Teresa’s hand, his expression earnest. “Please… don’t be mad…” Teresa rolled her eyes and pulled her hand away with a huff, “Stop talking to me!”

Manley, desperate to make peace, crouched before Teresa. She turned away, but he shuffled along to stay in her sight.

“Teresa, I don’t get why you’re so mad at my mom. But wouldn’t you freak out if your dad kicked your mom out of the house?”

Teresa was stumped. She hated Yuna with a passion, but the logic was sound. Pouting, she locked eyes with Manley, “But your mom made Hayes get a blood test! It hurts! Why didn’t she do it herself?

She doesn’t care about Hayes at all!”

Manley defended Yuna with the innocence of a child, “But my mom promised dad she wouldn’t play favorites anymore! She won’t make Hayes do that again!”

Teresa turned to Hayes, her face inches from his, “Little Mute! Do you believe what your mom said?”

Hayes blinked, his heart pounding. He didn’t believe her. She always broke her promises to be kind to him. She was like the boy who cried wolf, and now, although she seemed sincere, Hayes was hesitant.

But he was too kind-hearted. He didn’t want to disappoint Manley, who had just become friends with him again. Reluctantly, he nodded, “I… believe my mom…”

Teresa was about to explode with anger when the bedroom door suddenly swung open. There stood Yuna, beaming, with a burly bodyguard in tow. “Ms. Yuna, you can’t see young master Hayes without Mr. Winston’s permission, the bodyguard stated firmly.

Yuna, annoyed, replied with a haughty stance, “Who gave you the right to tell me that?”

“Mr. Winston,” the bodyguard replied with unwavering authority.

Yuna’s face flushed with frustration, “I know that! I’m here to see Manley, is that not allowed?”

With a beckoning gesture to Manley, she smiled brightly, “Come here, Manley. Mommy has something to tell you.”

Manley, ever trusting, scrambled to his feet and ran to her side. Teresa watched, her distrust of Yuna growing. The woman reminded her of a sly tiger-scary when silent, even more so when smiling.

-As Manley followed Yuna out of the room, a shadow of disappointment crossed Hayes’ delicate features. Despite her promises, he knew his mother favored Manley.

Teresa, sensing Hayes’ mood, was frustrated by his naivety. He was too trusting, and it always ended in heartache for him. She had been planning to reveal a family secret to him, but now she hesitated.

With the boys getting along so well, telling Hayes could lead to Manley and Yuna finding out. And that could spell disaster.

Sighing, Teresa decided to keep the secret a little longer. It was a burden she would have to bear alone.