PAID

After several rehearsals, Leon and Rosvisser gradually became more comfortable around Claudia.

Once they got to know her, the couple realized that Claudia wasn’t as intimidating as she might have seemed. She was intelligent, possessed high emotional intelligence, and carried herself with such refinement that it left no room for criticism. Being around someone like her was… easy.

“Congratulations, Leon. Now you can call me ‘Mother Empress’ without hesitation,” Claudia teased.

“Still feels a bit awkward, but if it helps the kids succeed, anything goes, Claudia,” Leon replied with a grin.

By now, they’d dropped the more formal “Mr. Cosmod,” “Miss Melkvey,” and “Ms. Claudia,” opting instead to use each other’s first names, a sign of growing familiarity.

“Speaking of children,” Claudia continued with a hint of amusement, “Helena couldn’t stop praising the warm atmosphere in your home after her visit. You must’ve put a lot of effort into creating that environment.”

“The girls are well-behaved, so we don’t have to do much,” Rosvisser responded. “When it comes to family atmosphere, I don’t think there’s a ‘good’ or ‘bad’—it’s more about what’s suitable.”@@novelbin@@