NovelEnglishLeopold remained silent for what felt like an eternity, the air around him seemingly frozen solid.
Aurelia said, "I know you're furious, and you must be blaming me. | wanted to tell you the truth, but William wouldn't have it, and |
couldn't force him. After all, we're the ones who caused all this mess. | didn't want to hurt him all over again."
"He's alive. That's good enough," Leopold muttered, heading to the kitchen to boil sstew, ending the conversation there and
then.
Aurelia followed him, wrapping her arms around him from behind, "I've been faithful, true as steel, for you and only you. Shouldn't
you be happy about that?"
He couldn't help but give a wry smile. "Isn't this what they say, 'a blessing in disguise’, or 'every cloud has a silver lining'?"
"Lethandle the stew," Aurelia offered, "Go check on William. | bet he's upstairs crying his eyes out. Spend squality time
with him."
Leopold ascended the stairs.
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William was once again packing his little suitcase, ready to make a dash for Arnold's place.
Leopold scooped him up in his arms and plopped him down on the couch.
"No matter where you run off to, you're my son."
"I've got my own daddy," William hiccuped through tears.
"Arnold will have his own kids one day," Leopold pointed out.
William's head sank. Maybe Arnold wouldn't love him as much if he had his own child.
"But | love my daddy the most. | wanna be with him."
Leopold stroked his hair, "Don't worry, and your life won't change. I'm not sunreasonable tyrant."
William blinked in surprise. When had Leopold becso understanding?
"You better not be lying to a kid." William pouted.
"I never lie to children."
"Pinky promise?" William extended his little finger, and Leopold hooked it with his own, "Deal."
William felt relieved. Maybe Leopold wasn't as scary as he had imagined.
Leopold pinched his cheek gently, "Take off the mask."
Hesitantly, William removed the mask. His face was the spitting image of Kane's.
"I'll only take it off for a bit. | don't want to go without it just yet."
"As you wish. Whenever you're ready to be Liam, you cback on your own," Leopold knew that pushing him would only backfire
and strain their relationship even further.
William sniffled, not expecting Leopold to be so reasonable. Had he misunderstood him all this time?
"Thank you, Uncle Leopold."
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"I'm just glad you're still here, honey."
"Then can you remove that family shrine placement for me?" William asked, all serious.
Leopold nodded. It was tto take it down, and Liam was alive, after all. Keeping it was bad luck. The plot in the cemetery would
have to go too. That fake child could be moved to a more peaceful place, perhaps Elysium.
After Leopold left, William went to find Kane and shared the news.
Kane felt a profound sense of relief. He no longer needed to deceive Leopold. Surely Leopold knew he had been lying, and would he
be angry?
"I told you, you're overthinking it. Dad's not unreasonable."
William shrugged, "Maybe it's because he and Mom are having more kids. Maybe it doesn't matter whether | cback or not."
Kane replied, "That's not true. We're identical twins; one is not complete without the other. Dad wants to respect your wishes. As
long as you're alive, that's all that matters to him."
William pulled a face, "Actually, it's nice not having secrets anymore. Suddenly, everything feels lighter, no more scares."
"Exactly," Kane nodded, "I was terrified every day, scared that Dad would find out your secret."
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