CEO Plus-Size Ex-Wife

Chapter 104: Take Care

The silence between them was palpable, a heavy blanket that neither dared to lift. Lucas Anderson's mouth quirked into a wry smile as he searched for words that seemed to evade him. "Take care of yourself—and Pete," he said, his voice laced with a quiet finality.

With those words hanging in the air, he turned his back and began to walk away. Andrea looked on, a storm of emotions brewing behind her eyes. As he stepped further away, a sharp pang of pain clutched at her heart.

On impulse, her feet carried her to him. She wrapped her arms around him from behind, pressing her cheek against his back. Her eyes squeezed shut against the pain, her lips parted as she whispered urgently, "Don't move."

Lucas stiffened at her embrace, a jolt of surprise etching his features before confusion took its place. Andrea's own heart was a tumultuous sea, her feelings for Lucas a riddle she couldn't solve.

"Take care, Lucas," she breathed out, the words barely audible as they floated into the cool air. With a sudden burst of will, she released him and retreated back into the house, her steps quick and unsteady, not daring to look back.

Lucas' gaze lingered on the house, his own reluctance a weight in his chest. He knew the longer he stayed, the more he risked changing his mind. This life was meant for his twin, not for him. His duty was clear—he had to leave. And so, he turned his back on the Singers Mansion.

From the balcony, Andrea watched until he disappeared from view, her thoughts a tangled mess, her emotions a complex web. She took a fortifying gulp of wine, feeling the tears that had gathered spill over and trace warm paths down her cheeks. She wiped them away with a swift motion of her hand.

She turned back to her bedroom, the bed stark and empty. "Should I switch off the light?" she murmured to herself, lost in a daze. She had grown accustomed to the comforting presence of Lucas waiting for her each night. With a heavy heart, she climbed into the lonely bed.

Yet, sleep eluded her. The feeling that someone was sleeping beside her lingered.

Her eyes fluttered open and closed in restless succession, but the bed beside her remained cold and untouched.

The sun's early rays filtered through the curtains, marking the arrival of dawn. Andrea had spent the night restlessly, unable to sleep.

Taking a deep breath, she rose from her bed and quickly freshened up before heading into the living room.

"Ma'am Andrea, your breakfast is ready. Shall I fetch young master Pete?" Housekeeper Win inquired, her voice tinged with concern as she noticed the dark circles under Andrea's eyes, signs of a sleepless night.

Before Andrea could reply, Pete's cheerful voice echoed from the staircase. "Good morning, mommy, Auntie Win! Good morning to the world! Pete's up and happy!"

Win's face lit up with a smile at Pete's exuberance, but Andrea's face remained impassive, her mind elsewhere.

"Pete, your breakfast is ready, come and eat," Win called out cheerfully.

"Okay!" Pete chirped, bounding toward the dining table. His father had returned the previous night, and Pete looked forward to spending the day with him.

Watching Pete skip to the table made Andrea's heart sink. She was hesitant to join him, fearing the inevitable questions about Lucas Anderson.

"Mommy, aren't you going to eat breakfast?" Pete's innocent voice floated from the dining area.

Forcing a smile, Andrea replied, "Of course, honey. I'm coming to join you."

She took a deep breath and sat down, watching Pete eat with gusto. As she was about to take a bite of her scrambled eggs, Pete suddenly asked, "Mommy, is daddy still sleeping? Should I go wake him so we can eat together?"

Andrea's fork paused in mid-air, and Housekeeper Win's expression shifted noticeably at the question.

Pete, sensing the tension, dropped his cutlery and dashed upstairs.

"Pete!" Andrea called after him in a panic.

She followed swiftly and arrived at the open bedroom door to find Pete standing motionless. Approaching with a heavy heart, Andrea couldn't imagine how to console him.

Squatting to meet his tear-streaked face, her heart ached. "Mommy, does daddy hate me?" Pete asked in a pained voice.

The question tightened a knot in Andrea's chest. Gently wiping away his tears, she assured him, "Of course not. Your daddy loves you very much."

Pete's tears flowed unabated, and Andrea struggled to stem them. "Then why did he leave if he loves me so much?" he asked through his sorrow.

Andrea was at a loss for words. How could she explain the complexities of adult life to her son, who longed for nothing more than his father's presence?

Holding Pete close, Andrea promised, "Pete, your dad will come back to us someday."

Her own eyes filled with tears, Andrea closed them against the pain. The uncertainty of finding Valentine Anderson weighed heavily on her.

Housekeeper Win, witnessing the poignant scene, could not hold back her own tears. "Ma'am Andrea is so pitiful," she whispered, dabbing at her eyes.

Taking a deep breath, Win stepped forward to gently remind Andrea, "Ma'am Andrea, your food will get cold."

Andrea ended the embrace and addressed Pete. "Pete, I promise I will bring your daddy back. Let's go and eat."

Pete blinked away fresh tears, following his mother back to the dining table in silence. He sat without reaching for his cutlery. Andrea tried to resume eating, her fork hovering in the air as she lost herself in thought.

Snapping back to reality, she noticed Pete's untouched meal. "Pete, don't you like your breakfast? I can ask the kitchen to make you something else," she offered with concern.

Housekeeper Win, observing them both, added, "Ma'am Andrea, you haven't taken a bite either."