Alpha Kilian pushed Nelly and walked away.
Tony remained firmly planted on the ground while staring at them.
Upon taking a turn, Alpha Kilian lowered his gaze to look at Nelly . “Don't you have something to say?”
“Like what?”
“Don't you find Tony 's reaction strange?” Alpha Kilian asked.
Nelly looked straight ahead. Even though she had meticulously put on makeup, she still exuded a sense of fragility.
She smiled. “Is it strange?”
“He didn't ask anything even after seeing you like this!” Alpha Kilian averted his gaze toward Tony . “Do you think Tony already knows something?”
The corners of Nelly 's lips lifted slightly into a smile. After a moment, she nodded and said, “Mhm!”
Alpha Kilian halted in his tracks and bent down next to Nelly . “Did you tell him?”
“Is there a need for me to do that? Given Tony 's intelligence, it would be strange if he can't figure it out himself!” claimed Nelly , her eyes filled with indescribable tenderness. “Besides, he's my son. Don't people always say there's a special bond between mothers and their children?”
Alpha Kilian looked at her with his lips pursed. “Haven't you ever considered telling him directly?”
Nelly shook her head.
“ Nelly ...”
“Regarding this, as long as I don't admit it, he'll still hold on to a glimpse of hope, and he can still be happy. But if I admit it, he won't be able to put on a pretense in front of me anymore. When that happens, we'll both be in pain and sadness. Is there a need for that?” Nelly asked.
Alpha Kilian wanted to say something, but upon noticing the look in Nelly 's eyes, he could not bring himself to say more.
He reached out and placed his hand in her palm. “ Nelly , please wait for me a little longer. I promise to find you the antidote!”
“I believe in you.” Nelly flashed a smile at him.
Alpha Kilian rose to his feet and continued pushing her forward.
“By the way, from the way I see, Ben and Donna didn't react like how Tony did...” Alpha Kilian remarked.
“Tony probably didn't tell them anything, I guess!” Nelly said lightly.
“I thought they never keep secrets from each other?” asked Alpha Kilian .
“Tony is a person of great responsibility. He wouldn't tell them even if he knew about it. He would think that the fewer people who know about it, the less sadness there will be!” Nelly looked up at Alpha Kilian with a proud expression that made it seem like she was flaunting.
“What do you mean?” Alpha Kilian asked, his eyes fixed on her.
“I gave birth to him. I know him well!” stated Nelly .
Alpha Kilian chuckled and reached out to gently pat her on the head.
Nelly , too, laughed. Looking ahead, she continued, “Alpha Kilian , you should find more time to understand them in the future.”
As soon as her words fell, Alpha Kilian was frozen at his feet.
He gazed at her, the look in his eyes unfathomable.
Of course, Nelly knew what was going through the man's mind. With a smile, she said, “What I meant is that if you don't try to understand them more, I'm afraid you won't be able to handle them in the future!”
“All I need is you by my side. With you around, I doubt they'll dare cross the line!” responded Alpha Kilian .
Nelly nodded in response. “That's true. But aren't you afraid that maybe one day I won't be able to control them anymore?”
“If there's such a day, I'm sure it won't be as simple as a matter of discipline anymore. If they don't even listen to you, how will they possibly listen to a father who missed out on six years of their lives?” Alpha Kilian deflected her question with another.
Hearing that, Nelly replied, “You've got a point!”
Alpha Kilian lowered his gaze to look at her. “But I think you're overthinking things. That will never happen to the three of them!”
“Are you that sure?” Nelly queried.
Alpha Kilian nodded.
A smile crept up on Nelly 's face. “Based on your confidence, I can see that you know the kids pretty well!”
“Of course! No one knows a child better than the father!”
“Shouldn't it be the mother?”
“That's kind of the same meaning!”
“Alpha Kilian , you're getting more and more shameless...”
The two chatted as they walked. Even though grave matters were weighing on their hearts, they still tried to cheer each other up...
...
Meanwhile, Tony was still at the entrance trying to compose himself after the couple had left.
As much as he constantly reminded himself to put on a more unconcerned facade, he still could not control his emotions every time he saw Nelly in the wheelchair.
His eyes were reddened, and it took him a great effort to hold back his urge to cry.
While he was adjusting his mental state, a loud smack echoed from inside the house.
Stumped, Tony rushed inside.
Inside, Spencer was pinning onto Thalia.
When Tony entered to see that scene, he was briefly taken aback and quickly turned around.
“I...”
Tony was about to explain himself when Spencer yelled, “Why did you turn around? Aren't you going to come and help?”
Huh?
Tony was slightly stunned.
“Come over here!” Spencer shouted.
Only then did Tony turn around to face them. Just as he was about to ask something, he saw Thalia abruptly send a kick toward Spencer. Fortunately, the latter managed to dodge her, all thanks to his quick reflexes.
At that moment, Thalia sat up straight and glared fiercely at Spencer. “As I said, don't blame me for not holding back if you offend me!”
As she leaped forward, intending to make a move, Tony swiftly pulled her back. “What are you doing? Do you think you're filming some drama?”
Thalia was visibly startled and turned around to glance at him. “Who are you?”
Tony was struck dumb.
With his mouth agape, he shifted his gaze toward Spencer.
Spencer sighed helplessly. “She had one glass too many!”
Tony uttered, “Drunken antics?”
Spencer remained silent.
Displeasure surged within Thalia. With her eyes on Tony , she ranted, “Dude, I did drink a little, but I'm not drunk. I'll let it slide on the account that you're still a kid. Now, off you go!”
“All right. Goodbye!” With that, Tony turned and left without the slightest hesitation.
Thalia cast a glance at him, then immediately followed him outside.
As Tony was walking, he felt a presence beside him. He stopped and whipped his head around. “Why are you following me?”
“To look for someone!”
“Who are you looking for?” Tony questioned.
Thalia said nothing.
“Sure. Go ahead then!” said Tony .
And so, watching Thalia head outside, Spencer and Tony quickly trailed behind.
“Does she always act like this after drinking?”
“It's only because she drank too much!”
“Has she always been like this?”
“Rarely!”
Tony nodded, seemingly as if he understood something. He was about to say more when he lifted his gaze and saw Thalia heading toward his room.
His brows snapped together. “Why is she going to my room?”
Immediately, he went after her.
Seeing that, Spencer resignedly followed behind.
As Tony pushed open the room door, he spotted a gorgeous silhouette sitting cross-legged on his bed with a thin quilt draped over her body.
Tony 's mysophobia acted up at once. “What are you doing, Thalia?”
Nonetheless, when Thalia looked up and saw him, her eyes instantly welled up with tears. With a teary voice, she said, “Tony ...”
Tony stared at her in bafflement.