Chapter 239

Renata stared at him for a long moment before his words finally registered. "You want me to leave the country?"

"Take your husband and child and go abroad for a while. It will help you stop overthinking things,” he advised, his tone as patient and gentle as that of a caring older brother. It was as if she were merely overreacting to a bad dream.

The idea of leaving with her husband and child was tempting. She loved Santino; she would do anything for him. Wasn't her ultimate goal for the three of them to live happily ever after together?

"But... will Santino agree to it?"

"That's for you to convince him. It's not like he has much tying him down here. Why wouldn't he agree?"

Renata frowned. It was true. Santino was an orphan; she and Jaden were his only family. Why would he refuse? Unless... he had other plans she didn't know about.

She felt a deep uncertainty, because she knew better than anyone that Santino didn't love her. He hadn't married her for love. But she would never dare say that out loud. If she did, Clifford would never let Santino go.

Gradually, Renata began to calm down, lowering her head in thought.

"Okay,” she said finally. "I'll go talk to him."

"Go on."

She looked up at Clifford. The faint smile on his lips was the same as she remembered, and yet, somehow different. This man before her felt like a stranger and a brother all at once, stirring an unease she couldn't name.

Renata stood up, forcing herself to regain her composure as quickly as possible. She took a deep breath and walked out.

Clifford watched her leave, then

glanced at the cigarette in his hand. He leaned forward and dropped the butt into a glass of

water on

the

table. sizzled for a moment, sank,

and then bobbed back to the

surface.

As if sensing something, he slowly raised his head, his gaze meeting Latisha's clear eyes from the top of the stairs.

The instant their eyes met, Latisha ducked down, hiding from view. She sat on the floor her heart pounding in her chest her already pale face was now completely drained of color. She had heard every word of their conversation.

Latisha hugged her knees, her mind a chaotic mess. The man she had known for so many years felt more and more like a stranger. She had thought he was still the boy from her memories, the one who waited for her outside

me school gate

dressed in a clean white shirt, his smile pure and untainted. Had he changed, or had he just hidden this side of himself all along?

A sharp pain shot through her head. She clutched it, the throbbing like needles piercing her skull.

Suddenly, a pair of leather shoes appeared in her line of sight. Latisha froze, bit her lip, and slowly looked up to see Clifford standing over her. He crouched down, reaching out to touch her cheek.

Latisha flinched away, scrambling backward as if he were some kind of monster.

Clifford's hand froze in mid-air. He stared at her, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. "Come here," he commanded softly.

Latisha watched him in terror, continuing to back away. Suddenly, he grabbed her wrist and yanked her toward him. "What are you hiding from?"

She caught herself with one hand, kneeling on the floor as she looked up at him. Her eyes darted around, filled with a raw fear and distance he had never seen before.

He seized her chin, his voice low and insistent. “I asked you, what are you hiding from?"

Latisha tried to turn her head, but his grip was too strong. She could only lower her gaze, her eyes fixing on the collar of his shirt, where the open buttons revealed a hint of his collarbone.

"Latisha, look at me."