chapter540
Lysander’s expression softened as he looked at Sophia’s tearful, anxious face. The realization hit him that while he could command industries, the heart of a child required a different kind of negotiation.
“Of course, Sophia,” he said, his voice dropping to a rare, gentle register. “If these symbols bring you comfort, they are yours. You never need to ask.”
He handed both dragon pendants to her, and the transformation was immediate. Her tears vanished, replaced by a tentative but genuine sense of security.
Lysander then turned to Atticus and Dorian. “It’s time to prepare. You are moving to a new educational environment—one that matches your potential.”
“A new kindergarten?” Dorian asked, his curiosity piqued.
“A performing arts academy,” Lysander clarified. “Where your talents won't just be noticed, but cultivated.”
Fitch watched from the sidelines, marveled by the shift. While Lysander was still using the precise, goal-oriented methods of a CEO, there was an emerging layer of care beneath the surface. He wasn't just managing them; he was investing in their futures. He hadn't yet mastered the natural expression of fatherly warmth, but his actions were beginning to speak a language of deep, albeit structured, protection.
Meanwhile, outside the gates of the Royal Estates, Thalassa felt the weight of a different kind of silence. The guard’s polite refusal to let her enter felt like a physical barrier between her and her children. She dialed Lysander’s number repeatedly, but the calls went unanswered—a clear signal that he was rewriting the rules of their engagement.
She looked at the lush yard just beyond the gates, the trees casting long, quiet shadows. Her children were so close, yet separated from her by a chasm of wealth and pride. With a heavy heart, she finally turned away, realizing that if she wanted to see them, she would have to find a new way to bridge the gap.
As she left, a convoy of black Rolls-Royces swept out of the estate, moving with a synchronized power that commanded the road. Their destination: Starhaven International Kindergarten.