And when Lianna told her son, "Daddy doesn't know how to treat fever," Yeri understood, she was protecting Sean, shielding him from the pain of being disappointed again.
It was the kind of lie a mother tells when she doesn't know how else to explain why his father wasn't always around, why he wasn't the doctor when his own child was sick.
Seeing that Yeri had no intention of leaving, Sean turned his back to her and hugged his knees.
After observing him quietly, Yeri spoke softly. "Your mother often talks about you to me…"
Sean didn't turn around, but she saw his small ears perk up.
Yeri smiled subtly and continued, "She proudly told me you're very smart and well-behaved. That whenever she teaches you something, you understand right away. It's no wonder she calls you her little lamp. Do you know what that means?"
Sean "..."
"It means you're the light of her life," Yeri said gently. "Her happiness… the reason she smiles."
Silence.
Then the boy's lonely little back trembled.
And finally, something inside him broke. Sean began to sob, burying his face in his knees, little body curling into itself.
Yeri "…"
If someone walked in now, they might think she was bullying a child.
Sighing, she stood up to leave. As she walked toward the door, she spoke as if casually talking to herself.
"My real mom died when I was little. I really envy you for having a mommy like Sister Lianna. When my dad remarried, I hated his new wife, thinking she was an evil stepmother. But I was wrong. Even now, when I think about how mean I was and all the mischievous things I did, I still feel guilty. I'm lucky to have another mom who loves me."
Just as she reached for the door, the boy's hoarse, trembling voice burst out behind her.
"M-Mommy doesn't love me at all! You're lying!"
Yeri paused.
"Grandma said Mommy is only pretending to care about me because of money! She's only using me so Daddy won't divorce her!" Sean sobbed, voice breaking.
Yeri: "…"
What does this tiny brat even know about the word 'divorce'?
Sean rushed toward her and pushed at her skirt with his small hands, clutching the fabric tightly. "If I'm her little lamp, then why isn't she happy? Why does she always look sad? Sometimes I hear her crying and she lies and says she scratched her eyes! I'm not a baby anymore, I know she's not happy here!"
Yeri stared at him quietly.
Anyone else would think he was venting or hating his mother, like he was desperately trying to prove his mother didn't care for him.
But looking into his tear-filled eyes, Yeri saw something else, he wanted her to deny it. He wanted someone, anyone to tell him he was wrong, that his mother loved him, that he wasn't the reason she was unhappy.
Because what child doesn't crave their parent's love?
As a father, Doctor Neri was practically a shadow. And as for his grandmother, perhaps aside from badmouthing Lianna and stirring trouble, would a wealthy socialite really care for a child twenty-four seven?
No. Sean had been raised by Lianna alone. Every big thing, every small thing, there was no nanny.
Of course he was attached to her. But as a child, he was also vulnerable and easily influenced by adults, especially someone like his grandmother.
Yeri sighed inwardly. But her purpose for coming here was met, she got the answer she needed.
When she had been inside Lianna's body, what Sean shouted during his birthday party had puzzled her.
Most spoiled children, influenced by adults, would repeat what they heard. But Sean had shouted:
"If you're not happy here, then just go away! I don't need you!"
Children are sensitive. Even without words, they can feel when something is wrong. It seemed Lianna's depression and her efforts to hide it were misunderstood by Sean.
To him, her tears meant she didn't want to stay. And her forced smiles meant she was pretending to love him.
Yeri was still deep in thought when she felt a heavy tug on her skirt.
Looking down, Sean was still gripping tightly, shouting through hiccups, but the look in his eyes wasn't anger. It was fear. And an almost desperate hope that she would tell him he was wrong.
"Okay, okay, you've wiped enough snot on my skirt," Yeri muttered, crouching down. "Sean, you should trust your mother. Who's always there when you're sick? Who plays with you and reads bedtime stories? Who makes your meals? Who hugs you when you're afraid or sad?"
Truthfully, Yeri didn't know the exact details but any loving parent would do these things.
Sean didn't argue. He simply looked up at her with a blotchy, tear-streaked face.
"Only a mother who loves you would do all that," Yeri said gently. "I know, because my mom did the same for me. So don't be a mean kid like I was. Don't misunderstand your mom and hurt her."
Sean hiccuped, "Then… then why isn't she happy here? Is it because I'm not a good boy?"
"Well…" Yeri tilted her head, thinking hard. Coaxing children was not her strength.
"Maybe she's not feeling well," she tried. "Or… mmm… maybe there are ghosts in this house."
Sean: "…"
Yeri: "…"
Why. Did she say ghosts.
Clearing her throat, Yeri forced out a grin.
"Joking, joking… Anyway, just because she's not happy here doesn't mean she doesn't love you. Adults get sick too. And when you're sick, you're sad, right? You're not happy then either."
---
Earlier, Zahn had muttered to Shin, "What should I do?"
While Yeri quietly slipped away, the two men were left alone in the dining room.
Shin looked irritated, then even more so when he realized Yeri had already vanished.
Where did she run off to this time?
As if oblivious to Shin's annoyance, Zahn asked in a tone dripping with blame and confrontation. "Yeri brought Lianna to your villa. I investigated. Why didn't you contact me then?"
He hadn't known about Lianna's drenched state, about her drowning in despair til Yeri said it.
But the report still stated Lianna had stayed at Shin's villa for three days.
Shin looked at him with cold indifference and returned the question flatly. "Zahn Neri, your wife hadn't been home for days. Why didn't you go looking for her?"
Zahn's pupils trembled, guilt flickering beneath the surface.
He remembered. His mother had mentioned Lianna hadn't come home. He had considered sending people to find her, but he let himself be talked out of it, listening to his mother's advice to "let her cool off, or she'll keep being spoiled and willful."
He had even been angry at Lianna for not contacting him, blaming her for creating trouble at their son's party.
"Last night, I sent those who hurt her to the police," Zahn muttered, as if attempting to console himself.
Shin let out a scoff and asked with mocking curiosity, "Including your mother?"
Zahn flinched as though Shin had stabbed him with a blade. "How could I possibly send my own mother to—?"
"What kind of double standard is that?" Shin cut in sharply. "You said 'those who hurt her.' Don't you know who hurt your wife the most? And what about you?"
His gaze sliced through Zahn, cold, penetrating.
Zahn's lips parted, but no words came out. He knew exactly what Shin meant.
Shin's gaze sharpened, slicing through Zahn's defenses as if he were made of fog. "Need me to say it? Negligence is also a crime."
The words dropped like stones into a dark well. Zahn's heart slammed painfully against his ribs, swallowed again by the rising tide of dread, guilt, and late-realized fear.
Even though they never interfered in each other's private lives, everyone in their social circle knew Madam Neri disliked her daughter-in-law.
Yes. Shin didn't need to say it. All of Lianna's suffering began with him.
She could have endured whatever outsiders or even his mother threw at her. But the words and actions of the one you love hurt the most. Those wounds bled deeper.
He hadn't hurt her physically. But he had delivered a blow far worse than bruises.
Seeing Zahn standing there like a frozen statue, Shin felt no pity.
Back then, when Lianna had been accused of drugging Zahn, and later when they abruptly married, Tristan and Saeki had repeatedly urged him to investigate.
But Zahn had refused. It was as if he faced some invisible, monstrous truth, one he believed would shatter him the moment it surfaced.
He convinced himself it wasn't necessary.
Whether she's guilty or not, he'll marry her anyway. As if marriage alone could erase the wounds of the past.
Instead, it became the prelude to the tragedy of the present.
Growing annoyed, Shin finally snapped, "Zahn Neri, don't pretend to be dumb. Moping here like a sick dog won't change anything."
Just then, Yeri walked in, carrying Sean, who was still hiccuping.
"Ah… I found him in his room," Yeri said with an awkward smile. "I think he wants his daddy."
Zahn snapped out of his stupor and quickly took Sean from her.
The boy's face was red, cheeks wet, eyes swollen, clearly, he had been crying hard.
"Dad… when is Mommy coming back?" Sean asked in a trembling voice.
Zahn froze.
Shin nodded to Yeri, the two silently agreeing to slip away.
Just before they walked off, Zahn hurriedly said something to Shin in a low voice, something only the two of them could hear.
Shin merely responded with a short, cold chuckle.