Because she didn't know where else to sleep, Leana chose to stay in the nursery and watch over Sean. She looked at him as if he were her own, born from her very womb. Her gaze was gentle, full of affection, despite the many wounds buried in her heart.
"You look like your mother, but there's not a single trace of your father," Leana murmured softly as she gently rocked Sean's crib. The baby had woken up because of a dirty diaper, and she cared for him with great patience.
During her pregnancy, Leana had learned so much about motherhood—changing diapers, preparing baby food, caring for a newborn. Even though her own child was gone, at least everything she'd learned wasn't completely in vain.
The sound of a door opening snapped Leana out of her thoughts. Revan stepped in, silently watching her for a moment before walking closer. His gaze briefly shifted to the sleeping Sean.
"He's asleep. Come out. I need to talk to you," Revan said. He glanced at his son without a smile, just a flat, expressionless look, then turned around and left the room.
Leana stood frozen for a moment, wondering what was wrong with Revan. Why did his expression seem so strange, so different? She brushed the feeling aside and followed him into the living room, where he was already sitting on the couch with his arms crossed.
"What is it?" she asked, taking a seat next to him.
"Let's make an agreement, so you can stay here and take care of my son," Revan said bluntly.
Leana nodded. "Okay," she agreed without hesitation.
Revan straightened up and picked up a piece of paper from the table. "I wrote this. Read it and sign if you agree."
Leana took the paper and read through the terms he'd written. Her brows furrowed.
"Do I really have to live here?" she asked, looking up at him.
"Yes. To take care of my son, you need to stay. He needs your breast milk. I can't let him be far from me," Revan explained.
Leana nodded in understanding, though a trace of hesitation lingered in her heart.
"Don't worry. My room is upstairs. Yours is next to Sean's. We won't be sharing a room. You're free to treat this house like your own," Revan continued.
That gave her some relief. At least she didn't have to stay in the same room as him. So she agreed.
"I'll continue working. I came back not just to return home, but also to work. So you can't stop me," she said firmly.
"Where do you work?"
"Beauty Jewelry. I'm sure you've heard of it?"
Revan nodded. "Of course. I'm one of the shareholders and sponsors there. What's your position?"
"I'm a jewelry designer. I'm scheduled to return to work next Monday."
"Alright. I don't mind. But what about—"
"You don't need to worry. I'll take Sean with me. I can design from home too. Just one request—don't restrict me. That's all I ask."
Revan was silent for a moment, thinking.
"Okay. I agree. You'll be Sean's wet nurse for two years. You're free to move around, as long as it's on the ground floor. Don't go upstairs, that's my private area. Do whatever you want, just don't disturb me."
"Alright. I'm fine with that." Leana signed the agreement. There were no strict boundaries, she could still live freely. "But... is there no housekeeper here?" she asked, handing the paper back to him.
"No. I can hire one if you want."
"No need. I was just curious. Maybe you should hire someone just to clean the house. I can cook, so that's not a problem."
"Good. Glad to hear you can handle the kitchen."
Then silence fell between them. Neither of them spoke, each lost in their own thoughts.
"Then let me ask you, what happened to Maria?" Leana finally voiced the question that had haunted her for so long.
Revan looked at her, his gaze cold and dark. Leana could feel the weight of it.
"If I answer your question, will you do something for me in return?"
Leana hesitated at the strange request.
"Okay."
As long as Revan was willing to talk about Maria, Leana was ready to agree to whatever he asked.
But Revan fell silent. His eyes lowered, and his expression changed. Leana watched him closely.
"Do you remember how weak Maria was when she was born?" he began.
"Yes, I remember."
"And you know why I married her, don't you?"
Leana nodded without speaking.
"Our marriage was arranged by our parents. Maria was fragile, but she desperately wanted a child. I couldn't bear to try again after she miscarried twice."
Leana was stunned. She had no idea her best friend had gone through something so heavy.
"For five years, Maria never gave up on becoming a mother. I didn't want to try again because I knew the risks. But fate played a cruel joke. That child survived, despite the fact that he was a mistake."
Leana's brow furrowed.
"A mistake? What do you mean?"
Revan glanced at her briefly. "Throughout her pregnancy, Maria was in constant pain. She had to be monitored almost daily at the hospital by a trusted OB-GYN. Still, she insisted on keeping the baby, even though it meant risking her life. She only lived to see him for a day... then she died."
Leana was speechless. Her mind went blank. Imagining Maria giving up her life for her child, it tore at her heart. But knowing how stubborn Maria was, it all started to make sense.
"She entrusted her son to me. Asked me to be his father," Revan said, but his tone was flat, his face unreadable. Cold. Leana could see one thing clearly: hatred.
Strange, wasn't it?
"You are his father. So of course she asked you. Why are you speaking as if Sean isn't your son?" Leana said, confused.
But the sharp glare Revan gave her—filled with anger and bitterness—shut her up. She stared back, stunned.
"Don't joke like that," Leana said, unnerved by the look in his eyes.
"Why? You don't believe he's not mine?" Revan shot back.
"No. I mean …," Leana had no argument. A horrifying thought crossed her mind. "That's not possible, is it? How could it be?"
"Why not? You should already understand what I meant by 'a mistake.' "
Leana's head began to spin. Her thoughts tangled into a storm of fear and confusion. The complexity of her two friends' relationship unraveled before her.
"No … it can't be." She refused to believe it. She didn't want to believe it. Sean, whom she h
ad thought was Revan and Maria's son, was suddenly a question mark in her mind. A truth she wasn't ready to face.