Once the rain stopped.
The family of three left the tent, ready to head back.
Roderick's injury needed to be tended to at home.
Arden's car was parked by the roadside, waiting.
He stood by the car, smiling gently. "Mr. Nightblade, Miss Ashford, here."
Then he lowered his gaze and looked at Cedric. "Good afternoon, young master."
"Good afternoon to you too." Cedric held his mom's hand, his chubby little face puffing up as he looked at Arden.
Once they got in the car.
They headed straight to the hospital.
The old doctor, upon seeing the vicious scratch on Roderick's waist, frowned and muttered, "What a pity." He adjusted his glasses. "Were you attacked by some kind of beast?"
Most importantly, the injured young man seemed oblivious to the pain, casually responding with a "hmm," while his attention remained focused on the sounds of the mother and child talking in the corridor.
The little cub asked in his soft, childish voice, "Mommy, will Dad die?"
Roderick:...
In the corridor, against the wall, there was a row of green seats. Catriona sat in the middle seat, her son stood next to her, his small hand resting on her knee, with a slight frown on his little face.
"Sweetie, are you worried about Dad?" Catriona gently stroked her son's hair, "He'll be fine, don't think too much."
Cedric squeezed his fingers, his dark eyes lowered, and murmured a soft "hmm."
Seeing this, Catriona felt a mix of emotions spreading in her heart, a twinge of heartache for her son. Thinking carefully, this was actually Cedric's first prolonged close interaction with a male elder.
Since Roderick appeared, he gradually broke down Cedric's defenses. Their small family had always been so quiet and isolated, without grandparents on either side.
The little child had so few family members, almost as few as she did.
So he really liked Roderick and was afraid he would "disappear."
Catriona's gaze lowered slightly, and a wave of heavy bitterness crossed her heart. In three months, she would have to leave Luna Palace, no matter what.
By then, would her son feel sad? He probably would, right?
Roderick must have a lot of family, right? Just among his clan, there were so many in Luna Palace. They were so united, loving, and caring for each other. Roderick even had family on Snow Mountain.
If her son lived with his father Roderick, he would have many relatives, live in the best environment, eat the best food, and have lots of playmates.
Watching the little boy with his head down, his small lips pressed together.
Catriona's heart ached, and she pulled her son into her arms, rubbing her face against his soft little cheeks, her smile tinged with bitterness.
Sweetie, I'm sorry.
Mom has to take you with me, no matter what.
Your dad already has so many things. He has money, family, and so much love.
Mom... only has you.
She couldn't provide the life that Roderick could offer.
Her sweetie was still young now, but when he grew up? Would he blame her?
She softly asked, "Do you like Dad?"
Cedric blinked his big eyes, shyly nestled into his mother's arms, and nodded a little awkwardly.
"You will see each other again in the future. Definitely," she promised.
Even if she moved out, the father and son would still see each other often.
So... Catriona kissed the little one on the head. Sweetheart, when the time comes, don't be sad, okay?
However...
She could accept and support Roderick in spending time with their child, but what if, in the future... Roderick had a new life that made things inconvenient?
Roderick was still so young; that would be entirely normal.
Thinking of this, Catriona frowned slightly.
Did Cedric genuinely like Roderick as his biological father, or... was it because he rarely had a kind male elder around? Did he find it novel?
Suddenly, the thought of her friends urging her to go on blind dates popped into her mind.
If... she found a new dad for her son, would he like him just as much? Would it fill the empty part of his heart?
This kid didn't seem to mind her finding a new dad at all.
Even his birthday card had those crooked words saying, "find a boyfriend soon."
She thought that finding a good-natured man, one who would be kind to her son, someone decent-looking, would be good enough. Just a calm, simple life together might be okay.
As Catriona's thoughts continued, she got a bit carried away and blurted out, "Sweetie, what if Mom finds you a new dad..." Or not.
Um...
She suddenly froze.
What was she saying?
Was she crazy? Roderick loved their son so much; how could he not make time to see Cedric?
Besides, Cedric wasn't a regular human—he was a werewolf cub! She had actually forgotten this crucial fact.
She suddenly recalled a story Roderick had mentioned about a human woman who, unable to handle her werewolf cub's live feeding behavior, had beaten the cub to death.
Humans are fickle; that's a fact.
What they accept one year, they may not accept a few years later.
Even that birth mother had been able to lay such a deadly hand.
How could she be sure that the man she found wouldn't be like that human woman? Besides, Cedric was just his stepson.
Catriona broke out in a cold sweat, instantly dispelling the thought.
However, while she pushed the idea away, the little cub did not.
"Mom, are you finally thinking about getting a boyfriend? That's okay!"
Cedric's eyes sparkled. "Wow! Did Mommy meet someone you like?"
Little Sweetie blinked his damp eyes. "Wow! Then I'll have two daddies!"
Catriona:...
Roderick, who was having his wound treated by the doctor:...
When he heard Catriona talking about finding a new father for the little cub, his mood sank uncontrollably. The pain in his heart was even worse than his wound.
He knew that one day Catriona would look for a partner, but he hadn't expected it to be so soon.
In that moment, as he lay on the operating table, his wolf heart tightened, nearly leaving him breathless.
Then, the little one's innocent voice stabbed at his heart like a knife, each word adding to the pain.
Roderick took a deep breath.
"Finally, some expression on your face. It hurts, doesn't it? I thought you couldn't feel pain," the doctor remarked.
Roderick didn't reply.
He clenched his hands, his lips trembling slightly.
It was fine. Whether she wanted to find someone or had already met a man she liked, it was all good.
He would take care of the little cub and give them time to go on dates.
Catriona had been through too many hard times. He wanted her life to be smooth and happy from now on.
Roderick coughed painfully, feeling as if his heart were being tortured piece by piece.
Invisible chains seemed to bind him tightly.
Catriona wanted to find a mate.
But it wasn't him.
Just... not him.
In the hallway.
Before Catriona could explain to her son, she noticed a young man sitting in a wheelchair, his legs encased in plaster. A group of several men in black, resembling bodyguards, followed closely behind him.
He looked impatient, his face full of anger, muttering complaints.
Catriona opened her mouth halfway but paused.
Ambrose Hatherleigh.
The younger guy who had gone abroad to study.
The next second, the young man saw her, his expression lighting up with surprise, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"Catriona!!"
"You're here? I... I've always wanted to find you!"
Catriona: "Your legs... what happened?"
Ambrose lowered his gaze, looking a bit unsure and a little aggrieved. "I fell down the stairs."
In reality, he had snuck back to the country to see Catriona, only for his family to catch him and drag him back, confining him. He wasn't about to behave obediently.
So...
He'd climbed out the window and fell from the third floor onto the lawn, fracturing both knees.
The upside: he didn't have to go abroad for now.
The downside: he could only move around in a wheelchair at the moment.
But meeting Catriona in the hospital today felt like a dream to him.
"Cedric! You're even cuter now, and so handsome!"
Cedric pressed his little lips together, "Hello, Mr. Hatherleigh."
The young man corrected him, "Call me 'Ambrose' is fine."
Cedric stared at him with big eyes, "Mom said to call you in respect."
Ambrose's eyes widened as he looked at Catriona, a face full of grievance. "I think we can consider ourselves good friends by now, Catriona. You don't need to be so wary around me."
Catriona replied calmly, "There's nothing special between us, right?"
Ambrose: "I..."
"Young master, it's time to go," said one of the bald bodyguards behind him in a gruff voice.
"Shut up! If you want to go, then go!"
"Apologies, but Mr. Hatherleigh instructed us to take you back."
Ambrose refused to leave; he had finally managed to see Catriona.
Catriona glanced at the bodyguards, recalling how this young man hadn't wanted to study abroad because of her, and felt a headache coming on.
She felt exhausted on behalf of Hatherleigh's parents. Their just-turned-adult youngest son had a crush on a poor mother of a four-year-old? What kind of situation was this? Most families wouldn't accept it.
Especially a family like the Hatherleigh, who had a bit of wealth.
At that moment, Roderick, having finished bandaging his wound, appeared at the door.
Catriona had a sudden idea, her eyes lighting up as she ran toward Roderick, smiling with concern, "Are you feeling better? It doesn't hurt anymore, does it?"
Roderick lowered his gaze, looking at her quietly.
Catriona tilted her head and whispered, "Partner! Help me out."
