âYour siblings have finally made up. Come on, Baber. Come downstairs with Mommy and bring up some delectable treats. We can all enjoy them together.â
Baber was always the most sensible one. As his eyes shined like Laylaâs, he nodded and spread his arms to embrace his mother. âOkay!â
Once Ellinor took Baber out, the two little ones who had just shaken hands and promised peace revealed their true colors.
Layla, with her arms crossed and chin raised, huffed. âHmph! I wonât make up with you! You can fool them, but you canât fool me! Youâre not my brother at all!â
Tristan frowned, not giving her a pleasant look. âSo we wonât make up? Fine! I only did it to prevent Mommy from getting too angry. I didnât really want to make up with you either!â
Layla looked at him with disdain. âYou have the nerve to call my mommy âMommyâ?! How shameless!
Donât you have a mommy of your own?â
Tristan fell silent.
There was nothing he could say.
He liked the pretty lady he called Mommy, but he knew well that she wasnât his real mother. He was claiming someone elseâs mother as his own.
He just couldnât grow fond of his mother, Sophia.
Now that âAdrianâ was silent, Layla jumped down from the couch, walked up to him, and, like a little adult, stared at him. âWhere did you send my brother? What do you want to achieve by taking his place here?â
Tristan felt guilty under her gaze. âI⦠I am your brother!â
Layla scoffed. âYouâre lying! Hmph, youâre just like him. You suck at lying. The moment you lie, you blink non-stop!â
Tristan, already feeling guilty, blinked even faster. âYou⦠you canât prove that Iâm not Adrian!â
âJust because I canât prove it now doesnât mean I canât prove it in the future! Just wait; Iâll find evidence to expose you! If Mommy finds out youâre a little liar, she wonât spare you?â
The thought of the disappointing look on the pretty ladyâs face when she found out the truth saddened Tristan.
He took a deep breath, nodded, and confessed. âYou donât need to find evidence. I am indeed not your brother, Adrian, and I never intended to take his place. I still have to go back to find my dad. I just like your mommy and want to stay by her side. Iâll leave on my own in a few days.â
Layla frowned. âYou have a dad?â
Tristan nodded. âYes, I have a dad.â
Layla tilted her head and asked, âHmm⦠What does your dad look like?â
The image of his father surfaced in Tristanâs mind, and he said with pride, âMy dad is very handsome.
Heâs the most handsome man in the world!â
Layla pursed her lips and shook her head. âI donât believe it! The handsomest man in the world is my âuncle!â
Tristan asserted confidently. âWhy would I lie to you? My dad truly is handsome. Your uncle might be quite handsome, but heâs a bit lacking compared to my dad.
Layla thought for a moment. âI still donât believe it. You need to take me to see your dad. Seeing is believing.â