Chapter 820

Thalassa’s heart pounded as her gaze darted to the rear-view mirror, where Lysander’s deep, brooding eyes met hers. Panic washed over her, leaving her feeling helpless and cornered.

She quickly brushed away the tears from her face, blinking rapidly to clear her vision, “I’m not crying, honey,” she said with a forced smile. “The wind outside is just so strong that it blew some dust into my eyes.”

With that, she pulled Sophia into her arms and planted a kiss on her forehead, hoping to reassure her and ease her worries.

“Oh, Mommy, I’ll help blow the dust out of your eyes,” Sophia offered, tilting her head back and puffing out her cheeks as she blew a gentle breath towards Thalassa’s eyes.

It was what Thalassa used to do for them when they got something in their eyes.

Thalassa played along, lowering her head as Sophia blew gently on her face. The soft, milky-scented breath was somewhat comforting. It soothed her troubled heart.

She didn’t understand why she cried. She was sitting there in the car, thinking about Evelyn’s words that she didn’t have a big, fancy house, and couldn’t provide her kids with a stable home. They would have a better future with their father.

She couldn’t even control her own life, let alone help her mother escape their predicament.

The bitter realities of life seemed to magnify in her heart, causing tears to fall involuntarily from her eyes.

Seeing Lysander’s intense gaze in the rear-view mirror, she snapped back to reality, suppressing her emotions and even using Sophia’s assistance as an excuse to avoid meeting his gaze.

Lysander’s eyes, deep and mysterious, returned to the road ahead. He remained silent and his thoughts were inscrutable.

Upon reaching Royal Estates, the kids were all sound asleep in the car.

Lysander parked the car and one by one, he carried the kids into the house, tucking them into their beds.

Upstairs in the master bedroom, Thalassa rested against the headboard and lost in her thoughts.

Suddenly, she heard a noise at the door. She quickly laid down, turning her back to the door and feigning sleep.

As long as she was asleep, Lysander wouldn’t bother her.

She closed her eyes and tried to keep her breath steady.

Then she felt the bed suddenly dip behind her. A strong masculine presence drew closer, a solid chest radiating warmth pressing against her back. His rough hand clasped her chin, turning her face towards him.

Thalassa’s heart fluttered at the feeling; her breath quickened and her pulse raced. Eyelashes fluttered, she opened her eyes to meet Lysander’s ocean-deep gaze.

His intense, mysterious gaze held her captive, like a piercing wind threatening to delve into the depths of her soul, seeing right through her.

“Did returning to Royal Estates upset you?” Lysander’s low, magnetic voice echoed in her ears, His icy breath grazed her cheeks, leaving Thalassa feeling a looming danger.

She stiffened, mustering the courage to meet his gaze and insisted, “No, I really did get dust in my eyes from the wind.”

He is still dwelling on the fact that she had suddenly burst into tears in the car, isn’t he? She thought.

She also regretted not being able to control her emotions better.

No matter how upset she was, she shouldn’t have cried in front of Lysander. Even if she did, he wouldn’t let her go or grant her freedom, would he?

He would only tighten his grip on her, making her escape impossible.

Lysander’s penetrating gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, making Thalassa’s heart flutter with unease. Just when she thought she couldn’t escape his wrath, he let go of her chin and laid down beside her. Reaching out his arms, he was encircling her waist and drawing her into his embrace.

As Thalassa turned, her back now replaced by her front pressed tightly against his muscular chest. Her heaving chest brushed against his firm bosom with each breath. The area where her hand instinctively rested was his abdomen.

She could clearly feel the eight-pack abs, which was exuding a sense of masculine power.

!

And Thalassa felt a sense of danger as she detected something below the abdomen. Her face heated up instantly as she struggled to free herself from his embrace.