Chapter 414

Ethan Roscente heard Theo Evans' heart-wrenching sobs before he even reached Sophia Evans' residence.

"Theo." His deep voice carried through the hallway.

The little boy stumbled into his arms, face flushed from crying. "Uncle Ethan..."

Ethan lifted the child effortlessly, patting his back. "Where does it hurt? Tell me."

Theo shook his head between sniffles. "Not hurt... But Mommy..."

He couldn't understand why his mother had suddenly become so terrifying. Those hands around his neck had felt cold—like a stranger's.

"Mommy would never hurt you." Ethan's voice was steady.

Theo buried his face in Ethan's shoulder with a quiet whimper.

Once the boy calmed down, Ethan set him down. "I need to talk with Mommy."

Small fingers clutched his sleeve. Theo looked up with tear-clumped lashes. "Don't be mad at Mommy... She works so hard..."

The plea stabbed Ethan's heart. How could Sophia harm such an understanding child?

"Grown-up problems are for grown-ups to solve." He crouched to Theo's level. "Want to stay at my place for a few days?"

Theo's eyes brightened before dimming again. "But Mommy will be lonely..."

"Mommy has things to handle." Ethan ruffled his hair. "Just one day with me, okay?"

After a long hesitation, the boy nodded.

Ethan settled Theo in another room before pushing open the bedroom door. Sophia sat before her vanity applying ointment, ignoring the intrusion.

"Sophia Evans." His voice turned glacial.

The woman spun around, eyes lighting up. "Ethan! I knew you'd come back—"

"Why hurt Theo?" Ethan cut her off. "Have you forgotten how fragile he was at birth?"

Sophia's expression froze. So this was about the brat.

"My son, my rules." Her sudden laugh bordered on hysteria. "He's lucky I didn't snap his neck."

Ethan's pupils constricted. The woman before him was unrecognizable.

"Theo's coming with me." He turned away. "Contact me first if you want to see him."

This madwoman could snap any moment. His late brother's only heir wouldn't be sacrificed to her deranged version of motherhood.

Where he'd once respected their bond, now he saw only toxicity that would destroy the child.