Chapter 436

"Mommy isn't back yet. Theo needs to wait a little longer." Ethan Roscente crouched down and ruffled the boy's hair.

Theo pouted, his eyes instantly welling up with tears.

Ethan had already contacted the Queen. She granted his request and agreed to release the prisoner.

Sophia Evans lay on the hospital bed. Her fractured ribs were healing, and the rest were just superficial wounds. She could be discharged anytime.

Online rumors about her miscarriage ran rampant. The nurse's爆料 had been drowned in skepticism, failing to cause much stir.

On her discharge day, Sophia beamed with joy. Sunlight bathed her face as if the darkness had finally passed.

Her smile froze when she returned to the villa. A dozen black-suited bodyguards stood in the courtyard like an impenetrable wall.

"Where's Ethan? I demand to see him!" she shrieked.

No one acknowledged her demand. The new servants moved about expressionlessly, like robots.

Her phone was confiscated. Internet access was cut off. For two full days, she remained trapped in this gilded cage.

At dawn on the third day, Ethan walked into the villa holding Theo's hand.

Sophia sat at the vanity, applying thick foundation. Bandages covered the festering half of her face—she didn't dare remove them.

In the mirror, she only looked at the intact side of her face. Over and over, she traced her eyebrows and lined her eyes, as if trying to reclaim her former beauty.

"Mommy!" Theo rushed toward her with glee.

Sophia turned abruptly. Her gaze bypassed the child, locking onto Ethan instead.

"Ethan..." Her voice trembled.

Theo hugged her legs, rubbing his face against her dress.

Sophia remained motionless. Her eyes held only the cold man before her.