Chapter 309

“She said she was my mum,” Matteo whispered.

I froze, my hand pausing in Matteo’s hair. He lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, his small voice spilling confusion.

I’d known this moment was coming, but I wasn’t ready. It was hours after the party had ended. An hour ago, Nico had reluctantly left my side when his father called him to the study, probably to discuss the fallout from Alexa’s scene. Left with restless hands and a racing mind, I’d decided to tuck the kids in. Sweet Mia was already curled up asleep in her purple pajamas beside her brother, but Matteo was wide awake, buzzing from a sugar rush.

Thankfully, unlike I’d feared, Alexa’s outburst hadn’t shaken him too badly.

What could I say? That, yes, that woman had given birth to him but walked away because she didn’t want him? That to her, he was just a tool to manipulate Nico? I couldn’t say that. But I also couldn’t lie to his face again.

Before I could find the words, Matteo cackled. “She’s