Chapter 90 – The Darkest Hour
After returning to the hotel with the children, Alex received a call from Naoaki.
“She’s fine,” he assured him—“just exhausted, finally letting go of all the tension. She’s relieved the concert series is over.”
Naoaki also offered to let them stay at his atelier and the guesthouse on the De Valois estate starting the next day.
With a faint hope that he might see Naosa the next day, Alex gratefully accepted.
The following noon, they left the hotel and moved to Naoaki’s atelier. The children were enchanted by the old European architecture and the peaceful grounds.
That afternoon, Lu came to the atelier, saying she needed a private word with Alex. Kacy stayed with the children while Lu and Alex stepped into the main bedroom.
“I saw Nao this morning,” Lu began carefully. “She seemed fine. No need to worry about her health.”
A wave of relief washed over Alex.
Then Lu’s expression grew more serious. “Nao asked me for a favor.”
Alex immediately tensed. “What do you mean? Did she send you as her representative? Is that why you’re here?”
Lu shook her head sadly. “She asked me to handle this on her behalf.” She drew a breath. “She’s asking for a legal separation… divorce, eventually. She plans to stay in France permanently. The De Valois family lawyers will handle everything on her side.”
The words hit Alex like a series of blows.
“She doesn’t want to fight with you,” Lu continued gently. “You can keep the house, everything. She only wants to discuss what’s best for the children.”
It was Alex’s worst nightmare realized. His vision blurred as tears filled his eyes. He was drowning in the reality that he’d lost her forever.
Lu waited silently, giving him time to pull himself together. She tried to remain composed, though her own heart was breaking for them both.
At last, Alex managed to choke out, “I need to see Nao. Can you arrange that?”
Lu’s expression grew even sadder. “Nao specifically said she doesn’t want to see you anymore, Alex. She doesn’t even know you’re here in France.”
The words shattered something inside him. Alex stumbled outside to where the children were playing, his world collapsing beneath him.
Aaron, blissfully unaware of the storm, ran to him, calling, “Daddy!”
Alex scooped him up and held him tight, unable to stop the tears.
Travis and Tracy froze, watching their father clutch Aaron and cry openly.
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Lu followed them out, her face etched with pain.
Travis, with wisdom far beyond his six years, walked up to her, eyes steady and intent.
“Auntie Lu,” he said solemnly, “Aaron and I want to live with Mommy. We want to go to her. Please tell Mommy that Aaron and I will protect her.”
His eyes shimmered, but his voice didn’t waver.
Tracy began to cry softly. Travis turned to his sister, fiercely protective.
“Tracy, you can’t come! You hurt Mommy! Daddy and you can’t come!”
He burst into tears, crushed by the weight of trying to fix his broken family.
Tracy sobbed harder. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”
Kacy knelt and drew Tracy into her arms. “Tracy, sweetheart, do you love Mommy?”
Through her tears, Tracy finally whispered, “I love Mommy so much! I didn’t know Mommy was a princess… I didn’t know.”
“Do you love Mommy only because she’s a princess?” Kacy asked gently.
Tracy’s memories flooded back—her mother braiding her hair each morning, picking cute clothes together, baking her favorite scones, holding her hand through nights of sickness, whispering that everything would be all right, sleeping beside her after nightmares.
“Mommy!” she cried out, realizing at last what she had lost.
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Alex sat beside Tracy, gently stroking her hair as he began to speak quietly.
“Tracy, when Mommy and Daddy first met at Daddy’s workplace, Mommy was a very talented doctor. The children in pediatrics—and everyone at the hospital—absolutely loved her. But then Mommy got very sick and couldn’t keep working as a doctor.”
He paused, collecting his thoughts.
“Mommy’s illness is long gone now, and she’s perfectly healthy. But Daddy was so afraid of losing her again that I asked her to stay home with us. The truth is, Mommy’s incredibly talented—she can do anything she puts her mind to. She’s one of the finest pianists in the world, respected by countless people.”
His voice softened, breaking slightly.
“But Daddy can’t do anything without Mommy’s support. Mommy has been Daddy’s queen since the very moment we met. My precious, precious queen.”
Alex’s mind flooded with memories of Naosa—her dazzling smile as she said Alex, I love you, I adore you in a hundred different ways.
He broke down completely, overwhelmed by the weight of what he’d lost.
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Travis begged Lu to let him see Mommy, but she said gently that Mommy wasn’t feeling well today—maybe tomorrow.
Travis grew anxious. “Is Mommy really okay? Is she sick again?”
“I’ll write Mommy a letter to make her feel better,” he decided, taking Aaron’s hand. “Come on, Aaron.”
Then he turned to Tracy. “Tracy, you should write Mommy a letter too—to help her feel better.”
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