Chapter 4: Secrets Wrapped in Silk

Halea’s mind was filled with questions as they moved from the boutique to the nearby jewelry shop. Despite the sparkling displays of gemstones arranged like treasures in a royal vault, her thoughts remained elsewhere. Beside her, Juvianna gleamed with excitement over the selection, while Fuvy maintained her composed elegance, offering charming commentary on each piece she touched. Halea followed silently, her gaze flickering across the shop as if she were only physically present.

Juvianna turned to her, a sapphire pendant in hand, her voice bright with enthusiasm. “Sister, doesn’t this look stunning? It would complement your features perfectly.”

“It’s beautiful,” Halea replied briefly, offering a polite nod. She could see how the piece shone in the light, a work of exquisite craftsmanship, but it barely sparked her interest. Accessories and extravagance had no place in her tangled thoughts right now.

“Darling Halea,” Fuvy added, her tone impossibly warm yet carefully measured. “Juvianna is right. You should spoil yourself. It’s important to celebrate beauty in life.”

Halea smiled faintly, her tone unchanging. “Perhaps another time, Mother.”

Fuvy’s eyes lingered on her for a moment, her smile never faltering. “As you wish, my dear,” she replied smoothly before turning back to the display.

The shopping concluded shortly after, with Juvianna practically bouncing with excitement over her finds. She filled the air with cheerful commentary about colors and trends as they left the shop, her joy undimmed by Halea’s quiet demeanor. Fuvy followed behind her, every movement precise and deliberate. Halea, trailing them both, couldn’t escape the questions still swirling in her mind, their weight pressing heavily against her chest.

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Later that evening, after they had returned home and dinner was finished, Halea retreated to her room. The fabrics she’d purchased earlier lay neatly folded on her desk, their textures soft and inviting. She had intended to spend her evening working on a new design, something graceful and refined. Sketching had always been a comfort for her, a way to quiet her thoughts when they became too loud.

But tonight, as she picked up her pencil and began drawing, a memory surfaced and stopped her cold. *I promised Leanzie we’d play today.*

Her hand froze mid-stroke, her chest tightening as the memory of his hopeful face from the previous evening played vividly in her mind. “Mother, can we play tomorrow?” he had asked eagerly, his small hands clutching a new toy. “I want to show you something.”

She had smiled at him then, her voice warm and reassuring. “Of course, Leanzie. We’ll play tomorrow. I promise.”

And yet, she had forgotten.

Halea leaned back in her chair, exhaling sharply as guilt began to creep in. *How could I forget? He was so excited, and I didn’t even think of it until now,* she thought, scolding herself silently. *You’re distracted, yes, but that’s no excuse. You made a promise to him.*

Her grip on the pencil tightened, her lips pressing into a thin line. She wanted to blame the day’s distractions, the constant noise of her own unanswered questions—but none of that felt like enough. *He deserves better than this,* she thought bitterly. *He deserves a mother who keeps her word.*

A soft knock at the door broke through her thoughts. “Come in,” Halea called, setting her pencil down.

The door opened slowly, and there stood Leanzie. His dark hair was slightly disheveled, and he fidgeted nervously with his hands as he stepped inside. He didn’t look at her right away, his gaze fixed somewhere on the floor.

“Leanzie,” Halea said gently, standing from her chair. “What is it? Shouldn’t you be in bed?”

He took a hesitant step forward, his voice barely above a whisper. “You forgot,” he murmured.

Halea’s breath caught. She had known this conversation was coming, yet hearing those words from him stung far more than she had prepared for. “Oh, Leanzie,” she said softly, kneeling down to his height. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to forget. There’s just been… a lot on my mind.”

His eyes met hers then, filled with disappointment and something far heavier for someone so young. “You promised,” he said simply.

The guilt in Halea’s chest swelled until it became almost unbearable. She reached out, placing her hands gently on his shoulders. “I know,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “And you’re right—I promised. I should’ve remembered. But let’s fix this. How about you sleep here with me tonight, and tomorrow we’ll spend the whole day together. Just the two of us. Anything you want to do.”

Leanzie hesitated, his small hands twisting the fabric of his shirt. “Really?” he asked, his voice barely louder than before.

“Really,” Halea affirmed, her tone firm and reassuring. She offered him a small smile, brushing a strand of hair away from his face. “We’ll do whatever you want. I promise.”

This time, she wouldn’t forget.

She guided him to the bed and tucked him in carefully, smoothing the blanket over him. Leanzie settled into the pillows, his expression softening as he relaxed. Halea sat beside him, running her fingers gently through his hair as his breathing began to even out. Watching him, she felt an overwhelming mixture of love and remorse. *He deserves better than this,* she thought. *He deserves better than me forgetting something so important to him.*

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