Deceptive Affection

Lily Evans walked into the room and was startled to see Madam Lou.

The Madam Lou before her was a completely different person from the one Lily had last met.

In Lily's memory, Madam Lou had always been the epitome of a dignified noblewoman from the capital—her hair immaculately styled, her clothes perfectly pressed, her makeup flawless and refined.

But the Madam Lou lying in bed now was noticeably thinner, her hair greasy as if it hadn't been washed for days, her face bare and showing every wrinkle and spot, her clothes carelessly wrinkled beneath her.

At this moment, Madam Lou looked just like any ordinary woman—perhaps even a bit slovenly.

When Madam Lou looked up and saw Lily Evans enter, her eyes flashed with resentment.

Standing before her, Lily Evans was even more radiant than before—her skin soft and fair as a baby's, her features more striking, especially her eyes, clear and enchanting. Gone was the youthful awkwardness; as the newlywed Princess Consort of Qin, she possessed the mature allure of a young wife. It was obvious that Prince Alexander's care had made her even more beautiful and lively.

Lily's increasing beauty was blinding to Madam Lou, like a knife cutting into her heart.

Lucy Lou sat by the bed and glanced at Lily Evans. Seeing Lily's breathtaking beauty, she couldn't help but feel moved—even women would be captivated, let alone men.

Lucy Lou only dared a single glance at Lily before quickly lowering her head, feeling deeply embarrassed.

Lucy knew she was ugly. How could she, with all her wishful thinking, ever hope to be with her cousin when Lily was so beautiful?

Thinking back on her past self, Lucy felt she had been utterly foolish—like a toad dreaming of eating swan meat.

"What are you doing here? You don't care about me as your mother, so why bother coming at all!" Madam Lou snapped, her eyes full of hostility.

Lily Evans looked calmly at the withered, aged woman and said lightly, "Madam Lou, the Prince and I are here to let you know that we are moving to the Prince of Qin's Manor today. I hope you take care of yourself from now on."

Madam Lou clutched the quilt tightly and shouted, "Fine! You two ungrateful things—your wings have grown, now you want to fly! Go, then! Why pretend to be considerate and say goodbye? If I say you can't move out, would you really stay?"

Lily met Madam Lou's gaze, completely unfazed, and replied bluntly, "That's right. Even if you don't allow us to move, we would still leave."

Madam Lou was so infuriated by Lily's unvarnished response that she nearly blew her top. She glared fiercely at Lily, then turned to Alexander Hayes: "Tian'er, I carried you for ten months, suffered to give birth, and raised you for twenty years. Now that you've met a woman, you don't want your mother anymore? How could you be so heartless?"

Alexander Hayes looked at Madam Lou, his gaze as calm and indifferent as always: "From now on, your monthly allowance will be delivered on time. After all, for the past twenty years, what you've cared about is the silver, honor, fame, and status I've earned—not your son."

Madam Lou's breath caught. She murmured, "No, Tian'er, I do care about you. You're my own flesh and blood—how could I not?"

Alexander Hayes looked at Madam Lou, his voice cold: "At this point, why bother deceiving me with false affection... Well, my wife and I are leaving now. Father, Mother, take care."

With those words, Alexander Hayes took Lily Evans by the hand, and the couple turned and left the room without looking back. Madam Lou was left behind, her hollow, regretful eyes watching as the son who had brought her endless wealth, glory, and power walked away—never once turning back.