Chapter 430

No wonder Maeve had never heard Loren mention his father. The royal family was secretive about Wren’s husband. Now, she understood why. The man who stole “Erancia’s Rose” and abandoned her must have been truly heartless.

As a woman, Maeve didn’t judge Wren but felt sympathy for her, despite the choices Wren had made that went against royal expectations.

In the top-floor suite, the entire floor was reserved for just one person, filled with every luxury and specialized equipment to aid Wren’s recovery.

Tom led Theo into the inner room, where the soft sounds of a piano drifted out. A woman with long golden hair braided over one shoulder sat at the piano, dressed in a simple white silk gown. Her slender figure emanated a quiet grace.

“Wren,” Tom said gently, holding Theo’s hand as they approached. “I came to visit, and I brought a little guest.” Wren paused her playing, looking over at them. Her green eyes, strikingly similar to Loren’s, held a hint of sadness. “Why bring a child here?” she asked softly, her voice almost ethereal.

Theo looked up at her, noticing how much she resembled Tom. “Hi, Auntie! I’m Theo, Tom’s good friend!” Theo said, his voice sweet and clear. “I’m also a doctor, a really good one! Tom brought me to help you.” Wren chuckled. “Do you have a medical license?”

Theo pulled a stack of certificates from his pocket, dropping papers everywhere. “Hold on. I’ll find the right one!” Theo exclaimed.

With Theo’s stack of credentials, he looked like a tiny hustler. Tom stifled a laugh behind a cough.

“Aha! Here it is!” Theo held up a certificate proudly.

Wren smiled, her sadness softening. “So you’re really qualified. How do you plan to treat me?”

“No rush.” Theo moved closer, peering up at her. “Wren, was that Moonlight Sonata you were playing? My mommy loves that song. I want to learn it so I can play it for her. Will you teach me?”

Wren, used to stiff royal courtesies, was charmed by Theo’s open-hearted warmth. Though just a child, he was earnest and engaging. Wren’s heart softened.

Wren nodded gently. “Of course.”

Theo settled beside her with a grin. “You first.”

Soft, tender music filled the room again.

An hour later, Theo and Tom left the ward.

“Tom, Wren’s illness is more in her heart than her body,” Theo said, pacing with his hands behind his back like a wise old doctor. “It’s like a candle that’s still burning but hollow inside.” Tom’s expression grew solemn, but Theo’s serious little walk made him smile.

“Can she get better?”

“Physically, yes, but I can’t fix what’s in her heart. I haven’t studied that part yet.”

Tom sighed. “Of all the doctors, you’re the only one who truly has a chance of helping her. My mother and I only wish for her to be healthy again.” Curious, Theo looked up. “How did Wren end up like this?”

As the elevator doors opened, Tom led him in. “Because she trusted the wrong person.”

“What happened?”

“When my sister was young, she’d sneak out of the palace. Mother tried to stop her, but the more she was punished, the more Wren rebelled. Eventually, those who held grudges against the royal family saw her as an easy target. They set up an ‘accident’ as a warning. That’s when she disappeared,” Tom said.

Theo’s eyes widened. “Then what?”

“She was on the run, injured and unable to return. A man saved her, and they fell in love. We found her five years later, but only after she’d been in a car accident. That triggered her lost memories to return.”

“What about Wren’s lover?”

“Him?” Tom scoffed. “He left and never looked back.”

Theo’s little face twisted in anger. “What a jerk! How could he just abandon her?”

Tom sighed, agreeing silently. His sister had risked everything for Loren, only to be left behind. Tom gently patted Theo’s head. “For the sake of Wren’s reputation, let’s keep this story between us, alright?” Theo nodded seriously. “I won’t say a word.”

Theo wasn’t sure why, but something about Wren felt familiar, drawing him in. That’s why he’d asked her to teach him the piano, a perfect reason to return and “help” her.

Touching his chin, Theo pondered, a little theatrically, “Is this what people called fate?”

It was nearly ten by the time Maeve and Byron arrived back at the villa with the kids. Food had been kept warm in the kitchen, ready to be served. The children had filled up on snacks at the hospital, so there was no worry about them going to bed hungry. Maeve sipped her soup, her mind wandering back to something Loren had mentioned, filling her with a strange sadness. Byron placed a piece of steak on her plate, his voice calm. “Stop overthinking. Just eat.”

Maeve blinked, surprised. “How did you know I was overthinking?”

“Your face says it all,” Byron scoffed.

Maeve pouted, nibbling the steak he’d given her. Taking a bite of her vegetables, she sighed. “Byron, if you were a royal heir, would you give up the throne for love?”

Byron raised a brow. “Where’s this coming from?”

“Never mind. You probably wouldn’t understand love anyway.” Maeve shook her head, realizing her question was silly, and went back to her food.

Byron rolled his eyes, placing a piece of shrimp in her bowl. “It’s going to be a long day. Fill up your stomach.”

Maeve’s heart skipped, a sense of unease creeping in.