When a Well-Raised Son Grows Up - Chapter 65

Chapter 65

Upon hearing Abella’s words, Carlisle embraced her tightly. She responded with an affectionate pat on his back.

“You foolish fool,” she gently scolded.

“I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry, Mother,” Carlisle apologized tearfully, unable to contain his emotions any longer.

He cried like a child, resting his cheek against Abella’s chest. It was a gesture that might have seemed inappropriate under normal circumstances, but in this moment it was a comforting one.

Abella ran her soft hand through his dark hair, soothing him. Her other hand continued to pat his back in a calming rhythm.

 ‘I never want to lose this feeling again,’ Carlisle thought, cherishing Abella’s warm embrace as his sole refuge.

“Now that we’re here, let’s start afresh,” Abella suggested.

“Start afresh?” Carlisle queried, still teary-eyed in her embrace. He looked up at Abella, confused.

‘Why does my mother seem so distant?’ he wondered.

‘Despite hugging her, why does it feel like she’s standing over me?’

Carlisle was confused for a moment.

“What do you mean? Back to the beginning, while I was still young?” he asked, confused.

As he checked his hand, he noticed it had shrunk to the size of a child’s hand.

Shocked, he exclaimed, “What’s happening?”

In a panic, Carlisle tried to stand up, but Abella calmly intervened and explained the situation.

She mentioned that Leo had informed her about Carlisle’s transformation, caused by using up all his powers to heal himself.

Although his injuries were not life-threatening, they were serious enough to set his age back significantly.

Abella observed him. She noted a considerable difference in his appearance. Despite the circumstances, she found it pleasant to see him in this younger state. She admitted this.

Abella laughed pleasantly. This sharply contrasted with Carlisle’s confused expression.

“That’s absurd,” he said.

Abella interrupted him, saying, “You may not appear too injured on the outside, but inhaling all that smoke probably affected your insides. Don’t give me that puzzled look. In spite of my sweet appearance, I…”

Abella giggled and playfully pinched Carlisle’s cheek, treating him like a child.

As he thought about the previous night, he realized he had let his guard down. This may have been due to his youth.

Then, a concerning thought crossed his mind: would he have to wait until he grew up again to mate? He quickly dismissed the idea, reminding himself that he couldn’t pursue such matters with his current childlike body.

Carlisle scolded himself silently for worrying about mating in his current situation.

Despite his inner turmoil, Abella looked at him with concern and smiled, bringing a sense of amusement to the situation.

After the chaos, they found themselves in a moment of calm once more.

Confused, Carlisle looked up and saw Abella smiling at him. Her affectionate laughter warmed his heart.

Her crescent-shaped eyes, her upturned corners of her mouth, and her peach-colored cheeks.

Carlisle was determined to keep Abella’s smile forever, even if it meant sacrificing his own desires.

He felt a sudden urge, but when he looked at Abella’s smiling face again, he knew he couldn’t risk losing that warmth.

Carlisle was reminded of Abella’s cold expression earlier that day. He became more determined not to risk their happiness by giving in to his lustful desires.

Carlisle prioritized Abella’s happiness above all else.

* * *

Before the fire that morning, Abella’s mood was soured by Esha’s unwelcome visit in Carlisle’s absence.

Esha’s harsh words about Carlisle had left Abella feeling uneasy. She couldn’t shake the feeling that perhaps Esha was right—that Carlisle didn’t truly see her as family.

Abella looked at Esha. She felt conflicted and not like her usual resolute self.

“Abella.”

“…….”

“What brings you here all of a sudden?” Abella asked, surprised by Esha’s unexpected visit.

“I felt I owed you an apology, and I wanted to properly thank you,” Esha replied calmly.

Abella was skeptical. She wondered about the sudden change in Esha’s behavior. 

Esha began to explain, and her words revealed shocking stories.

There were two messages. The first was a thank you and an apology to Carlisle for defeating Enoch. Enoch had attempted to rape Esha in the middle of the night, and the second was a story about Carlisle’s past.

“I apologize for speaking harshly to you earlier. I thought Carlisle was dangerous, especially after hearing Leo’s story about him killing his own kind. You didn’t seem safe with someone like that around, so I kept my distance,” Esha explained.

Abella clenched her fists tightly as she listened.

“Carlisle exterminated his own people? But he was just a baby when he first met me. How could a baby be responsible for wiping out an entire race?” Abella couldn’t hide her surprise.

“Leo told me everything, Carlisle—how he was mistreated in the pack, how he grew up, everything,” Esha revealed.

Abella sensed that Carlisle had been bullied. Hearing the specifics confirmed her suspicions.

When they first met, he called himself a lame duck and a carnivore, and though Abella had vaguely acknowledged it, it was still painful to hear.

After learning the details from Esha, Abella couldn’t control her anger and stood up.

“Is it all true?” Abella asked

“It’s all surprisingly true, according to Leo,” Esha admitted, with a bitter edge to her tone.

Abella’s expression softened slightly as she processed the information.

“I’m sorry, Abella. I misunderstood Carlisle based on the incomplete information I’d heard. If he comes back, I would appreciate the opportunity to apologize to him in person. Would that be okay?”

Abella understood after hearing Esha’s full story.

“I didn’t understand why Carlisle would kill his own kind.” She shook off her confusion, but then a smell of burning filled the air.

Abella and Esha noticed a strange smell inside the house and went outside. They saw Enoch lighting the house on fire.

“What the hell!!!”

 The flames quickly spread, and Esha alerted nearby villagers about the fire. They rushed to Abella’s house.

Enoch was stopped by some, and others brought buckets of water to put out the fire.

In the midst of the chaos, Carlisle suddenly appeared and ran into the burning house, calling out Abella’s name.

Abella was stunned. She tried to understand the situation but had little time to absorb it. The flames consumed Carlisle.

“Carlisle!!! Get out! I’m here! I’m not inside!” Abella shouted desperately towards the burning house, but Carlisle didn’t come.

“Please, come out! Carlisle! Come out!” she continued to call out, her voice tensed with worry.

“What should I do? I can’t hear him over the roar of the flames… But if this continues…”

Abella shook her head. She grabbed a nearby bucket of water and poured it over herself before rushing into the house after Carlisle.

However, someone else was faster than her, a swift figure darting past her—it was Leo.