Noticing Ailee’s silent question, Xavier gave a small smile. "I don’t know much about him. I’ve never met him in person, but I saw a photo of him once, in my father’s memory book." His voice took on a more serious tone. "That man… he was dangerous. My father used to call him a friend, but in the end, he betrayed him. My father despises him to this day. No one knows where he disappeared to, but there are rumors… that one day, he might return." Xavier’s gaze darkened. "A lot of people hope that never happens."

Ailee reached for his notebook, his fingers moving quickly as he wrote before turning it toward Xavier.

"Did he commit something terrible for everyone to hate him?"

Xavier adjusted his posture, leaning forward slightly, his expression now serious.

"I don’t know the full story," he admitted, "but from what I’ve heard, he was from a noble family. A well-known one. He had a wife and… a son." He paused, as if considering his next words. "To gain power, he kidnapped Omegas from Turqoland and sold them outside the region—to powerful people in the human world." Xavier’s jaw tightened. "When the government discovered what he had done, his wife… she couldn’t handle the truth. She took her own life. And he—" Xavier exhaled sharply. "He ran. No one knows where he went after that. No one even knows what happened to his son."

Ailee sat still, gripping his pen tightly. His poker face remained, but deep inside, something in Xavier’s story unsettled him.

As the minutes passed, Ailee began rubbing his eyes, blinking slowly, his head nodding slightly as drowsiness crept in. Shosho was already curled up on his lap, fast asleep, his tiny body rising and falling with each soft breath.

Xavier watched Ailee with amusement, noticing how he fought to stay awake. "You’re sleepy, aren’t you?" he asked gently.

Ailee blinked a few more times but didn’t respond.

Xavier then asked, "Where do you live? I’ll take you home—it’s too dangerous for an Omega to be out alone at this hour."

At the mention of home, Ailee suddenly stiffened. Home. That meant going back to Enzo… and right now, he didn’t want to see him.

His expression remained blank, but his hand moved quickly as he grabbed his notebook and scribbled something down.

"I don’t wanna go home."

Xavier tilted his head, golden eyes studying Ailee with curiosity. "Why? What’s wrong?"

Ailee hesitated before writing again.

"I fought with my dad, so I don’t want to see him today."

Xavier blinked, then suddenly let out a small, amused laugh. He shook his head slightly, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I see…" He leaned back a little, crossing his arms. "Well then, how about this? I’ll take you to my place instead."

Ailee glanced up at him, eyes questioning.

Xavier stretched out a hand toward him. "Come on. It’s safer than staying out here. My home isn’t far." His voice remained warm yet firm, carrying a quiet authority that made it clear—he wasn’t giving Ailee much of a choice