From Broken to Beloved-Chapter 201- That’s just one kid

Leonardo’s final concert before the Lunar New Year was held abroad. At the very end of the show, he publicly revealed a blue gemstone ring designed by Catherine—quiet and elegant, like an orchid in bloom. Engraved delicately on the band were two initials: Z.Y.

Leonardo announced that they were the initials of the girl he loved.

He said he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

He even went on to declare that after this concert, he would be stepping away from the entertainment industry for a while, suspending all work. With a faint smile, he admitted that he was no longer young, and his parents had long been urging him to settle down—so he was going to take care of the most important matter of his life.

That very night, the news exploded across every major social media platform. Headlines were dominated by Leonardo’s announcement. Everyone was curious—who was this mysterious girl with the initials Z.Y.?

Yet Leonardo’s team remained tight-lipped. After the concert, Leonardo himself seemed to vanish into thin air. Only his manager remained behind, fielding endless interviews from reporters. The statement had clearly been prepared in advance:

The girl was not from the entertainment industry, so Leonardo would not disclose her identity. Fans could rest assured, however, that she was a wonderful person—low-key and ambitious, gentle and kind.

The manager added that whenever Leonardo reappeared publicly, it would mean he had resolved his lifelong matter—marriage—and hoped everyone would continue to support him then.

Not a single concrete detail about the girl was revealed.

As the New Year approached, Leonardo monopolized headlines and trending searches. Yet the man himself had completely disappeared. Media outlets staked out airports, his residences, and any place he might possibly appear—but they never caught sight of him.

People were baffled. A superstar with such unmistakable presence—where had he hidden? Had he not even gone home?

Celebrity relationships are often made public—but rarely in such a high-profile yet fiercely protective manner.

At first, some suspected it was a publicity stunt—a calculated move to stir attention. But after Leonardo truly vanished from public view, it became clear: he genuinely wanted to protect her. This was not a ploy for publicity.

At his level of fame, he no longer needed such tactics.

If anything, it was precisely because of his immense popularity that he chose to disappear—avoiding the media frenzy so he could quietly pursue the girl he loved without disturbing Zoey’s life.

Lilian gave birth at the end of the first lunar month after the New Year—a baby boy.

Morrison stubbornly named his son Mo Jian. Linda felt the name lacked grandeur and elegance. She protested for days, but it was useless. Morrison had already registered the name officially. Linda was so irritated that she refused to speak to him for several days.

However, her anger didn’t last long. The joy of becoming Lady Tiffany—a grandmother for the first time—overwhelmed everything else. It wasn’t that she had fully forgiven Morrison; she simply had no time to dwell on it. Her eyes were fixed on her grandson—and, of course, on Lilian, her daughter-in-law.

As the uncle, Bert was utterly devoted to the newborn. Lilian had delivered by cesarean section, and during her hospital stay, Bert visited almost every evening after work—checking on Lilian and holding his tiny nephew in his arms.

Morrison never missed an opportunity to tease him.

"You like kids so much, why don’t you hurry up and have one of your own? What’s the point of hovering around my son all day?"

For once, Bert was rendered speechless.

Yes—he wanted a child of his own. He truly did. But for the past two months, without taking any contraceptive measures, Catherine still hadn’t become pregnant. A faint unease began to stir within him.

Was it because he was getting older? Could it be that his sperm quality had declined, making it difficult for Catherine to conceive?

The thought unsettled him, though he forced the irritation down.

He glanced at Catherine. She was chatting with Lilian while gently playing with the baby. The tenderness in her eyes when she looked at the little boy made it obvious—she longed for a child too.

Bert’s brows drew together slightly.

Perhaps it was time for him to go to the hospital for a checkup.

That night, when they returned home, their intimacy was more intense than usual. Afterward, Catherine, still catching her breath, couldn’t help but protest softly,

"What was that about tonight?"

Bert leaned against the headboard and lit a cigarette. At her words, he feigned ignorance.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean... you were..." She faltered, too embarrassed to voice it clearly.

Then she noticed the cigarette in his hand and looked at him in surprise.

"Is something on your mind?"

Catherine knew him well. He rarely smoked—almost never. If he did, it meant something was weighing on him. And now, seeing him smoke so unexpectedly, she sensed immediately that something was wrong.

But Bert avoided the question. He took a long drag from the cigarette, then raised a brow at her.

"You didn’t like my performance tonight?"

Catherine flushed and shook her head quickly.

"No..."

Leonardo’s final concert before the New Year was held overseas.

At the very end of the show, beneath a sky of lights and roaring fans, Leonardo revealed a blue gemstone ring—quiet and elegant like an orchid—designed by Catherine. The initials Z.Y. were engraved delicately along the inner band.

He told the audience those were the initials of the girl he loved.

And that he hoped to spend the rest of his life with her.

He even announced that after this concert, he would be stepping away from the entertainment industry for a while—putting all work on hold. With a faint smile, he joked that he was no longer young, that his parents had already begun urging him to marry, so he was going to "settle his lifelong affairs."

That night, Leonardo dominated every major social media platform. Headlines exploded. Trends were monopolized. Everyone was desperate to know—who was the mysterious girl whose initials were Z.Y.?

But Leonardo’s team refused to reveal anything.

After the concert, Leonardo seemed to vanish into thin air. Only his manager remained, fielding interviews from reporters across the country, armed with a carefully prepared statement:

The girl was not part of the entertainment industry. Leonardo would not disclose any personal details about her. What fans could be assured of, however, was that she was a wonderful person—low-key, driven, gentle, and kind.

And when Leonardo next appeared in public, it would mean he had settled his "lifelong matter"—that is, he would be married. He hoped everyone would continue to support him.

Not a single concrete detail about her was revealed.

For a time, Leonardo’s name dominated every front page. Yet the man himself had disappeared. Media outlets camped at airports, outside his residences, and anywhere he might possibly appear—but no one saw him.

How could someone so recognizable simply vanish? Had he even stopped going home?

Public relationship announcements among celebrities were common—but this level of grand confession paired with absolute protection of the other party was rare.

At first, some speculated he was playing hard to get, creating hype.

But when he truly vanished, people realized—he wasn’t seeking attention. He was protecting her.

And with his level of fame, he didn’t need publicity stunts.

If anything, it was because his spotlight was too bright that he chose disappearance—escaping the press so he could quietly pursue the girl he loved, ensuring Zoey would not be disturbed.

Lilian gave birth shortly after the New Year, toward the end of the first lunar month.

A boy.

Morrison stubbornly named him Mo Jian. Linda felt the name lacked grandeur and elegance. She protested for days, but Morrison insisted and registered the name anyway. She was so angry she ignored him for several days.

But the joy of becoming a grandmother for the first time quickly swept away most of her resentment. It wasn’t that she’d fully forgiven him—she simply had no time to be angry. Her eyes were only for her grandson.

And, of course, for Lilian, her daughter-in-law.

Bert, as the uncle, adored the newborn as well. Since Lilian had delivered by C-section and was hospitalized for recovery, Bert visited almost every evening after work, holding the tiny baby in his arms.

Morrison would never miss the chance to tease him.

"You like kids that much? Then hurry up and have one yourself. What’s the point of fawning over my son all day?"

For once, Bert had no comeback.

Of course he wanted a child of his own.

But in the past two months, despite taking no precautions, Catherine still wasn’t pregnant. A thread of anxiety had begun to coil quietly inside him.

Was it because he was getting older? Was his sperm quality declining?

The thought irritated him—but he suppressed it.

He glanced at Catherine. She was chatting with Lilian while gently playing with the baby, her gaze soft and full of longing.

She wanted a child too. That much was obvious.

Bert’s brows drew together slightly.

Perhaps he needed to schedule a physical examination.

That night, when they returned home, he was far more intense than usual.

Afterward, Catherine protested softly, breath uneven.

"What’s gotten into you tonight?"

Bert leaned against the headboard, lighting a cigarette—something he almost never did.

"What do you mean?" he asked casually.

"I mean... you know..."

She was too embarrassed to elaborate. But when she saw the cigarette between his fingers, she grew more surprised.

"Is something bothering you?"

Catherine knew him well. He rarely smoked. If he did, it meant something was weighing on him.

But Bert deflected.

After taking a deep drag, he arched a brow. "You didn’t like my performance tonight?"

Her face flushed.

"No..."

"So you liked it?"

He crushed the cigarette into the ashtray, rolled back over, and pulled her into his arms. His lips—still carrying the faint scent of tobacco—captured hers again.

"If you liked it, we’ll go again."

"Wait—no—"

But he had already trapped her beneath him.

He wasn’t trying to exhaust her.

He was trying to distract her.

Catherine was sensitive—too perceptive. He didn’t want his frustration to affect her.

The reason he smoked tonight was simple: disappointment.

She still wasn’t pregnant.

But the more one forces such things, the less likely they come. Pregnancy was like that. When you obsess over it, it evades you. When you let nature take its course, perhaps it arrives quietly.

Morrison and Lilian’s son’s full-month banquet was extravagant.

Bert and Catherine attended.

Once again, they were urged to have children. Karl and Marylin, also married, were teased as well—but Karl responded frankly:

"We’re not planning to have kids yet. Please stop pushing. We’re still enjoying our two-person world."

Marylin agreed.

They could afford to say that openly.

Bert couldn’t.

He wasn’t young anymore.

And he wanted a child. They both did.

So he could only offer a faint smile and say they were letting nature take its course.

Catherine noticed the flicker of disappointment in his eyes.

Truthfully, she had sensed his quiet frustration these past weeks. She knew exactly why.

She smiled to herself.

That very morning, she had secretly taken a test.

She was almost certain she was pregnant.

She had wanted to tell him—but today was the baby’s banquet. If she told him, he might get too excited and announce it. And today should belong to Morrison and Lilian’s son.

So she kept quiet.

But now, watching him mask his disappointment, her heart ached.

She wanted to tell him right this instant.

Instead, she slipped her arm through his.

"I’d like some fresh air. Will you come with me?"

He rose without hesitation.

As they left, Lilian sighed fondly, "They’re so in love. Even stepping out for air, he won’t let her go alone. I’m jealous." 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Morrison immediately protested.

"What do you mean? Like I don’t accompany you? You’re the one who doesn’t need me anymore! Ever since the baby arrived, I don’t even exist in your eyes!"

Since their son was born, Morrison had been thoroughly ignored. By everyone.

Sometimes he barely even got a proper meal—everyone fussed over Lilian and the baby. Whenever he tried to speak with his wife, the child would cry, or need feeding, or a diaper change—and Lilian would push him aside without mercy.

They were all seated at the same table when Morrison complained.

Dave chimed in dryly.

"That’s just one kid. Try having two. Then you’ll really be optional."

Morrison waved his hands quickly. "No, no, one is enough! Definitely not a second!"

If one child had already erased him from existence, what would two do?