For days, he’d been on her tail. What was this guy playing at?

Waylen Shaw reached his limit. After dropping his boss’s wife off at the office, he slipped into the shadows, waiting for the shadow to reveal itself. As the man approached, Waylen lunged, his hand clamping tight around the stranger’s throat.

"Who are you?"

The man’s face turned a sickening shade of purple, the veins in his temples bulging as he wheezed, unable to choke out a single word. Waylen loosened his grip just a fraction.

"Talk! You’ve been trailing her for days. What’s your game?"

The man grabbed Waylen’s wrist, drove an elbow into his ribs to force him back 3.3 feet, and scrambled to bolt. Waylen moved with the speed of a striking viper. He vaulted forward, his fingers digging deep into the man’s shoulder blades.

Crack.

The acromioclavicular joint dislocated instantly. The man crumpled to the ground, sobbing in agony. His face was ghostly pale as he pleaded, "Brother, please! I don’t mean any harm! My boss sent me to protect Ms. Montgomery!"

Waylen kicked the man like a piece of refuse. "Damn you, trying to ambush me? With that pathetic skill, you’re supposed to be guarding our boss’s wife? Who’s your boss?"

"I… I can’t…"

"Talk!"

"It’s… it’s the CEO of Harrison Enterprises."

"Hah. What a classic simp."

Waylen rolled his eyes in disgust and leaned in, his voice a razor-sharp warning. "Don’t let me catch you following her again, or you won’t just be losing the use of your arm—I’ll take your legs, too."

***

In the executive office at Harrison Enterprises, an assistant stood trembling. "Mr. Harrison, the security detail we placed on Ms. Montgomery… they’ve been discovered."

Jonah Harrison didn’t even look up from his work. "Call them off. No more tailing."

"Understood."

If Marcellus Alexander had already flagged the surveillance, there was no point in pushing his luck. He didn't want to admit it, but he knew—Marcellus’s reach and power simply eclipsed his own. Jonah forced a self-deprecating smirk.

Meanwhile, after Preston Wright relayed the news to Marcellus, he couldn’t help but ask, "Mr. Alexander, what was Mr. Harrison trying to pull?"

Marcellus twisted the ring on his finger, his expression cold and mocking. "Hah. Late-blooming affection is cheaper than dirt."

"Sir?"

Preston sighed internally. Are all billionaire power plays this impossible to decipher?

"Once Cassidy Montgomery is released from the detention center, see to it she is banished from the city."

"Understood."

***

Up in the office, Evangeline was lost in her sketches when a knock sounded at the door.

"Come in!"

Click. Click. Click.

The rhythmic tapping of heels echoed, but the room remained silent for a long beat. Evangeline looked up, ready to speak, only to find Remi Crawford beaming at her from the doorway.

"Remi!"

They sprinted toward each other, their embrace followed by a symphony of excited squeals that echoed through the entire floor.

"Evangeline! Muah, muah, muah! I missed you to death!" Remi pecked at her cheeks like a frantic bird.

"Haha, are you trying to scrub my makeup off?"

They stood there, practically glued together, unwilling to let go.

The office gossips watching from the hallway whispered, "My gaydar is officially pinging."

"Same here."

Remi caught them watching, pulled Evangeline tighter into her arms, and grinned at the onlookers. "What should we do, Evangeline? They’ve discovered our secret."

"Just silence them all."

Remi rubbed her hands together with a mischievous, devious look. "Right. Let me see who I should start with?"

The office erupted into a mess of laughter and playful banter, the atmosphere instantly warming. Once the initial reunion had settled, Remi dragged Evangeline down to the executive office. She poked her head in, flashing a grin.

"Hey, senior, I’m back!"

"Remi?"

"It’s only been two years, have you already forgotten me?"

Noah Mitchell chuckled. "You’re aware it’s been two years, then?"

"Hehe, I’m back now, aren't I?"

Remi glowed with a kind of lightness she hadn't possessed before. She looked genuinely happy. Noah offered a soft, relieved smile.

"Since you're back, get to work. You've got a two-year vacation gap to fill."

"What? Senior, how did you get so corrupted by capitalistic greed?"

"Naturally. A commander who is too merciful loses the battle, and a merchant who is too sentimental loses his coin. In business, it’s all about the bottom line. Remi, get to work. We’re heading out."

"Wait—what?" Remi stared at him, stunned.

Noah gathered his things, hiding a laugh. "Evangeline, shouldn't you be heading to pick up Aurora?"

"Oh! Right! I have to get her from school. Remi, follow Noah’s orders—I’ll be back later!"

The two of them walked out, leaving a bewildered Remi standing alone in the office.

Evangeline returned shortly after with Aurora in tow. She found Remi back at the desk, pouting and sketching away.

"Auntie!"

Remi jumped, looking up to see Evangeline standing there, holding a doll-like child by the hand.

"Wow! Aurora! You’re even cuter than you are in the photos!"

"Auntie is way prettier than in the photos, too!"

"Oh my god, you little sweetheart. Can Auntie have a hug?"

Remi crouched down, arms open wide. Aurora didn't hesitate, burying herself right into Remi’s arms. The soft weight and the faint scent of milk almost melted Remi’s heart.

"You’re such a darling. I bought you a gift—want to come over to my place tonight?"

Aurora looked at her mother for permission. Evangeline nodded with a smile.

Aurora beamed. "Yes!"

"She’s too cute. It’s making me want a baby of my own," Remi murmured, nuzzling Aurora’s cheek.

"Auntie has a baby in there," Aurora said, her eyes wide and earnest.

"…Huh?"

The child’s words hit Remi like a lightning strike. She locked eyes with Evangeline, stunned. "No way, right?"

"Why are you looking at me? If you’re pregnant or not, shouldn’t you be the one to know?"

Remi thought about it for a second, then dismissed the idea. Aurora probably just thought she wanted a baby and was saying something sweet to make her happy. Still, the child was so precious it felt like her heart was turning to liquid. She couldn't stop holding and kissing the little girl.

Aurora looked at her mother for help. Evangeline laughed helplessly. "Remi, look at you—you’ve turned her face into a sour lemon with all those kisses."

"I just love her so much!" Remi sighed, her mood dipping slightly. "Damian and I… we haven’t been lucky. We’ve been trying for so long, but nothing yet."

"Just take it naturally. Don't put too much pressure on yourself."

Aurora blinked, her expression intense and serious. "But Auntie, you do have a baby."

Remi pulled her in tighter, smiling sadly. "You’re such a sweetheart, Aurora."

"Daddy!"

Aurora wriggled out of Remi’s arms and ran toward the door. Two tall figures stood there: Marcellus and Damian. Marcellus bent down to scoop the child into his arms, while Damian watched with a look of pure envy.

"Look how big Aurora has gotten."

"Uncle!"

Damian reached out. "Hey, sweetie, come to Uncle."

Aurora shrank back, burying her face into her father’s neck.

Damian froze, his hand hanging in the air. Rejection?

Marcellus chuckled deeply. "Creepy uncle. Don't scare our Aurora."

Damian refused to yield. "Aurora, tell me—who’s more handsome, me or your dad?"

"Daddy. Daddy is the most handsome man in the whole world."

Marcellus held his head high, gloating. "Damian, why do you insist on humiliating yourself?"

Evangeline tapped his shoulder, rolling her eyes. "Childish!"

"Let’s go," Marcellus said, turning to the group. "Everyone to my place tonight. We’re celebrating a housewarming."