The neighborhood showed the passage of time, with its narrow alleys and crumbling buildings. Darkness settled over these streets, stripped of any surveillance cameras, making any investigation nearly impossible. In this grim atmosphere, a phone suddenly vibrated, piercing the silence in the car. Nohan picked up immediately. On the other end, a woman's voice—steady and almost unsettling—came through.

"Hello. The elderly lady you're looking for is with me."

A brief silence hung in the air, thick with tension. Everyone seemed to hold their breath. Suddenly, the car became a flurry of motion: some reached for their phones to contact the authorities, while Tom tried to trace the call. Nohan, unyielding, asked his question in a strong, even voice.

"What do you want in return?"

"Relax," she answered with a teasing lilt. "It was just a joke... You really ought to take better care of your elders."

She then gave them an address and hung up.

Tom let out a loud sigh, pressing a hand to his chest. What nerve!

Nohan, though, frowned in concentration. That voice… There was something about it that seemed both familiar and unsettling.

In less than five minutes, they reached the address. Yet the mysterious benefactor had already disappeared. Only a single police officer remained at the scene, along with old Mrs. Leroux, who appeared completely unharmed.

"Grandma, how did you end up here?" Nohan asked.

The old woman answered in an enigmatic tone, "I came to see my daughter-in-law. She lives just next door."

Nohan stood motionless.

"Grandma... you don't have a daughter-in-law."

"That's not true!" she insisted. "I met her. She was the one who handed me over to the police before slipping away. Give me your phone."

He handed it over. She quickly jotted down the last dialed numbers in her notebook, sure that she had finally found her mysterious daughter-in-law.

Meanwhile, Alina—the one behind this generous yet quiet act—chose to avoid any awkward gratitude. She handed the elderly woman over to the police and left as quickly as she could. Scenes of family emotion simply weren't her thing.

The next day, she received a call from her academic advisor.

"Alina, come to the university right away!"

Puzzled, she hopped onto her electric bike and rushed to Professor Miller's office. When she walked in, she found Maïa and Line already seated. Alina narrowed her eyes, suspicious. Maïa was her classmate at Solaria University, a highly prestigious school. Maïa had earned admission through outstanding grades, while Alina—always ambitious in business—had intentionally kept her grades modest so as not to overshadow Maïa, and had picked a less popular field: energy and electricity. Ironically, that major became fashionable two years later. Maïa switched to the same field, bringing them back together in the same classes.

Alina could understand why Maïa was there, but Line's presence made no sense.

Before she could ask, Professor Miller's voice cut through the room.

"Alina, your recommendation for graduate school has been withdrawn."

"What?" she gasped. "Why?"

"Your mother claims that your conduct does not meet the university's standards," he said firmly. "Try to apologize; it might help your case."

Maïa let out a dramatic sigh.

"I'm sure your mother is only looking out for you, Alina. You've offended Mr. Leroux, and he's demanded that you leave Solaria."

It took Alina a moment to realize that this "Mr. Leroux" was actually Nohan. She remembered their brief encounter the day before—could he really be bitter enough to ruin her future?

Maïa stepped closer, her expression sly.

"Dad bought you a ticket to go abroad. He believes it's safer if you leave. Even the Dumas family won't be able to shield you if you stay here."

Alina glanced at the ticket. The destination was Argentina. Literally on the other side of the world. Were they trying to get rid of her for good?

She pushed the ticket aside, her tone icy.

"I don't need your charity."

Maïa then pulled out a bank card, pretending to be sympathetic.

"Are you worried you won't make it there on your own? Here's six thousand dollars, everything I've saved. I'll send you more as soon as I get my allowance."

Alina responded with a sarcastic smile. "So the famous Dumas heiress only managed to save six thousand dollars?"

But Lina suddenly snatched the card out of Maïa's hand.

"Maïa! Paying for her ticket was already generous enough," she snapped.

She shot Alina a look that could cut glass.

"Start packing. You're leaving. I've already signed the paperwork for your withdrawal from the university."

Alina looked back at her, her gaze icy.

"And who gave you that authority?"

"I'm your mother!" Lina declared. "And honestly, with your grades, continuing your education is a waste of time. Go find a job. Earn your own living."

"Madam," Miller interjected, "Alina's academic record is actually excellent..."

"Professor, I don't need a lecture," Poppy interrupted. "If she wants to stay in school so badly, it's only to compete with Maïa."

The professor fell silent. He turned to Maïa.

"And do you plan to continue your studies as well? You haven't received any recommendations either..."

Maïa gave an angelic smile.

"I've been accepted into a special program."

Miller's brow furrowed.

"Who is your supervisor?"

"Dr. Vega," she answered quietly. "He patented research on hydrogen as an alternative fuel."

Alina stared at her in disbelief.

"You said… who?"

Dr. Vega? Alina's reaction showed her unease. "How is it possible that I knew nothing about Maïa's recruitment?"

A storm rumbled in the distance just as the meeting was interrupted by an unexpected revelation. Professor Miller, just as surprised, turned to Maïa.

"Do you know Dr. Vega?"

Maïa replied, a mysterious smile forming at the corners of her mouth.

"It's an amazing coincidence. Dr. Vega owes a lot to my mother. She supported him throughout his studies. In gratitude, once he found success, he promised always to help us. Since then, he has contributed his expertise to our company and has never refused me anything."

Alina raised an eyebrow, a cold shiver traveling down her neck. As a child, she had grown up under Madame Dumas's protection. When she became independent, she took on the identity of Dr. Vega to show her appreciation, creating this persona to express her thanks. For years, she had been helping Mrs. Dumas's companies, never charging a cent. But now, listening to Maïa speak as if Dr. Vega were entirely at her disposal, it felt like a complete fabrication.

Yet, Professor Miller seemed convinced.

"Does Dr. Vega currently teach somewhere? Does Dr. Vega currently teach anywhere?" Professor Miller asked.

Maïa answered without missing a beat.

"I promised the dean I would invite her to our university."

"That's wonderful!" Miller exclaimed with excitement. He turned to Alina, his face lighting up.

"Alina, your work is in the same research field as Dr. Vega's. I could introduce you to him. With his support, your admission to the doctoral program is still possible!"

Maïa pretended to look worried.

"Are you sure, Professor? The Leroux family is our biggest financial backer—they invest millions into our research every year..."

Miller simply shrugged.

"Dr. Vega is in high demand. Universities like Heddon and Oxford are all trying to recruit her. Companies are competing to win his support. If we manage to bring him here, no other candidate will have a better chance than you."

Maïa let out a sigh, feigning disappointment.

"But he only does that for my mother. If it were up to me, he would always support us. Unfortunately, Alina is my father's illegitimate daughter and constantly opposes my mother. Alina, do you still want me to ask him for help?"

Alina shot back coldly, "Don't bother."

Her tone was icy. She forced a smile for the professor.

"Don't worry, Professor. You know I never planned on pursuing a doctorate."

Miller looked genuinely moved. He had been the one to see Alina's potential and encouraged her to apply for the doctoral program. He never expected things to turn out this way.

With tears gathering in his eyes, he said, "In that case, I'll write you a strong professional recommendation."

Linericana sneered, her disdain obvious.

"There's no point wearing yourself out. She's already upset Mr. Leroux, and she still thinks she can get a position here? She's delusional!"

Miller, outraged, rose from his seat.

"I refuse to believe that, at Solaria, a career could be destroyed on someone's whim! Alina, if you find nothing else, come to me. I'll hire you as my assistant!"

A wave of warmth spread through Alina.

"Professor, it's just a misunderstanding between Mr. Leroux and me. Everything will be sorted out soon. Please don't worry."

Miller let out a relieved sigh.

"If you manage to resolve this, come back. You'll always have a place on my team."

Alina met his hopeful gaze and replied softly, "I promise. I'll come back."

She was already picturing what it would be like to teach at Solaria…

But Maïa, fists clenched, seethed with jealousy. Why did Miller have so much faith in Alina—an average girl—while she herself excelled in every subject? Was he bewitched by her looks as well?

Suddenly, her envy boiled over.

"Alina, do you plan to keep pestering Mr. Leroux? He's married! What you're doing is disgusting…"

Poppy, seething with rage, could no longer hold back her voice.

Wham!

The slap rang out in the room. Alina's cheek stung from the blow. Right in front of Professor Miller, Line had struck her without the slightest shame!

She jabbed a finger in Alina's direction.

"Ungrateful little brat! You've forgotten the rules of this house! Go to your sister right now and swear that you'll never go near the Leroux family again!"

The warmth Alina had just felt vanished instantly, replaced by a numbing cold. Line had never truly taken her seriously, not even after all those warnings in the past.

To her, Alina was still the submissive child who never spoke up, who only trembled in front of Maïa.

Alina thought to herself, "If she only respects strength, then I won't hold back any longer."

Maïa, watching from the side, took pleasure in the scene. She remembered how Alina, once humiliated, never fought back. But since their reunion at the university, that timid figure had disappeared.

She savored the sight of Line putting Alina "in her place."

She was still smiling as Alina slowly stepped forward.

She thought Alina had come to apologize.

She was wrong.

Alina suddenly lifted her head and slapped Maïa—once on each cheek.

Smack! Smack!

The silence that followed was intense. Maïa stood in shock, reeling.

Line let out a shriek.

"Alina Dumas, how dare you!"

But Alina turned, her eyes cold, a dark and powerful presence radiating from her—almost sinister.

Line couldn't move, frozen with fear.

"Wh… What are you going to do? I'm your mother! Would you dare raise your hand against me? You're heartless!"

Alina spoke, her words sharp as a lash.

"You were never a mother to me, so don't expect any mercy."

She stepped closer to Maïa.

"If you keep meddling in my life, I'll make sure Maïa suffers twice as much as I ever did."

Then Alina turned away and bowed deeply to Professor Miller.

"Thank you for everything, Professor. I'll be back."

She left the room without looking back.

It was only when Alina had crossed the threshold that Line sprang into action, rushing to Maïa's side.

"Maïa, my darling, did she hurt you? What a disgrace!"

Maïa, her cheeks still stinging and her whole body trembling with anger, kept her voice icy.

"How did she dare? Where did she find that kind of nerve?"

Poppy, still in shock, muttered, "Does Mr. Leroux actually care about her? That can't be... She's married. How could he... Ever love something already used?"

Maïa harbored the same doubt, though she couldn't help remembering Alina's strikingly beautiful face.

A poisonous suspicion began to creep into her thoughts.

As for Professor Miller, frozen by the entire scene, his gaze drifted slowly to Poppy.

Was she really Alina's mother?

He thought he saw a troubling similarity between Maïa's features and those of the woman beside her.

…

As Alina walked through the university gates, her phone vibrated.

It was Samuel.

"Boss, I figured it out! I know why Nohan says he's married… but he doesn't realize it's to you!"