Andrew had just gotten home when he got a call from James. The guy only said two words-"Night Palace."

Given how long they'd been friends, Andrew knew that was James-speak for "I'm in a bad mood." No questions asked, he headed out.

They'd barely sat down and ordered drinks when Maria walked in with someone else.

"So," Andrew started, raising an eyebrow, "you gonna tell me what's up with you and Maria today?" Then added with a smirk, "She's back-you should be thrilled, no?"

James completely ignored that last part and gave him a quick rundown of everything that'd gone down today.

"She has kids?" Andrew frowned slightly.

"With David," James replied through gritted teeth, practically chewing on that name.

Andrew had heard of David, but he didn't know all the drama between him and Maria. Judging by James's face turning forty shades of green, though, this was just the beginning of a mess.

Despite his own complicated love life, Andrew could see things more clearly than most-James included.

"She's back. Maybe think about not screwing it up again," he threw in casually.

"There's nothing to screw up. I'm not into her," James muttered, staring into his drink.

"Then why insist she stays as your assistant?"

"She vanished abroad without a word and came back flaunting her kid like nothing happened. Now she's pushing back? You think I'd let that slide?"

Andrew chuckled. His eyes had seen stuff-too much, probably.

"You heard her just now," James said. "She wants to take me to court. I'm putting that in your hands."

"Hard pass," Andrew shut him down immediately. "Honestly? I don't think she did anything wrong. I'm not about to be part of your revenge squad. You've got a whole legal team-go ask them."

James's lips twitched, maybe from annoyance, maybe something else, but he didn't argue.

Meanwhile, Maria had just spotted Daniel Lewis at the front. She instinctively glanced over to where Richard Lewis and his wife had been earlier.

"They gone yet?" she asked.

"Haven't seen them since I stepped out. Must've left already. Let's bounce too."

She nodded and looped her arm through his. "Come stay at home tonight, okay? Hotels are lame, and Ethan and Ella won't shut up about missing you."

Hearing the kids' names softened Daniel's expression a little. "Alright. I miss them too."

On their way home, the siblings spotted a little bakery and made a quick stop for some cake. Back when Maria was in the final months of her pregnancy in Seryndal, she could barely keep anything down-whatever she ate just came right back up.

They were strapped for cash and couldn't afford help, so everything was on their own shoulders. She didn't dare tell Daniel Lewis how bad it was; she worried he'd get too stressed and drop out of school altogether.

But she had no choice-she had two babies to feed. So every day, she'd rack her brain trying to cook something she could stomach. The only thing that went down okay was soft, fluffy cake-and she just so happened to like it too. She ended up baking it every other day.

After the twins were born, it was too early to tell what traits they'd inherited, but their love for cake? Totally passed down. Just one piece would quiet any tantrum. Didn't matter if they were crying or fussing-give 'em cake, problem solved. Daniel used to joke that these two were way too easy to please.

Now, years later, whenever they looked back, all the rough parts were kind of blurry. The sweet memories were what stuck.

When they pulled into the driveway, Ethan and Ella ran out beaming. The second they spotted Daniel, their excitement shot through the roof, and they basically launched themselves at him. He scooped them up, one in each arm, like it was nothing.

"Go wash your hands, then you can eat cake," Maria said, shaking the bag in her hand.

The four of them sat down together, watching TV and munching away. Warm, peaceful, and full of simple joy.

As night fell, Maria gave the twins a bath and tucked them in with a bedtime story. Once they were fast asleep, she kissed each of them on the forehead and went back to her room.

Sleep wasn't coming anytime soon. She picked up her phone and dialed. "Find out everything you can about the new company Richard Lewis and his wife just started. The more detailed the better. Let me know the second you get something."

Those two had been absolutely ruthless back then.

Well, she could play that game too.

Next, she made another call. "Mr. Smith, go to Bennett Group tomorrow. I've sent you the info. Just get me out of the contract, no matter what it takes-sue, pay, whatever."

There was no way she was going to keep working in the same place as James. Just seeing him made her sick.

The next morning, Maria woke up to the smell of breakfast. Ethan and Ella were already seated and eating in the dining room.

Daniel was nowhere to be seen-probably off chasing down more leads on Richard and his wife's whereabouts.

He'd picked up breakfast. That was typical of him-he might seem easygoing and a bit careless, but he was super thoughtful. He could even braid hair. Ella often said her uncle's braids were way better than her mom's, which always made Maria laugh and roll her eyes.

While they ate, Maria let the kids know she had something to handle today, and that Isabella would be coming over to hang out with them.

Even though Isabella seemed unreliable, she showed up in less than an hour.

Grabbing a piece of the cake Maria had bought the day before, Isabella mumbled through a mouthful, "Seriously, I'm like your live-in nanny. It's always me watching the kids. And when it's not me... it's still me."

"You're definitely not a nanny," Maria said with all seriousness.

Isabella raised an eyebrow and plopped down next to her, blinking at her with expectant eyes. "Then what am I? Don't tell me I'm the most important person in your life?"

Maria closed her laptop with a perfectly blank face. "I said you're not a nanny because nannies get paid. You don't." Then she bolted.

Sure enough, a second later, Isabella exploded, hurling pillows one after another at her. Good thing Maria ran fast-none hit the mark.

When she came back out, Isabella was already goofing off with Ethan and Ella. Maria had changed into a sharp-looking outfit.

"Where you headed?"

"To sue James." Maria grumbled as she changed her shoes. "I'm gonna make that guy pay. I'm breaking this contract, no matter what!"

Isabella didn't doubt her for a second. "Alright, go kick some ass, but don't be late coming back."

Maria met up with Mr. Smith outside the Bennett Corp building.

A receptionist led them to a conference room on the 25th floor and brought them two cups of coffee. "Mr. Garcia is on his way. Please wait a moment."

Maria had no complaints about the staff's service and asked out of curiosity, "Isn't Andrew supposed to be here?"

Andrew was both a lawyer and James's close friend-his presence would've made more sense.

The receptionist smiled politely. "Not sure about the details. I'll get back to work now."

While waiting for the other lawyer, Maria chatted with Brandon Smith.

He said the contract from James had some legal gray areas and they had about a seventy percent chance of winning. The only catch-it could drag on. Whoever has the stamina wins.

Maria didn't even hesitate. "I can wait. I don't care how long it takes-I'm winning this."

Brandon nodded seriously.

He had been recommended to Maria by someone in Shadowglint and was known as a courtroom ace. Contract cases were apparently easy mode for him, so Maria fully trusted him.

About ten minutes later, Joseph Garcia strolled in. He and Brandon exchanged a firm handshake. Maria, though, looked impatient. "Can we start now?"

"Give it a moment-one more person's joining us," Joseph said politely.

Maria frowned slightly. Who else? Andrew Johnson?

The last person she expected walked through the door-James himself. He actually showed.

He sat down without a word, smoothed his sleeves neatly, and gestured to Joseph to begin.

Joseph looked soft-spoken but switched to business mode like flipping a switch-sharp, quick, and relentless. No matter what Brandon brought up, he parried smoothly without a hiccup.

Of course, Brandon wasn't backing down either. No raised voices, but the tension was thick-it was a full-on clash.

Two hours passed. James was off to the side, already immersed in his laptop, while the lawyers were still locked in a back-and-forth, nowhere near reaching any agreement.

Seeing Maria's face getting darker by the second, James was in a surprisingly good mood. "Why waste your time? This is my turf. Beating me in court here? Keep dreaming."

Maria shot him a sharp look. "I don't care what it costs, I will cancel the contract! Being your secretary makes my skin crawl."

James frowned, clearly not happy, but remembering how he'd misjudged her the day before, he forced himself to stay calm.

She glanced over at her lawyer, wiping sweat off his forehead, and muttered, "You think we have a chance?"

"Absolutely."

Brandon, who had started to lose steam, suddenly looked fired up and confident again.

Maria felt a little more at ease after that. No rush. If they didn't win today, they'd come back tomorrow. Or the day after. She had time.

Another hour ticked by. Bored, Maria pulled out her phone and started texting Isabella, who happened to be playing Jenga with the kids. She had already lost multiple rounds and now had sticky notes all over her face-one on Ethan's face and two on Ella's.

Isabella texted: [What did you give birth to?! These kids are monsters and they're only four!!]

Those double exclamation points told Maria just how much Isabella was struggling. Maria couldn't help but laugh, her eyes crinkling, a soft smile spreading across her face, showing all eight of her pearly teeth.

James just stood there, staring. He thought she was texting David again, and that irrational flame in his chest lit up once more.

He leaned over to whisper something to Joseph, his lawyer, his tone cold: "Whatever it takes, win this."

Joseph nodded seriously, dabbing his forehead with a tissue.

Maria's brows furrowed when she heard him. If they were going all in, her side didn't stand a great chance.

She thought it over but got nowhere. So she just looked down and kept chatting with Isabella. Then a call popped up-the caller ID showed it was someone from Shadowglint. Her heart skipped as she stepped outside to take it.

"I heard you're back," came that familiar voice on the other end.

"Yeah," she replied, flat. "Got orders for me?"

"The organization wants you to get inside Bennett Group. There's a big task in the pipeline."

Maria paused. Was this for real?

She pressed, skeptical, "You mean James's company?"

"Exactly. How soon can you get in?"

Maria rubbed her temples, already seeing where this was going. She gave in. "Couple of days, tops."

There was a pause on the other end. When he spoke again, his tone was noticeably more relaxed. "I trust your skill. Go for it."

She clenched her jaw but swallowed the urge to curse.

Back in the conference room, she looked visibly deflated. Shooting James a glare, she sighed deeply and sat down next to her lawyer.

"It's off," she said under her breath.

Brandon looked confused. "Huh?"

Maria let out another long sigh. "I'll be his secretary. No need to push this anymore."

Her voice wasn't loud, but in the small room it carried easily. Brandon heard it loud and clear. So did James. His posture straightened instantly, and a smug smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

Joseph gave Brandon a nod, motioning for him to leave the conference room together. Although they had been at each other's throats moments ago, now they had a mutual respect for one another's capabilities.

James leaned back in his chair, looking like he had it all figured out. His tone was calm but confident. "Ms. Lewis, I can make Daniel famous."

He never liked lowering his head, but this was his way of making up to her.

Daniel had those intense brows and sharp eyes, a naturally handsome face that somehow carried a hint of vulnerability. It shouldn't have worked, but it did - that contrast actually made him stand out more.

In short, he totally fit the 'tragically hot guy' vibe - perfect for going viral.

Maria hesitated, brows knitting slightly. She couldn't help but wonder what he was really after.

"Still thinking?" James raised an eyebrow. "I just see potential in your brother. Don't forget - I'm a capitalist, after all."

Now that sounded more like him. Maria stopped second-guessing and simply looked at him like, "well duh."

James, on the other hand, frowned a bit - so that's how she saw him?

"I don't know if he even wants to be a celebrity. I'll talk to him," Maria said calmly.

Daniel was the kind of guy who kept everything bottled up. She honestly had no idea what was going on in his head.

James stood, brushing off his sleeves as he walked away. "Don't forget, you're starting work at the company tomorrow."

As he turned his back, his usual cool expression softened just a little - not that Maria noticed.

She had already started adjusting to her new role - no surprise, since this was a direct order from Shadowglint.

Walking out, she caught a glimpse of Brandon ahead. She bit her lip for a second, then quickly chased after him.

"Ms. Lewis," Brandon greeted her with a polite nod.

"Mr. Smith, I wanted to ask you something."

He gave her his full attention. "Go ahead."

Maria smiled lightly. "What do you think of Bennett Group? Would you consider joining them?"

James had actually hit the nail on the head earlier - Brandon was competent and sharp. He deserved more opportunities.

And Bennett Group was full of those. After the debate they just had, she could tell James thought highly of Brandon. If she set her feelings about James aside, the company really wasn't a bad place to be.

Brandon paused, surprised. "Seriously?"

When he and Joseph had gone to meet James's assistant, Joseph had encouraged him to join Bennett Group, talking about the salary and growth it offered. People went where the prospects were. Brandon knew that. But he'd turned them down out of concern for Maria's opinion of James.

Now, hearing her endorsement, his eyes lit up.

Maria caught the flicker of excitement in his gaze and smiled, feeling like she'd done something right.

She nodded earnestly. "Absolutely. I think you'd thrive there. Since James and Mr. Garcia are probably still around, this is the perfect time to talk to them."

Brandon shot her a grateful glance. "Ms. Lewis, thank you. If you ever need anything, just let me know. I'll do my best to help."

"Alright," Maria replied with a smile.

Watching Brandon walk back into Bennett Corp with a lighter step, Maria felt an odd sense of relief. She drove home and gave Daniel a call on the way, asking him to come back right away.

By the time she got home, the living room was spotless, Ethan was grinning at cartoons on TV, and the smell of food wafted from the kitchen.

When Maria first met Isabella, the woman couldn't cook to save her life-even Scrambling eggs was a disaster. But then, wanting to impress the kids, she decided to learn. She said that if you're taking care of kids, ordering food all the time just won't cut it.

Over the years, she got really good at it. Now she could whip up a feast like it was nothing, and the dishes could rival any restaurant.

"You're back! Come help me prep these veggies," Isabella called from the kitchen.

"Coming," Maria answered, walking over.

She got to work quietly, but Isabella could tell something was bothering her. "What's on your mind?"

Maria had never kept things from Isabella, and today was no exception. "I agreed to be James's assistant. He said he could help Daniel become famous, and he wants me as his stylist. It seemed like a good opportunity."

"And what's the hesitation? Scared Richard and his wife might see him on TV?"

"That's not it. If anything, that's their problem. Daniel doesn't owe them anything and doesn't need to hide."

"Then you're worried Daniel won't go for it?"

Maria sighed, emotions all tangled up. "He holds a lot of resentment toward them, yeah. But more than anything, I just want to see him happy. I thought maybe giving him something else to focus on would help. I'm not afraid he'll say no-I'm afraid he'll say yes just because of me."

Sometimes, she wished her little brother would act like a regular teen-argue with her, push back, not be so damn mature all the time. It broke her heart.

"Maria," Isabella said while trimming the veggies, "Don't you think maybe you're trying to control too much? That's Daniel's life. If he wants to live cautiously, let him. You're not in charge of every part of him."

That snapped Maria out of it. She was right-it's his life. She needed to respect that.

"Grab the meat from the fridge. I'll make one of Daniel's favorites," Isabella added.

Maria took a deep breath, focused on helping her in the kitchen, and let the rest be.

When dinner was ready, Daniel came home. He sat at the table with a child on each knee, playing with them.

The kids had already eaten a bunch earlier, so they only picked at the food before running off to play again, leaving just the three of them at the table.

Maria brought up James's offer and waited for Daniel's response, her eyes full of hope.

After a long pause, lost in thought, Daniel finally said, "Alright. I'll go. Besides, I can help you out at Bennett Corp too."

Maria gave a wry smile. She figured he'd agree for her sake.

Still, she didn't push it further. Isabella's words stuck with her-this time, she was really starting to get it.