Five years had slipped by in a quiet blur.

My phone suddenly rang, sharp and insistent.

Halfway through my skincare routine, I wiped my fingers and picked up the call.

"Hello, it's a pleasure to finally speak with you," the voice on the other end of the line said smoothly. "I heard you've recently returned to the country. Would the Jones Group have the honor of inviting you to work with us? All we're asking for is an opportunity, and we promise you won't be disappointed."

Even after all this time, I still recognized Karson's voice. It hadn't changed at all.

My heart raced.

For a brief second, I wondered whether he could recognize my voice.

With deliberate calm, I curved my lips into a slow, knowing smile. "I'll think about it."

Delight rushed through Karson's tone at once. "Alright. Would you be free to meet right now?"

I agreed and ended the call without another word.

Peeling the damp face mask away, I stepped closer to the mirror and studied my reflection—barefaced yet strikingly flawless.

Five years had gone by, and the mirror showed me a woman I almost couldn't claim as myself.

With steady, practiced movements, I spread a custom-blended cosmetic across my skin, a formula that could only be erased with a special solvent.

Intentionally, I dulled every sharp edge of my beauty, burying it beneath bland, unremarkable makeup, then finished the disguise with a pair of oversized black-rimmed glasses that swallowed half my face.

Five years ago, Karson and Lilah had been worried that I might still be alive, spending endless effort trying to track me down.

So, I had learned to live behind this mask, wearing it like armor as I moved through the world.

Sometimes, even I struggled to remember which version of myself was real.

It was this very disguise that finally convinced Karson and Lilah that Alexandra Harris was truly dead.

Now, bearing the reputation of an internationally acclaimed perfumer, I returned to Atokton with clear intent burning in my chest.

"Karson, Lilah—you'll both pay for what you've done. I'll take back everything you've stolen from me," I muttered under my breath, my gaze hardening as my fingers tightened on my bag.

Determination driving each step, I went downstairs and started my car, ready to leave.

Without warning, a tiny figure emerged from the corner of the street, darting straight into my path.

My foot slammed down on the brake, the tires shrieking in protest.

Just in front of my car, the small figure crumpled to the pavement, frozen in terror before breaking into frightened sobs.

Concern dropped into my chest as I rushed out of the car to check on the kid.

Curled on the ground was a little girl, no more than five, dressed in a pink princess gown, her wide eyes swimming with tears that could soften even the coldest heart.

And her features...

Something about her face stirred a strange, aching familiarity I couldn't immediately name.

My chest tightened painfully as the image of the baby I lost five years ago surfaced in my mind.

She had been a girl, too...

Back then, by the time I was wheeled into the hospital, my injuries were already fatal—my pulse fading, my body barely holding on—and there had been no hope of saving the child inside me.

I still remembered cradling that tiny, ice-cold body in my arms, crying until the world dissolved into nothingness.

The memory surged back, sharp and suffocating, sending waves of pain through my heart.

When I met the little girl's tearful gaze again, my expression softened.

A quick scan of the surroundings showed no adults nearby, and my brows drew together.

What kind of parents would be reckless enough to let a child this young wander alone?

What if something happened to her?

Stepping closer, I lowered myself to the girl's level and softened my tone. "Hey, sweetheart... where's your family?"

At my question, the girl's sobs broke loose, tears spilling down fast as she muttered, "I... I don't know..."

With hiccupping breaths, she continued, "Daddy's girlfriend said she'd take me shopping, but then... then, she just left me here. I was alone, and I don't know where she went..."

The words pierced straight through me, tightening my chest with aching sympathy.

Keeping my voice calm, I asked gently, "Do you remember where you live? I can take you home."

The instant I finished speaking, the color drained from the girl's face, and her tiny frame began to shake as if caught in a sudden chill. Her head shook as she whimpered, "I don't want to go home... Dad's girlfriend told me never to go home. She said if I did, she'd hit me. I'm really scared..."

Shock hit me hard, and heat surged into my chest as fury followed close behind.

What kind of cruel woman would scare a child like this?

This must be reported to the police!

Before I could reach for my phone, the girl abruptly clutched her chest, her breaths turning shallow and frantic as her face flushed a frightening red.

Shock snapped through me as recognition set in—every sign pointed to an asthma attack.

Without immediate treatment, this could spiral into something deadly.

I didn't waste another second. Scooping the girl into my arms, I rushed her to my car, settling her gently into the seat before speeding toward the nearest hospital.

Luckily, we arrived in time. Thanks to the doctor's swift intervention, the girl's breathing slowly evened out, and the danger finally passed.

She soon drifted into an exhausted sleep on the narrow hospital bed, long lashes still clumped together with tears that tugged painfully at my heart.

Using a tissue, I brushed away the damp tracks on her cheeks, my movements slow and gentle.

Just as I was about to call the police, the door to the room suddenly swung open.

Several broad-shouldered men in tailored suits charged inside, their expressions cold and their presence imposing.

A sharp frown creased my brow as I demanded coolly, "Who do you think you are, barging in here like this? Get out right now, or I'll call the police—"

My words were cut short by a deep, commanding male voice that rose from behind the bodyguards, carrying absolute authority.

"Oh? You kidnapped my daughter, and now, you're standing there, threatening to call the police?"

A sudden thud rattled my chest, and my eyes flew up instinctively.

At once, the bodyguards before me parted, their heads dipping in quiet deference.

Through the opening strode a tall, commanding man, his steps unhurried yet tinged with dominance.

A perfectly cut black shirt traced the hard lines of his frame, broad shoulders narrowing to a lean waist.

His features were sharply defined, and within that almost perfect visage, a pair of eyes glinted with lethal intensity—when they narrowed, they became abyssal voids capable of stealing breath with a single glance.

Recognition struck me instantly.

The man was Daniel Edwards, the CEO of the Edwards Group, a billionaire whose decisions could upend markets overnight.

Rumor had it he was unmarried but had a daughter.

What I had never anticipated was that this fragile little girl would be his child. And he'd allowed his girlfriend to treat his own flesh and blood with such cruelty.

That realization ignited something fierce in my chest, my hands curling into fists before I could stop myself.

The moment Daniel noticed the figure on the bed, concern flashed across his face. "Emily!"

He then spun toward me in a fury, his voice sharp enough to cut. "What the hell did you do to my daughter? Are you looking for trouble? Who gave you the nerve to kidnap her?"

Unfazed, I lifted my chin and returned his glare with a frost-edged smile. "You've got the audacity to accuse me? Don't you dare call yourself her father—you're not worth the word! You let your girlfriend mistreat your own child!"

I quickly called the police and explained the situation briefly. Then, I turned to Daniel. "When the police get here, I'll tell them everything. But right now, there's no chance I'm leaving the child with someone like you!"

The instant Daniel shifted toward the bed, my arm shot out to shove him. "Stay away from her!"

A hiss of shocked breaths rippled through the room. The bodyguards stiffened, then surged forward, forming a solid wall in front of Daniel in one instinctive motion.

Daniel's assistant said, "No one speaks to Mr. Edwards like that. You despicable woman, suspected of kidnapping the kid, and you still have the nerve to be so disrespectful?"

A dry laugh slipped out of me. "So? What are you going to do about it?"

Ice settled over Daniel's features. He lifted a hand without looking at me. "Get her out of here!"

The bodyguards lunged forward together, rough hands clamping down on my shoulders with force.

Outmatched, I stood no chance against them.

Right as they started to haul me toward the door, a thin, fragile voice drifted from the hospital bed.

"Daddy... please don't hurt her!"

Emily Edwards stirred awake, blinking as she struggled to sit up.

Daniel's expression changed, and he quickly signaled the bodyguards to release me.

I rushed to Emily's side, bending close with a worried frown. "Emily, are you feeling any better?"

Emily nodded gently, small fingers curling around mine as if afraid I might disappear. "Yeah. Thank you."

A soft smile touched my lips. "You don't have to thank me. How are you feeling now?"

Emily replied, "I don't know why... but when you're here, I feel a lot better."

As the words left her mouth, she tipped her small head against my side, clinging to me with unquestioning trust.

Warmth swelled in my chest before I could stop it, a quiet, unfamiliar joy spreading through my body.

Only then did I register the sharp intake of breath around us—the bodyguards staring as if they'd just witnessed something impossible.

Their stunned expressions struck me as odd, but I had no time to dwell on it.

At that moment, the police arrived.

Without hesitation, I laid out everything that had happened from start to finish. Then, right in front of everyone, I accused Daniel of failing as a guardian, insisting that leaving Emily in his care would only put her in further danger.

After reviewing the surveillance footage and confirming I hadn't abducted the child, one of the officers turned to Daniel and asked evenly, "Is it true that your girlfriend has been mistreating your daughter?"

Daniel's expression hardened at once, shadows pooling in his eyes as his presence turned oppressive. Lowering his voice, he replied in a cold tone, "I'll take care of this myself. I won't allow anyone to harm my daughter!"

A moment later, the edge in his demeanor eased. He bent down, carefully lifting Emily from the hospital bed. "Emily, let's go home."

Instead of responding to him, Emily tightened her grip on my hand, small fingers trembling with reluctance. Her eyes searched my face as she asked, "Will you go home with me?"

Something inside me softened instantly. Meeting her gaze, I lowered my voice and reassured her, "Don't worry. I'll visit you whenever I can."

Only then did Emily release my hand and nod, docile but serious. "You have to keep your word."

She was cradled in Daniel's arms, yet her gaze clung to me as they left.

Just as they were about to vanish down the corridor, a sudden thought struck me—Emily's asthma was severe, and she couldn't afford intense emotional swings.

Acting on instinct, I hurried after them.

Turning past a pillar, I saw a man in a tailored black suit lean closer toward Daniel, his posture deferential as he whispered, "Mr. Edwards, after Miss Harris died following the birth of Miss Edwards, the child grew up without a mother's care. She became withdrawn, rarely engaging with anyone. Even when you're with her... she almost never speaks. Yet today, she's clinging to that unfamiliar woman with unusual affection. It feels odd. From what I can tell, that woman may have ulterior motives."

At those words, Daniel went still for a moment, the air around him turning cold.

"Dig up everything about her!" he ordered.

Distance blurred the bodyguard's words, so I didn't know what he had said. But I didn't need to hear more to know the target of Daniel's order was me.

That clipped command slid straight down my spine and left a lingering shiver.

Just as the rumors claimed, Daniel was paranoid, cautious, and obsessed with control.

What unsettled me the most wasn't his suspicion, but his power. In Atokton, a man like him could uncover anything if he wanted.

Secrets simply didn't survive under his scrutiny.

If he were to find out my true identity from some tiny clue, that would be disastrous.

For a brief moment, unease coiled in my chest. Then, I forced it down.

Keeping my distance from him was the only sensible choice. Otherwise, it would invite nothing but disaster.

***

An hour later, inside Rose Manor, Joshua Adams, Daniel's assistant, placed a thick, meticulously prepared file into Daniel's hands.

Daniel's eyes skimmed the file before stopping abruptly at the name—Alexandra Harris.

In an instant, his expression hardened, pupils contracting as his eyes turned icy.

How could it be her?

Joshua, standing nearby, felt a chill creep up his spine at Daniel's icy demeanor.

"Mr. Edwards," he said carefully, lowering his voice. "I was startled by that name as well. Still, people with the same name are hardly rare. And this woman looks nothing like Miss Harris ever did."

Back then, Alexandra had been the undisputed beauty of Atokton, her elegance and charm leaving countless men hopelessly smitten.

Daniel, in particular, had fallen so deeply for her that he'd remained devoted for years, refusing to even glance at other women.

Yet the Alexandra at the hospital today bore no resemblance to the woman Daniel had once loved—plain, forgettable, worlds apart from that dazzling figure.

"And there's more," Joshua continued, his tone turning thoughtful. "This woman has lived overseas for years. Her perfumes only started gaining recognition within the past two years, and now, she's preparing to return to the country and build her career here. Frankly, something about her feels off. The records show she had no background in perfumery at all, yet she suddenly began creating fragrances and somehow managed to gain Miss Edwards's trust. All of it combined makes her deeply suspicious."

Years of dealing with women angling their way into his life had dulled Daniel's patience for schemes of any kind. He had seen many similar tricks.

A thin, derisive smile tugged at his lips as he flicked the file into the trash without another glance.

***

Once I left the hospital, I got behind the wheel but didn't head to meet Karson.

When his call came through, I told him something unexpected had come up and that my plans had changed.

In truth, I'd never planned to see him today in the first place.

I drove straight to the airport to pick up my friend, Jenifer Moore, who had just flown back to the country.

Since it had been ages since we'd last met, I took her to Nova Club for drinks, eager to unwind and catch up.

Just as we stepped out of the elevator, though, a muffled sob drifted down the corridor, low and restrained.

A flicker of curiosity made me glance toward the sound, and my steps faltered when I recognized the tall, cold figure standing there.

Daniel occupied the center of the hallway, an oppressive chill rolling off him, impatience evident in his eyes.

Behind him was a heavily made-up woman in revealing clothes, crying softly as she trailed him, her delicate sobs carefully arranged to make her look pitiful.

"Danny, why did you withdraw your investment?" the woman sobbed, clutching his arm as if she might collapse without it. "Is this really because Emily went missing under my care for a few hours today? Are you going to punish me over that?"

Her voice quivered as she continued, "I only stepped away to use the restroom. I told the bodyguards to watch her; I honestly don't know how she slipped away. If you're angry, then be angry at me, but please don't drag my family or our company into this."

"What exactly are we looking at?" Jenifer whispered impatiently at my side.

I gestured for her to be quiet and replied in a low voice, "Hold on, let's enjoy the drama for a bit."

So, that woman was Daniel's girlfriend.

The same woman who had dared to torment sweet, timid Emily. The thought of that made my blood boil, my palms itching with the urge to storm over and slap the woman.

Daniel's eyes had gone sharp, his stare stripped of warmth and brimming with barely restrained fury.

Without sparing her so much as a glance, he said coldly, "Leave."

He then wrenched his arm free and walked off without hesitation, his long strides tinged with finality.

"Danny!" the woman cried out, rushing after him, only to be stopped cold when a bodyguard stepped in her path.

Fixing her with a frigid stare, the bodyguard stated evenly, "Miss Jones, stop harassing Mr. Edwards. Or it won't end well for you."

His voice dropped another degree as he continued, "You know how shattered Mr. Edwards was after Miss Edwards' biological mother died. That child is everything to him—more precious than his own life. But your recklessness nearly put her in danger. The fact that Mr. Edwards chose not to pursue this further is already an act of mercy."

The woman clenched her teeth, biting hard at her lip, reluctance and grievance burning in her eyes. "But I'm his fiancée!" she said hoarsely. "Even though I made a mistake, couldn't he forgive me just this once? Why does my entire family have to pay for it?"

Without the slightest shift in expression, the bodyguard answered, "The engagement was set up by Mr. Laurence Edwards, and Mr. Daniel Edwards has never once recognized it. If you have a problem, take it up with his father."

Left with no choice, the woman could only turn around and leave.

Jenifer clicked her tongue beside me, rubbing her chin with amused disbelief. "I honestly didn't expect Daniel to be this hopelessly devoted to a woman."

Watching Daniel follow through exactly as promised, I felt a quiet weight finally lifted from my chest.

At least from this moment on, no one would dare mistreat Emily again.

Jenifer and I soon slipped into the private room, settling in with our drinks as easy conversation flowed between us.

After a while, curiosity got the better of me, and I asked casually, "So why did you return to the country all of a sudden?"

With a playful wink, Jenifer leaned closer. "Because of Mr. Lewis. He was worried you'd be handling everything by yourself here, so he sent me back to help you," she said, her smile turning teasing. "He's ridiculously considerate toward you."

That was hard to argue with, and I simply dipped my head in quiet agreement.

As if struck by a sudden thought, Jenifer rummaged through her bag. "Oh—right. Mr. Lewis also asked me to bring the new perfume you recently developed, Lunar Blossom. He thought it might give your business a boost."

Her movements paused, irritation flashing across her face. "Damn it. I must've left it in the car. Wait here; I'll go grab it."

I opened my mouth to tell her there was no rush, but she was already hurrying out the door, her heels soon clicking away down the hall.

With a quiet sigh, I shook my head, poured myself a couple more drinks, and eventually wandered off to the restroom once the alcohol began to buzz through me.

By the time I came back, a soft, drunken haze had blurred my vision, smearing the edges of the room into something indistinct.

The lights inside had been switched off somehow, plunging the space into shadow, with only a thin wash of moonlight slipping in through the window.

Narrowing my eyes, I made out a lone figure seated on the sofa and staggered over.

"Back so soon?" I slurred under my breath.

No answer came, and a flicker of confusion crept into my mind.

Why didn't Jenifer say anything back?

I lifted my hand and gave the person's shoulder a casual pat, only to feel an unnatural stiffness beneath my palm.

Frowning, I murmured lazily, "Why are you so tense? Relax a little, will you..."

The moment the words left my mouth, my dulled instincts finally stirred, sounding a quiet alarm in my head.

The feel of it... It wasn't like a woman's body at all.

Through the fog of alcohol, I touched the person again, testing the unfamiliar firmness with hesitant disbelief.

Huh?

Something was definitely off.

Beneath my palm was a flat, broad abdomen, tightly defined, packed with muscles.

This person was... a man.

Just as the realization slammed into me, a low, husky male voice cut through the silence, tight with restraint.

"Have you touched enough?"