"You... why are you home this early today?" Lilah glanced at the time and blurted out, "Did you bring work with you?"

Gabriel gave a quiet "Mm." His expression remained unreadable, but he didn't seem as distant as usual.

Lilah was slightly taken aback. There was a rare flicker of surprise in her usually calm eyes.

The accusations she threw at him that day, full of anger and frustration...

Did he actually take them to heart?

Gabriel, who always put work first and practically lived at the office, now changing his routine?

But that barely-there sense of peace didn't last long.

"Aiden, you came back with Dad today?" came a sweet, honeyed voice from nearby. Lilah's gaze cooled as she looked up.

Verity walked over gracefully, obviously dressed to impress in a soft ivory knit dress and peachy makeup that made her look demure and gentle. Her practiced smile was flawless.

She clearly knew Gabriel's schedule in advance.

"Gabriel..." Verity's voice dripped with sugar and subtle excitement. "Aiden's got a craft project this afternoon. Since you're home early, how about doing it with him?"

An opportunity to get closer to Gabriel didn't come often, and Verity wasn't about to let it slip past.

Gabriel's eyes moved to his son, who was staring up at him with hope glowing on his small face.

There was no way he could say no to that look.

Just as he was about to nod, Aiden tugged on Lilah's hand, his eyes sparkling.

"Mom too! I want you and Dad to do it with me."

"Sure." Lilah couldn't resist her son's cuteness and agreed with a warm smile.

Verity's smile froze instantly, her eyes flashing with a quick, poisonous glint.

She's coming too?

This woman nearly hurt Aiden once-how could she still show her face?

"Alright, I'll head over in a bit," Gabriel said calmly, patting Aiden's head before turning toward the study-he clearly had unfinished work to get to.

Verity didn't care; the moment he said yes, a gleam lit up her face.

He'd definitely help out when they did the craft stuff.

That meant she'd get some alone time with him, even if just for a little.

Only... that annoying woman was tagging along too.

Verity frowned slightly and shot Lilah a side-eye full of disdain.

Just as Lilah finished telling the housekeeper to help Aiden change, Verity suddenly chimed in, "Lilah, I remember last time... didn't you almost cut Aiden by accident?"

"So, what are you trying to say?" Lilah responded coolly.

"Aiden's still a kid. Safety comes first, right? Maybe it's better if you just watch from the side today?" Verity suggested with fake concern.

"You're overthinking it, Miss Nolan. I'm perfectly sane. It's a big deal for our son-of course I'll be there with my husband."

Lilah's tone was firm and unapologetic. She knew exactly what that woman was getting at-trying to edge her out, as usual.

Verity looked like she'd just swallowed a lemon, her face pale with a twist of anger in her eyes.

Lilah, you lunatic, still trying to worm your way in.

Just wait-you'll mess up again in front of Gabriel.

Then let's see if he still backs you up.

She let out a cold snort, nose in the air as she turned sharply and walked off.

Lilah pressed a hand to her forehead, speechless.

Did Verity really think she still cared enough to get worked up?

Doing crafts with her kid-how is that a problem?

...

Once Aiden had changed,

they made their way to the kids' activity room."Aiden, come here. I've got everything ready," Verity called out warmly as she walked over.

Aiden subtly edged away-her perfume was seriously overwhelming. Wasn't she just supposed to help him with the handicraft? Why douse herself in perfume today?

Verity didn't catch his reaction. She was too busy fussing over her hair and fixing her look instead of getting started.

At last, footsteps echoed in the hallway. Verity spun excitedly toward the sound.

Her face dropped the second she saw who it was-Lilah.

Lilah had tied up her long hair and changed into a simple yet sharp outfit. Her chiseled features looked cold and flawless under the hallway lights, making Verity's mood instantly sour even more.

Lilah easily caught the shift in her expression and seemed rather entertained by it.

"So it hasn't started? Guess I came just in time," Lilah said with a pleasant smile.

"Aiden, come over here, let's fold th-" Verity started speaking while deliberately ignoring Lilah's presence.

But Aiden had already dashed to his mom like a little rocket, proudly holding up a golden ginkgo leaf in front of her. "Mom, look! Doesn't this look like a tiny boat? Can we make one?"

Lilah took the leaf, held it up to the light, and her face softened with a smile.

"It really does! You've got such a sharp eye. Alright, what could we use for the sail?" she asked gently, picking up a piece of blue paper to guide him.

They were now completely absorbed in their own world, mother and son, warm and close-completely leaving Verity out in the cold.

And watching it all from the side stung more than she expected.

Just when Verity opened her mouth to say something, Gabriel walked in. He went straight to the table, barely sparing her a glance.

"Gabriel," Verity greeted with her best effort to sound sweet.

He gave just a nod before focusing entirely on what Aiden was doing.

Verity drifted closer to them, trailing her thick perfume. "Aiden, let's build the craft together with Dad!"

His nose scrunched slightly.

Verity usually starts by showing the blueprint; what's with the sudden switch?

Aiden quietly moved behind Lilah again.

Verity's smile faltered mid-sentence. She forced herself to stay cheerful, desperately trying to draw their attention.

But Aiden wasn't going anywhere.

Stupid kid! she screamed internally, though her face stayed soft and teary, pretending to be hurt. "Gabriel, Aiden only wants his mom lately... Am I just not doing enough?"

She subtly reached for Gabriel's arm.

"As long as Aiden's happy, that's all that matters."

Gabriel glanced at her for less than a second, then calmly stepped over to Lilah, completely sidestepping her touch.

Like her little theatrics didn't even make it onto his radar.

Verity froze. That hurt expression turned into stunned disbelief.

Lilah was kneeling on the soft mat, the warm glow from the lights giving her profile a gentle outline. Her entire aura was calm, collected, and nurturing.

Gabriel couldn't tear his eyes from her-how carefully she held Aiden's hand, how her lashes cast soft shadows over her cheeks, how her smile flowed out so naturally. No pretending. No drama.

She looked up briefly, brushing a loose strand of hair away. And just for a moment, their eyes met.

Her delicate beauty caught him off guard, and he looked away before she could notice.

He hadn't seen Lilah like this before.

The dramatic, emotional version of her that used to echo in his mind-suddenly, it didn't weigh the same anymore.

For once, in those usually unreadable eyes of Gabriel, she was all he saw.

A piercing gaze locked onto her, almost tangible in its intensity.

Lilah instinctively looked up, catching Gabriel's eyes mid-air.

Only this time, his stare wasn't laced with its usual disdain.

"Aiden!"

Verity's shrill voice sliced through the moment, shattering the subtle tension like glass.

She yanked Aiden over, barely giving him time to react. Her voice carried an edge of impatience. "Craft time's done. Time for language practice. We're doing French today-how about I read the picture book with you?"

Lilah frowned. That wasn't part of today's schedule-Verity clearly threw that in on the spot, banking on her to trip up.

Aiden had been having fun and clearly wasn't too thrilled, but obediently set his things down.

"Mommy..." he gave Lilah's hand a reluctant tug.

That small act of clinging to his mother only made Verity's face tighten even further.

Lilah gently patted his hand, calming him before slowly standing up.

"Kids this age do get attached to their moms. But Verity, what's the rush?"

Verity crossed her arms, flashing a faint, smug smirk. "You're not wrong, Lilah. Since Aiden's not up for it, why don't you take over French practice today? I recall you've studied it before... right?"

She didn't believe for a second Lilah could speak proper French, let alone teach it. This was designed to humiliate her in front of Gabriel and Aiden.

Verity's lips curled in mockery.

Lilah, inwardly amused, kept her cool.

"Sure," she replied without missing a beat, her voice calm and crisp.

No hesitation. She gracefully sat back beside Aiden, movements collected and poised.

Verity blinked-clearly not the reaction she was expecting.

Then, with a tight smile, she stood aside, watching coldly.

Lilah went abroad and still didn't pick up French. Plus, she'd been unstable for years.

She only got into this house thanks to her family name. What did she have over her?

Let Gabriel see what a joke you really are.

Aiden watched her with wide eyes, admiration lighting up his face like a sparkler.

So Mommy knew French too?

"Let's read together, Aiden."

Lilah scooped him up and walked them both over to the little study desk.

Gabriel sat across the room on the couch-close enough to see, far enough to feel unreachable.

His face was unreadable, like always, never inviting anyone in.

Verity had wanted to sit next to him earlier, but thought better of it and stayed stiffly off to the side.

Lilah picked up a vividly illustrated children's book, flipped to a page, and began to read aloud.

Her French was flawless-smooth, clear, almost musical. Every word rolled off her tongue naturally.

As she read, she pointed to the drawings, explaining each one to Aiden in simple terms, using French that any kid could follow. Her tone was soft, her gaze focused.

The whole process was effortless, confident-she didn't stumble once.

The smug look on Verity's face froze. Her eyes went wide, like she'd seen a ghost.

Lilah was completely absorbed in the language.

She'd studied it seriously before. Despite not speaking it for years, the words still flowed.

Though oddly, right before she spoke, she'd felt a twinge of nervousness.

Maybe because Gabriel was watching her so intently...

His eyes, deep and unreadable, never left her for a second.He tilted his head slightly, as if fully immersed in the fluent French flowing from her lips, his gaze lingering between her calm profile and the quiet confidence playing at the corners of her mouth.

The lighting hit just right at this angle.

Lilah's updo was immaculate, a few playful strands resting by her ears.

Gabriel's throat moved as he swallowed unconsciously-his mind clearly elsewhere.

Verity stared at Lilah with clenched jaw, nearly breathing fire.

Since when did Lilah know French?

And speak it even better than her?

She could've sworn Lilah only knew a few basic words before...

But now she was speaking so smoothly it was impossible to deny.

Verity's eyes darted to Gabriel, whose expression stayed focused-making her stomach knot tighter.

Damn it! Lilah had been secretly learning French?

And she'd stupidly handed her the perfect stage on a silver platter?

Lilah soon wrapped up the makeshift lesson, closed the picture book with a smile, and gently ruffled Aiden's hair.

His little cheeks were flushed with excitement as he threw himself into her arms, eyes shining with admiration.

"Mama, you're amazing! Can you be the one to teach me French from now on?" His voice was soft but filled with eagerness.

"Of course, sweetheart. But you've got to promise Mommy you'll take it seriously, okay?"

Lilah replied warmly and turned to meet Gabriel's eyes. She smiled with quiet pride.

Gabriel didn't say a word, just kept looking at her intently.

Families like the Harts and Wallaces had known each other for generations. Over all those years, this was probably the first time he really saw Lilah.

He didn't dislike her, but he didn't care for her either. If it weren't for the arranged marriage, none of this would've even happened.

Verity snapped, barely able to keep her tone steady. "That's not a good idea. Aiden needs stable, consistent support to learn a language, and considering Lilah's mental state..."

The implication was obvious-she was suggesting Lilah could spiral at any moment.

But before she could finish, Gabriel cut her off.

"It's fine."

His focus never wavered from Lilah, the look in his eyes still holding a trace of admiration.

Verity froze as if someone had hit pause.

Did he really just say yes?

If more responsibility for Aiden kept going to Lilah, what would that mean for her?

And just as she was trying to make sense of it, Gabriel added casually, "The family birthday party's this weekend. If you want to come, just let Mr. Reed know."

The words hit like thunder, leaving not only Verity stunned but also catching Lilah slightly off guard.

"You're really coming to the party with me, Mama?" Aiden cheered, hugging her tightly.

Since he could remember, his mom had never once gone back to the family estate with him.

Now that his dad finally agreed, his joy felt so big it almost shimmered.

The picture of mother and child, so openly happy, felt like a slap in the face.

Verity bit into her lip so hard she tasted blood.

What had gotten into Gabriel? Why would he suddenly let Lilah go to the estate?

Lilah gently responded to Aiden's happiness.

"Alright then, let's pick out a sharp little suit for you, hmm?"

"Lilah, since when do you speak French?" Verity suddenly threw out coldly. "You've been hiding it this whole time?"

Lilah looked right at her, calm and composed. "Yeah, seems like there's quite a lot I haven't told you."

"Who knows, maybe there's more to come?"

With that, she took Aiden's hand and walked off.

Verity stood frozen, fists clenched so tight her nails dug into her palms.

Lilah, just wait.

You're walking straight into a trap at that party.

When you lose it in front of the whole Wallace family and every big shot in town...

No one's gonna forget.

After putting Aiden to bed, Lilah went back to her own room.

She flipped open her laptop and started going through the emails and files.

Thanks to the many successful proposals she'd pitched before, her reputation had been steadily rising.

Even though she'd turned down every offer thrown her way recently, the temptations just kept coming.

With her past life's experience, she moved through the business world like a shark catching the scent of blood.

Her influence, bit by bit, was quietly taking root across the industry.

She had just finished replying to emails when there was a light knock-Nina stepped inside.

"Ma'am, the new Panama Geisha just arrived. You should give it a try."

Lilah looked up and took the warm cup handed to her, the rich fragrance immediately calming her nerves.

But Nina didn't leave right away. With a knowing smile and a quiet voice, she added, "Also, Mr. Wallace specifically asked this afternoon to have matching formalwear tailored for you and himself for the birthday banquet."

Lilah paused, fingers tightening slightly around her cup.

"Okay, got it," she replied softly, though her mind was already spinning.

Gabriel... was he doing this just for appearances' sake?

After Nina left, she stood at the doorway, her eyes drifting instinctively toward the study.

Gabriel's room was on the first floor-he only came to the second-floor study to work.

It sat directly across from her own bedroom, separated only by a hallway-not too close, not too far.

The door to the study was open. From where she stood, Lilah could clearly see him hunched over files.

The soft, amber glow lit up his sharp jawline, casting focused shadows across his eyes.

Just then, as if sensing her gaze, Gabriel suddenly looked up-and their eyes locked dead on.

Caught off guard, Lilah's heart skipped a beat.

His stare was too intense-deep, unreadable like twin, bottomless pools.

That striking face combined with his focused aura made it impossible to look away.

Geez, no wonder he was the male lead of the story-he was unreal.

Lilah's cheeks burned instantly. She quickly dropped her gaze, not daring to look again.

Like she was fleeing the scene, she turned back into her room in a flash.

Throwing herself on the bed, she hugged her pillow tight like she was trying to cool down her face.

Seriously? Zoning out staring at a guy's face? Get a grip, Lilah.

It wasn't like she hadn't seen handsome men before.

Still... none of them really compared to Gabriel.

In the study, Gabriel remained still, gaze fixed on the spot where her figure had vanished.

His expression was unreadable, calm as ever.

But that flustered, flushed look on her face kept replaying in his mind.

After a while, the corners of his lips quirked-barely noticeable, but real.

...

Two days later, after dinner, Lilah returned to her room.

Nina bounced in holding a box tied with a silver ribbon, eyes gleaming.

"Ma'am, your dress is ready! Mr. Wallace's has already been sent over too."

The birthday banquet was tomorrow-they'd done the measurements a few days ago, and now the clothes had arrived.

"Thanks," Lilah said as she carefully opened the box, then paused, "Was Aiden's also custom-made?"

"Yep, Mr. Wallace asked for them to match."

If anyone could dig up info like that, it was Nina.

Just one glance at the fabric and stitching, and Lilah could feel the wealth behind it.

Deep ocean blue-classy and understated, with a pearly sheen.

The tailoring was sleek and elegant, not a single rushed thread out of place.

After slipping into the gown, she stood in front of the full-length mirror.

The woman reflected back at her had a graceful build, a calm, noble air surrounding her."You look amazing, ma'am," Nina said with genuine admiration.

Lilah didn't usually wear dresses, and even in her usual simple style, she was already stunning. Now, dressed to the nines, she was simply radiant.

Suppressing the strange mix of nervousness and anticipation in her chest, Lilah neatly folded the evening gown and set it aside.

The next morning.

After breakfast, everyone headed back to get ready.

Lilah took her time getting dressed, then stepped out of her room with quiet confidence.

As she reached the staircase, the scene downstairs caught her eye.

Gabriel and Aiden were already waiting.

Gabriel stood tall and sharp in a tailored black suit; every thread spoke of quality and precision. The dark blue star-shaped pin on his tie subtly echoed the pattern on Lilah's dress.

Little Aiden looked like a tiny prince, complete with a cute matching blue bowtie at his collar.

When Gabriel's gaze landed on Lilah, his eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

Her deep blue dress hugged her graceful figure, long hair tied back to reveal a swan-like neck. Gemstones sparkled at her ears and neckline, catching the light in a mesmerizing shimmer.

Aiden looked up at her, his big round eyes wide with amazement, lips slightly parted. His face was full of pure awe.

"Mama... you're so pretty today!" he exclaimed with a gleam in his eyes.

Noticing his dad's moment of blank stare, Aiden grinned and pointed, "Daddy thinks you look really pretty too!"

Snapped out of his daze by his son's blunt honesty, Gabriel awkwardly looked away from Lilah.

"Let's go," he said shortly, his usual cool demeanor back in place.

Lilah glanced at the father and son duo, warmth quietly bubbling inside her.

She stepped closer, a little shyly. "Sorry... did I take too long?"

"You're not late," Gabriel's low voice was calm as ever. "Aiden just wanted to see you early."

"Nuh-uh, Daddy wanted to leave early," Aiden muttered, completely blowing his dad's cover.

Lately, Aiden seemed a lot more talkative.

Gabriel shot his son a subtle warning look.

The little guy added quickly, "But I wanted to see Mommy too!"

"You're such a sweetheart," Lilah said, her eyes softening.

Gabriel's forced indifference was obvious, and Aiden's innocent face only made her laugh a little.

The three of them headed towards the grand entrance, lit warmly.

Aiden held Lilah's hand, walking between his parents, his little face glowing with joy.

But right then, someone suddenly showed up.

Verity was standing at the doorway in a carefully styled outfit and flawless makeup. Her hair had clearly been done at a salon, but compared to the Wallaces, she looked completely out of place.

Wearing a polite but clingy smile, she made a beeline for Gabriel.

"Gabriel, since Aiden gets nervous around strangers, and there'll be a crowd at the party, he's gonna need someone close to look after him. Let me come along, I promise I'll handle everything smoothly so you can focus on celebrating with Grandma."

Lilah stared at her, dumbfounded.

This wasn't just bold-it was delusional.

Using Aiden as an excuse to stick close to Gabriel? Seriously?

She didn't even bother considering whether she had the standing to join them. On what grounds could Verity show up at the Wallace family estate?

Lilah was so stunned, she didn't even know how to react at first.

Gabriel's face darkened immediately.

He didn't let Verity come anywhere near.

"The Wallace family doesn't need a nanny."

With that, he wrapped an arm around Lilah and lightly guided Aiden forward, heading toward the waiting black stretch limo.

The door shut with a firm "thud," and the car pulled away.

Verity stood frozen in place, the wind messing up her carefully curled hair.