At Lilah's question, the maid flinched like she'd been shocked, swallowing hard.

"Mr. Wallace and young Aiden... they're resting in the garden," the maid stammered, quickly dropping her gaze.

The original Lilah was moody and unpredictable-her temper flared without warning. After the earlier scene, the staff were even more on edge.

Lilah sighed inwardly but kept her tone calm. "Got it. Thanks."

Her voice was low, even soft.

But not until her composed figure disappeared did the maids finally relax.

"Did hell just freeze over? She actually said thank you?"

"She probably freaked out earlier and got chewed out by Mr. Wallace."

"Shh! Don't let her hear you!"

"Might just be a phase anyway. Good thing she's leaving soon..."

"Seriously, she's scary as hell..."

-

Afternoon sunlight spilled across the garden. Aiden Wallace ran around the lawn with a fluffy white puppy, while Gabriel reclined under the shade, Verity close beside him. The scene looked like some perfect family moment.

Aiden, now three, was Lilah's biological son-clever, but awfully quiet.

Because of his mom's past instability, Verity had ended up handling almost all of his care and education. She'd gone from helping out as a friend to basically living in the Wallace house as a full-time nanny.

Gabriel didn't vocalize much, but anyone with eyes could tell-the staff already treated Verity like the real lady of the house.

The garden was bursting with life, ideal for Aiden to play around in. Gabriel stayed nearby, his sharp features softening as he watched his son.

The father and son looked alike, though Aiden's delicate features carried traces from Lilah.

Verity had switched into a pastel pink dress. Next to Gabriel, she looked an awful lot like Mrs. Wallace already.

From a short distance away, Lilah stood with arms crossed.

Verity, who had just been about to speak, caught sight of her and instantly dropped the sweet act.

"Lilah? What brings you out here all of a sudden?" she said, pulling her shoulders in, voice trembling like she was about to cry. "Are you still mad? I know it was wrong of me to push you about the papers..."

Her eyes welled up, rimmed red. Gabriel visibly tensed.

He glanced up at Lilah. Her outfit was simple, but her gaze was razor-sharp, as if nothing could pierce that calm surface.

"What now? Here to lose it again?" Gabriel's voice came low and cold.

He didn't move, but the intimidating weight of his presence felt like palpable frost.

Lilah didn't flinch. "I came to talk to you."

Aiden, noticing something was up, froze mid-play, then crept behind a maid, a little scared.

"Come here, sweetie. Don't be scared," Verity quickly said, pulling Aiden closer and placing them both by Gabriel's side.

But that only made Aiden more uneasy-head down, he stepped even farther back.

Lilah stopped herself, worried she might scare Aiden more. But just as she was about to speak-

"Lilah, please... calm down. Don't hurt the kid again..." Verity bit her lip, eyes full of fake concern. "Gabriel won't be okay with that."

Lilah nearly gagged.

Telling her to calm down, while sneakily painting her as some unhinged woman who hits her own kid-Verity made passive-aggressive an art form.Just as expected, Gabriel frowned. "Lilah, don't you think this is ridiculous?"

Lilah was confused for a second, then quickly realized-he thought she was faking it again.

"Sign it, and get the hell out of the estate," Gabriel said coldly, not even trying to hide how done he was.

Verity gently covered her face, but a flicker of delight lit up her eyes.

Finally. This lunatic was about to be kicked out for good.

Lilah stared at Gabriel, her voice steady. "I know losing it like that was wrong, but I won't admit to things I didn't do. I didn't push Verity. Just check the security footage-everything's on there."

She stepped closer, eyes full of rare determination and clarity.

"I'm sorry for all the mess I caused before. I just want to live peacefully now. I'm not going to make the same mistakes."

Gabriel looked at her with growing impatience. "If you won't sign, I'll throw you out myself."

He didn't care what she had to say-every word sounded like another excuse to him.

Truth was, he had zero trust in her.

Given all her past outbursts, it made sense he didn't believe her.

Still, Gabriel was being impossibly stubborn. Time for a new approach.

Seeing his face darken more and more, Lilah quietly pinched herself hard, forcing a few tears to well up.

Damn, that hurt. Her eyebrows twitched slightly from the sting.

She got a little closer, her teary eyes looking straight at him. "Gabriel, we've known each other since we were kids. After everything... you really feel nothing at all? No matter what, I'm still the mother of your child, right?"

Gabriel paused, glancing at little Aiden, who was standing silently to the side. His expression faltered, just for a second.

"Gabriel," Verity's voice chimed in at the perfect moment, soft and careful. "Don't forget... Lilah's scheduled for a psych evaluation tomorrow."

She gently stroked her flushed cheek, her fragile expression on full display.

"I know she struggles to control her emotions... but it's okay. I'm not blaming her..."

Whatever crack had formed in Gabriel's resolve disappeared instantly. Right. Lilah was just unstable.

Why had he almost let himself fall for her tricks again?

This was just another move-her trying to slip away from consequences and drag things out a little longer.

"I'll check the footage," he said, face blank. Then, without another word, he took Aiden's hand and turned to leave.

His back was straight, his pace firm. No second thoughts.

Lilah finally let out a quiet breath. At least he agreed to check the footage.

Verity, on the other hand, froze the moment she heard that.

But as soon as Gabriel disappeared from view, she recovered fast and looked smug, back to that smug little smirk.

"Lilah, I wouldn't bother if I were you. Gabriel doesn't love you anymore. Just sign the papers and be done with it."

Her tone was full of triumph.

Lilah's gaze drifted to the still-swollen bruise on Verity's face. She stepped forward, just enough to make Verity instinctively step back.

"Looks like your face isn't swollen enough yet," she said flatly.

Her stare lingered on Verity's cheek, like she was considering giving it another go.

"You-! You're going too far!" Verity's expression twisted, voice trembling with anger as she glared at Lilah.

But Lilah suddenly broke into a bright smile.

"Don't worry. I'm not signing anything. I've been foolish before, but I've woken up. As long as I'm here, you'll never be more than a shadow. That title of Mrs. Wallace? Keep dreaming. Maybe try again in your next life."

The color drained completely from Verity's face, her features twisted with humiliation.

She stared daggers at Lilah's retreating figure, chest rising and falling sharply.

Can't lose it here. Not now.

But as soon as she remembered that Lilah was about to be shipped off to a mental hospital, her mood smoothed out instantly.

That hospital had been handpicked just for Lilah.

Once she's in, there's no way out. And then...

Forcing a smile, Verity raised her voice slightly. "Lilah, what's the point of all this?"

"Just give in a little-it's best for everyone, isn't it?"

She sounded all gentle and concerned, but there was a smugness hiding under the surface.

Lilah didn't even glance back. She just kept walking toward the villa, not giving that fake sweetness the time of day.

Those little tricks Verity used to get under her skin? Not happening anymore.

Not worth her time. She didn't care to hear the same old manipulative nonsense.

But then, from the corner of her eye, something caught her attention-like a magnet yanking at her gaze.

Behind the huge floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, a small figure stood motionless against the glass.

Aiden.

No one knew when he'd gotten there, but he stood there silently, staring at his mom with a mix of familiarity and distance.

The sunlight landed on his soft hair, but there was a quiet gloom about him. He looked like a plant growing in the shade-silent, unnoticed.

When Lilah's eyes met his, Aiden flinched and quickly backed away.

A flicker of sadness and worry passed through her eyes.

In the previous timeline, after Lilah's divorce, Verity used the same dirty methods to push Aiden over the edge.

Gabriel began to lose faith in his son, and with Verity's silent consent, the bullying continued in the shadows. In the end, Aiden finally fought back-only to die by accident during the struggle.

That bone-deep pain came back again, like something burned deep in her DNA.

She wasn't going to let that happen again. Not this time.

Suddenly, she spun around, eyes locked straight onto Verity.

"Verity." Lilah's voice cracked through the air like thunder.

She descended the steps one by one, each step echoing with quiet fury, walking right up to Verity.

"Spare me your schemes. I already saw how low you're willing to go. Round two? Not happening."

Verity wasn't getting a second shot at her.

Lilah's face stayed cold as she turned to leave.

Crazy woman. That bitch!

Verity clenched her jaw, biting her bottom lip as she forced a look of confusion. "Lilah, what are you even talking about? I don't follow."

"Gabe knows your mental state hasn't been stable. He only asked me to take care of Aiden so he wouldn't get hurt."

"Verity, you keep saying 'Gabe' like you're actually his wife. Do you really think you're Aiden's mother or something?"

Lilah knew exactly where to land the blow.

Her words weren't crude, but they cut deep enough to bleed.

Sure enough, Verity's face darkened as she clenched her fists so hard her knuckles turned white.

No matter how indifferent she pretended to be, there was no denying the truth.

Three years of playing the nanny, and she still couldn't replace a woman who'd lost everything.

Why? Just because that bitch gave birth to him?

She wouldn't accept that. No way.

Right when Verity's resentment nearly boiled over, a housekeeper came over, clutching a fresh stack of documents.

"Ma'am... Mr. Wallace asked me to bring you this... divorce agreement," the housekeeper said, voice trembling as she offered the folder to Lilah.

The sunlight hit the cover, reflecting a harsh, cold gleam.

At the sight of the contract, the shock in Verity's eyes turned quickly into wild, gleeful delight.She forced down the storm in her chest, but the bitterness still slipped through her words. "Lilah, do you really have to make this ugly? Just sign it already. After the divorce, Aiden won't have to watch his parents fight all the time..."

Lilah stared straight at Verity's smug face.

The pain that had flared because of Aiden just moments ago now settled into a cold calm.

She reached out with steady hands and took the heavy stack of papers.

A flash of triumph lit up Verity's eyes. This lunatic was finally caving in!

But the next second-

"Rip-"

The sound of tearing paper split the air like a whip crack.

Lilah ripped the agreement clean down the middle, her movements sharp and decisive. Bits of it fluttered to the floor like confetti.

Verity's victory grin froze on her lips, disbelief written all over her face.

Standing on the steps, Lilah's expression didn't flicker. If anything, she looked bored, maybe even a little mocking.

She raised her chin slightly. "Keep dreaming."

Then she turned her back without another glance and walked straight into the villa.

Behind her, Verity's face flickered through a whole color wheel of rage and shock.

...

Bang!

The door slammed shut behind her. All the strength drained out of Lilah like a punctured balloon.

Exhaustion hit her like a wave, pulling her under.

Divorce, mental hospital, jail, suicide...

Now Gabriel couldn't be colder if he tried.

"Why is saving a marriage harder than running a damn business..."

She collapsed onto the bed, about ready to combust from the pressure.

After lying there for a bit, Lilah grabbed her phone, scrolling through the contacts, just in case the original her had any hidden allies who could help save this crumbling marriage.

But nope. Three years of chaotic living had burnt every bridge. People weren't just gone-they ran the moment they saw her name.

Her contacts list was emptier than her savings, and anyone she vaguely recognized was buried deep in the block list.

Unwilling to give up, she rifled through her bank cards, hoping for some personal savings she might have overlooked.

The result? A straight shot to rock bottom.

The Hart family had cut her off, and Gabriel had written her off. Except for a credit card with a pitiful limit, she had nothing to her name. That ridiculous prenup she'd signed left her practically with the clothes on her back.

The original her had tied her entire life to Gabriel like some helpless vine clinging to a tree.

So what now? Sit back and watch herself spiral into ruin?

Wait...

That's when it hit her.

No matter how ruthless Gabriel was, all he did was kick her out of the Wallace house.

As long as she stayed put, Verity wouldn't dare go too far.

Which meant there was still a chance to turn this around.

Lilah knew better than to bet everything on a broken marriage.

She needed a backup plan. Something solid.

This world's finance game wasn't nearly as cutthroat as the one from her past life.

Love was a mess-but money? That was easy math.

With that thought, she got up and opened her laptop, typing in the latest updates about the Hart Group.

Headline after headline flashed by, and with each one, her gaze grew sharper.

"International competitor crushes Hart Group's brand... market share drops like a rock..."

Lilah's lips curled into a grin full of fight.

She hadn't built her empire in her last life off dumb luck.

Now she saw her way back in-with the Hart family.

Taking a deep breath, she found the Hart Group's official email and got ready to move.

This... this was her battlefield. And it was game on.

Dinner time crept up before Lilah realized it, and it wasn't until a servant reminded her that she finally shut her laptop and stood up.

The sky outside was already darkening, with only the villa still lit up.

She followed the servant downstairs into the dining room, still in her workwear. Even though the former Lilah hadn't been all there mentally, she'd always joined them for meals.

At the table, Gabriel sat across from Verity, both dressed neatly for dinner.

Little Aiden sat quietly beside Verity, holding his utensils in his small hands. His silent expression was a copy of Gabriel's, like they were cut from the same mold.

Verity wore a gentle, just-right smile as she leaned over to adjust Aiden's napkin, speaking softly, "Aiden, how's the creamy mushroom soup today? I had the kitchen add extra mushrooms just for you."

But her eyes, clearly, were stealing glances at Gabriel, a faint pink coloring her cheeks like she was glowing with joy.

Gabriel was slicing into his steak, movements smooth and effortless-detached, though, as always.

The whole scene had that fake family warmth vibe, making Lilah's sudden arrival feel like she didn't belong.

Lilah's eyes scanned the table until she spotted the extra seat placed off to the side.

She walked over, picked up the plate set there, and calmly placed it right next to Gabriel-directly across from Aiden-and sat down without hesitation.

Verity froze, visibly thrown by the bold move.

The air felt like it thickened for a second, even the servants opted to stare at the ground, pretending to disappear.

The subtle clatter of cutlery on porcelain was the only sound, as Gabriel stopped moving entirely. The tension around him was unmistakable, his lips pressed tight, giving Lilah a glare icy enough to cut glass.

"What?" Lilah met his gaze, calm and unbothered. "You're not seriously suggesting Aiden's biological mother sit way over in the corner, are you?"

The overhead light highlighted the sharp angles of Gabriel's face, casting a cool shadow that made his expression even harder.

But Lilah didn't flinch. She lifted an eyebrow slightly, her eyes still as water-quiet, deep, unreadable. But her message was clear: I'm sitting here. Deal with it.

And her title as Aiden's mother still held power. Gabriel said nothing-just picked up his utensils again like he accepted it, even if reluctantly.

The second it became clear he wasn't going to argue, Verity's fake smile nearly cracked. Her fingers clenched around her napkin, knuckles going pale.

She forced out a sweet tone. "Lilah, what brings you to this side of the table today? Feeling unwell, maybe?"

"You're just a nanny on the Wallace payroll. Do you really think it's your place to ask?" Lilah said casually, running her fork through the vegetables on her plate.

The word "nanny" landed like a slap across Verity's face-twice.

Color drained from her cheeks, but she didn't dare shoot back.

She saw Gabriel reach for the salt, and quickly leaned in to hand it to him first, acting like everything was fine.

Her movement was so smooth it was almost affectionate, like she belonged right there next to him.

Lilah gave an unhurried smirk. "Honestly, Miss Nolan's nanny energy feels more like First Lady of the House."

"I didn't mean anything by it... just trying to help..." Verity looked like she'd cry, turning towards Gabriel with a pitiful "Gabe..."

Just then, Gabriel moved. He gently but clearly shifted away from her, brushing off the gesture without even looking bothered.

Verity bit down on her lower lip hard.

That crazy woman really did just humiliate me right in front of him.

Bitch.

Lilah, meanwhile, acted like she hadn't noticed Verity's murderous glare.

Instead, her eyes landed on the plate of shrimp in front of Aiden. The little guy had tried a few times to reach it but kept falling short, and eventually gave up, poking at his rice in silence.

Without saying anything, Lilah leaned over slightly and nudged the shrimp plate closer to him.

Aiden blinked, stunned. His big dark eyes went wide with surprise.

This was new. The mom he remembered only ever yelled at Verity. But tonight, she wasn't mad at all.

He looked at the plate that had suddenly appeared in front of him, then quickly sneaked a glance at Lilah.

Lilah glanced back and gave him a quiet smile, doing her best to look warm and gentle.Aiden ducked his head, poking at the rice in his bowl. His long lashes trembled slightly.

"Aiden, you've got a bit of sauce by your mouth. Lemme help you wipe it off."

Verity suddenly leaned in, picking up a napkin and dabbing at Aiden's lips.

Startled by the sudden gesture, Aiden shrank back a bit, his little face scrunching up with discomfort.

"Miss Nolan, Aiden's fully capable of taking care of himself. You don't need to jump in for everything," Lilah said, frowning slightly.

Verity's hand paused midair, then she quickly put on her usual soft, innocent smile. "I mean, I've always looked after him. He's still so little, I just want to make him feel cared for..."

"He's little, which is exactly why he needs to learn to do things on his own. Besides, you're not exactly gentle-you didn't notice he looked uncomfortable?" Lilah shot back, her tone sharpening.

Verity's fingers loosened their grip instinctively. Her face darkened for a split second.

Gabriel looked up from his meal, gaze flickering toward Aiden.

The kid rubbed his own cheek, expression turning slightly sour.

A flash of something unreadable passed through Gabriel's eyes before his face returned to its usual impassiveness.

He said in a flat tone, "Let Aiden eat on his own."

That one sentence landed like a slap across Verity's face, echoing what Lilah had said.

Verity stiffened in her seat, staying silent now.

But her fingers clenched tight around the utensils, a faint bitterness flaring in her eyes.

Lilah, just you wait.

Dinner was finally over-thankfully.

Lilah set down her napkin, wanting nothing more than to get away from this suffocating table.

Her eyes landed on Aiden-his soft, sweet little face tugged at her heartstrings.

Too bad the original woman's insanity had pushed Gabriel to sever all ties with her and her son.

As she stood to leave, a small hand tugged gently on the corner of her shirt.

Aiden looked up at her, hesitant eyes blinking. "Can I... take the puppy out for a walk with you?"

Lilah was caught off guard, eyes flashing with surprise. Before she could say a word, a sharp voice cut in.

"Aiden!" Verity stomped over, yanking at his hand without warning. "You're such a good boy, but your mom's not in the right state to walk with you, sweetie..."

She pulled on him so hard it made Aiden wince, his shoulder tensing up, though he didn't dare push back.

Seeing the sad look on his face, a rage sparked hot and fast in Lilah's chest.

"Miss Nolan, your job is to care for the child, not to control him."

She stepped forward, gaze fierce, locking on Verity like a laser beam.

"If Aiden wants his mom's company, you-as the nanny-don't get to overrule him."

Verity widened her eyes, playing innocent. "Lilah, I get you're upset, but I've been raising him all this time..."

"Enough."

Gabriel's low, cold voice cut through the tension.

No one had noticed him getting up, but now he stood with unreadable eyes trained on them.

"Let Aiden go with whoever he wants."

Verity's face went pale. She said nothing further, but the unwillingness showed plainly.

Lilah ignored Verity's poisonous look and reached a hand out toward Aiden. "Let's go."

...

The fluffy white puppy bounded ahead, the leash loose in Aiden's grip.

Lilah slowed down her pace to keep a short distance behind.

Then suddenly-Aiden tripped over something and tumbled forward hard.

Gabriel had followed along out of worry for Lilah.

Seeing Aiden fall, his face instantly darkened. "Lilah! What did you do?!"

But she reacted faster than he did. The moment Aiden lost his balance, she dropped to her knees.

Both arms folded tightly around Aiden, catching him securely before he hit the ground. Her voice rose a notch, edged with fury. "Gabriel, are you blind or what?!"

Protectively cradling Aiden, Lilah glared up at Gabriel.

He froze for a second, caught off guard, staring at her delicate, worried face. For a moment, it felt like he was really seeing her for the first time.

Her neat clothes outlined her elegant features, and her eyes, though glaring at him, burned with a fierce sort of beauty. And strangely... his heart skipped a beat instead of feeling offended.