Lilah took a wild guess at how long Verity could keep her cool, then cut straight to the point before she even spoke.

"A mental health evaluation, huh?"

She looked Verity dead in the eye and gave a small smile. "Sure, why not."

Verity stole a glance at Aiden and put down her spoon with fake warmth. "Really? Lilah, the doctor's already here-waiting in the infirmary. Gabriel doesn't have much work today. He'll be back soon, just in time to see the results."

"Sounds good to me," Lilah replied without hesitation.

Verity blinked, clearly not expecting her to be this cooperative. She hesitated. "You're actually agreeing?"

Lilah's tone was calm, a little too calm. "Yep. If we're not getting divorced, then I should probably take care of my 'issues,' right?"

This was the same dirty trick Verity had pulled on the original Lilah. Of course, she wasn't going to back down now.

"Great, Lilah. I'll get everything set up."

With a bright smile, Verity waved at a servant to escort Aiden out, then hurried off.

...

Outside the medical room, Lilah paused for a beat before gently pushing the door open.

A white-coat-clad psychiatrist sat behind a desk, clearly distracted.

Verity perched prettily on a single-seat couch, makeup flawless as always.

"Lilah, you're here!" she greeted enthusiastically, standing up. "Come on in, the doctor's waiting for you. Don't worry, it's routine-won't take long."

Lilah's eyes landed on both of them; the doctor adjusted his glasses, nervous.

Exactly the setup she'd expected.

She smiled inwardly but kept a calm front that made Verity look almost overeager by comparison.

Lilah sat down gracefully, every move smooth and unbothered.

"Thanks," she nodded to the doctor but then turned to Verity. "Shouldn't you step out?"

That wiped the grin off Verity's face. "Sorry, what?"

Lilah leaned forward slightly, resting her folded hands on her knees. "Mental evaluations are pretty personal, you know? Outsiders aren't supposed to be here. Kind of a basic rule."

She paused, then added with a sharper edge, "Unless, of course, you think you're qualified to stay and sway the doctor's opinion?"

Every word was a blow to the gut. Verity's smile faltered instantly. She hadn't predicted that Lilah would suddenly go on the offensive-or hold her ground so confidently in front of the doctor.

Caught in the middle, the doctor started sweating. He stammered, trying to defuse the tension. "Mrs. Wallace, Miss Nolan is just worried about you. Having someone familiar nearby could help you relax during the session..."

"Worried?" Lilah chuckled, soft but icy.

"As a professional, you'd know better than anyone-anything that might skew the evaluation's objectivity should be avoided."

The doctor went totally silent. It hit too close to home for him to argue.

Verity forced a calm tone. "Lilah, I just thought maybe if something went wrong, I-"

"What, exactly, do you mean by 'wrong'?" Lilah cut in sharply. "I'm perfectly fine. In fact, between us two, you're the one acting a little... off."

Just when the room's tension reached unbearable levels-

Knock, knock, knock.

Rhythmic, steady, and loud.

The door opened from the outside.

Gabriel stepped in-classic dark suit, poker face on point.

Behind him followed a quiet Nina, head lowered.

And at that moment, the corner of Lilah's mouth curled up ever so slightly.Before stepping in, she had already told Nina to quietly inform Gabriel.

This was clearly a trap Verity had set-and there was no way Lilah was walking into it unprepared.

No matter how she answered, as long as Gabriel got that fake evaluation, he'd always think she was mentally unstable. That seed of doubt would grow permanent.

Verity was pulling the same old tricks, trying to brand her a lunatic.

Gabriel's eyes landed on Lilah's face and paused there for a beat.

No questions. No demands for explanations.

He spoke, his voice calm but commanding, with zero room for debate: "Verity, leave."

Those three words slammed into Verity like a thunderclap.

All the color drained from her face.

She stared at him, dumbfounded, as if searching for something to say.

But under Gabriel's ice-cold gaze, the words died in her throat.

"Gabriel, I..." she managed, voice cracking.

"Out," he repeated, tone flat as water. "Don't make me say it a third time."

Biting her lower lip so hard it nearly bled, Verity shot Lilah a venomous glare.

But in the end, defeated and seething, she dragged her feet toward the door and slipped out.

As the door clicked shut, the room quieted, leaving just the three of them inside.

Lilah remained perfectly composed, not the slightest ripple on her expression, like that whole messy clash had never happened.

The psychiatrist looked deeply uncomfortable, practically sweating bullets.

"Mr. Wallace..." he stammered.

"Start," Gabriel said without even glancing at him, sinking into the single armchair with clear intent to observe every second.

"Y-yes, of course!" the doctor scrambled to respond, all pretense gone.

He cleared his throat and began the standard procedure, careful with every question like he was walking on broken glass.

Lilah sat tall in her seat, posture impeccable.

She answered confidently, word for word, like she had nothing to hide and absolutely everything under control.

Gabriel's watchful gaze shifted-no longer just observing, but genuinely listening, and then... something else.

This woman sitting in front of him-sharp, steady, completely lucid. Her voice calm, her thoughts precise. There was undeniable strength in her presence.

Time passed almost unnoticed with Lilah speaking so fluidly.

When the final question was done, silence fell.

The doctor exhaled in relief, his whole demeanor easing. There was even a flicker of respect in his expression.

"Mr. Wallace, the evaluation is complete. Based on initial analysis, your wife shows no signs of any mental illness."

Gabriel blinked, almost startled.

Had he just zoned out... watching her?

"Alright." His reply came low and cool, mask sliding back on as he stood. His eyes briefly swept across Lilah's calm features, unreadable again. "Make sure the report's done quickly."

"Yes, Mr. Wallace!" the doctor responded promptly.

Just outside, Verity hadn't walked far. She was glued to the door, straining to catch what was being said.

The second she heard the words "no signs of illness," it hit her like a truck.

She'd plotted every step-and Lilah just walked right through it like it was nothing.

Gabriel didn't doubt her. Worse-he listened to her.

Why?!

She, Verity, had been crawling at Gabriel's feet for years, giving everything, swallowing her pride for him.

And now this crazy woman got his trust just like that?

Shaking with rage, she curled her hands into tight fists, nails digging into her palms.

If you're standing in my way... don't blame me for what happens next.

Her eyes turned cold and deadly, full of malice.

The door to the medical room clicked shut behind them as Gabriel and Lilah stepped out together.

Relief still lingered in Lilah's chest-she'd taken a total gamble by asking Nina to find Gabriel. It was a shot in the dark.

But, thank God, he'd shown up.

Just when she thought she'd return to her room alone, a calm and firm voice spoke up behind her.

"Have dinner with me tonight."

Gabriel stood partly in shadow, tone more like a command than a request.

Lilah hesitated for half a second, pretending to be a little surprised before replying softly, "Okay."

By evening, the warm golden light from the chandelier bathed the dining room in a peaceful glow.

Gabriel sat at the head of the table, the top button of his shirt undone, rare hints of ease in his posture.

Right beside him, a neatly set place-specifically prepared for Lilah.

Verity arrived with Aiden in tow. The sight of Lilah already at the table made her face fall fast. The sweet smile she kept plastered on her face faltered, eyes swirling with disbelief and frustration.

Seriously? How could that lunatic suddenly be back like this?

Lilah saw every bit of Verity's panic, slid into her seat with calm poise, and lifted her gaze just enough to throw a faint, satisfied smile.

That silent little smirk lit Verity's fuse. Her face turned dark, and every bite of food tasted like cardboard.

Gabriel, meanwhile, quietly watched Lilah.

He had assumed she'd been faking everything, like she used to-but this morning's tests? Her calm demeanor? Maybe she really was doing better.

Lilah gently placed a shrimp into Aiden's bowl, completely natural in her movements.

Aiden blinked in surprise and whispered, "Thanks... Mom."

Wait, did he just say... Mom?

Lilah stiffened, emotions crashing in waves inside her.

The past Lilah had let Verity poison her thoughts for years and totally neglected the child she gave birth to. Yet this tiny boy-without hesitation or blame-still chose to reach out to her.

Just that one word, soft as it was, shattered what little restraint Verity had left.

That little brat!

Why?!

Clang-

The fork slipped from Verity's hand and dropped with a loud clatter, leaving a greasy mark on the tablecloth.

Soup splashed onto her silk sleeve, soaking through in a dark, ugly blotch.

"Ah..." She looked like someone just snapped her out of a trance, eyes glistening with tears as she turned to the man of the house. "Gabriel, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-I'll clean it up right away..."

Gabriel's brows twitched slightly.

He didn't even glance at her. "Mm," he replied flatly.

Toward the end of the meal, Mr. Reed stepped up beside Gabriel quietly and spoke with folded hands, "Sir, the estate called. Madam Wallace's birthday banquet is this weekend. They ask that you and Master Aiden make sure to attend."

Gabriel nodded. "Got it."

Right as the words left his mouth, Verity leaned forward slightly, her face full of concern. "It'll be crowded and noisy at the party. Aiden will need someone with him. Gabriel, if I go along, I can help look after-"

She was practically begging, like being the only one qualified was her whole pitch.

Lilah couldn't help it-she set her utensils down and looked up, her voice cool. "You want to go? Did you forget who you are? What are you treating me as-the invisible mother?"

"I-I just thought it'd be better for Aiden," Verity said with a forced smile.

"Since when does the Wallace family let a nanny walk in like she owns the place at a private family gathering?"

"You-"Verity's face turned pale, then flushed red, her expression shifting rapidly. Meanwhile, Lilah looked at Gabriel, tears welling in her eyes. "Gabriel, I've made a lot of mistakes in the past. I was blind. But I want to make things right, to apologize to your family. Please, give me a chance."

Her voice was soft, almost pleading, with genuine remorse in her tone.

Gabriel remained silent, his eyes cold as if trying to decipher just how sincere she really was.

Verity's lips curled into a mocking smile-completely unbothered, borderline amused.

As if Lilah still had the guts to face the Wallaces after what she pulled.

Seriously, what gave her the nerve to think she belonged at that dinner?

Just then, a soft voice broke the heavy silence.

"Daddy..." Aiden, who'd been aimlessly stirring his dessert with a spoon, suddenly looked up. "Can Mommy come with us to see Grandpa and Grandma?"

Gabriel's tapping fingers froze mid-motion, his gaze locking onto his son's innocent face.

"Aiden," he said after a pause, his voice low, "you want your mom to come?"

Aiden nodded hard. His little face scrunched up in determination, filled with hope.

That moment, seeing her son speak up, hit Lilah like a wave. Her heart tightened painfully but also melted a little.

The original Lilah had failed as a mother-too exhausted fighting Verity to even be present for her own child.

But despite it all, Aiden forgave her. He wanted her.

That was more than she ever hoped for. No matter what, she was more attached to him than ever.

"You don't want me to go with you instead?" Verity asked quickly, her voice tinged with panic.

Aiden didn't answer. He dropped his head and went back to fiddling with his dessert.

Verity clenched her jaw so hard it ached. Her nails dug into her palm.

Ungrateful brat. Three years of effort for what? Just to lose to a woman like Lilah coming back from the brink?

Dinner wrapped up under a tense layer of unspoken emotions.

Gabriel stood up first, glancing at his son. "Time for our bedtime reading."

Without hesitation, Aiden slipped off his seat and trotted after him. As he passed Lilah, he paused-just a fraction-then glanced up at her.

She gave him a warm, comforting smile.

Only then did he run after his father into the hallway.

Lilah knew that silence wasn't rejection-it was Gabriel thinking things through.

Pushing now would only backfire.

She pulled herself together and turned toward the stairs.

The sharp tap of heels suddenly echoed behind her.

"Lilah! Wait!"

She didn't even flinch, just kept walking.

But Verity caught up in a few steps, reaching out to block her path.

"Lilah, can we please talk?" Her tone softened, practically begging. "I was just worried about Aiden, I didn't mean to hurt you. We've known each other for years-do we really have to go to war over this?"

"War?" Lilah finally stopped, slowly turning.

"You bribed the doctor to label me unstable. That's your idea of a misunderstanding?"

Verity's expression froze in place.

No, it wasn't a misunderstanding. She never thought Lilah was worthy of being Mrs. Wallace.

Lilah's voice dropped, cold as ice and sharp enough to cut. "Verity, save your pitiful tricks. We're not having a spat-we've always been enemies."

"You'll never be anything in the Wallace family. So watch yourself."

Verity's teeth were clenched so tight they could've cracked. Her head was filled with one thing only-

Lilah had to go.

"Take care of yourself? Please," she scoffed, tone gradually regaining its usual arrogance. "Aiden's depended on me since he was a baby. For his sake, Gabriel won't just throw me out like that."

Instead of getting mad, Lilah's expression was laced with a cold, almost pitying sneer.

"Depended on you? Do you actually think you're irreplaceable?" she said slowly. "This house doesn't need someone scheming behind fake smiles. Aiden deserves better than a pretender playing nanny."

"You-" Verity's face darkened, anger rising.

But Lilah didn't give her a chance to hit back. Her voice turned sharp, no room left for pretense. "Whatever dirty tricks you're cooking up-save it. As long as Gabriel and I aren't divorced, you'll never step into this family."

"You should pack up while you can. Otherwise, don't blame me when there's no exit left."

"Leave?" Verity's temper finally snapped. "Cut the act, Lilah. Who do you think you are?"

"I've been here three years! I'm not going anywhere just because you say so!"

Done pretending, Verity turned and stormed out, heels echoing with fury.

As the sound of her footsteps faded, Lilah found herself oddly calm.

Verity had walked all over the former Lilah for three whole years-no wonder Lilah now had to clean up the mess and rebuild everything.

Honestly, letting Verity stay around was even better. Kicking her out now would be letting her off too easy.

Debts needed paying. Every little one of them.

Even if the title of "Mrs. Wallace" didn't mean much anymore, it still gave Lilah a right to stand here. Legally, she was still the lady of this house.

Gabriel hadn't brought up divorce again either lately.

Lilah felt a strange kind of emptiness.

She didn't expect Gabriel to fall for her. That wasn't the point.

What mattered was that Aiden was finally opening up to her.

The thought of her son's sweet little gestures made her expression soften.

Upstairs in the study, the heavy oak door dampened every last echo of the clash downstairs.

Behind the spacious desk, Gabriel was buried in documents, his whole posture composed and sharp.

Not far away, Aiden was sitting on the carpet, flipping through a picture book quietly-not at all like a typical three-year-old.

Every now and then, Gabriel's eyes drifted from the page to his son's fluffy little head.

Eventually, he set down his pen and rubbed his temples.

"Aiden," he said, tone surprisingly gentle, as if testing the waters, "why do you want your mom to come along?"

Aiden lifted his head from the book. His voice was soft, tentative.

"Mom is really nice now," he mumbled.

He paused, seeming to search for the right words.

"She doesn't yell. She reads me stories. This mom is... good."

Something in Gabriel's chest gave a strange thump, unexpected and unfamiliar.

For a second, he just sat there, thrown off balance by that sudden tug at his heart.

He exhaled, reined it in.

"Keep reading," he said, tone reverting back to cool.

Aiden glanced up at his dad's now expressionless face, then quietly lowered his head again and stayed silent.

...

The next morning, the sunlight poured in just right.

Lilah sat in front of her laptop, blinking in disbelief when she spotted one particular email in her inbox.

It was from Damien Hart.

Her eyes stung.

The older brother she hadn't seen in ages-someone the former Lilah never managed to reach before the end.

A wave of guilt welled up.

Then she clicked the message open.The anonymously submitted business proposal hit Hart Group's biggest issue right on the nose.

Though Damien was still trying to figure out who this mysterious advisor really was...

Damien messaged: "It's truly an honor to have your guidance. May I know how to address you?"

Reading that respectful tone, Lilah couldn't help but smile wryly.

She typed her reply carefully.

"No need. If your company runs into any issues later, feel free to reach out."

She shut her laptop and leaned back, closing her eyes. That old, familiar rush of victory pumped through her chest.

She'd finally got a foothold in the Hart family's business-her first real move in this strange world.

"Ma'am," Nina pushed open the door gently, a smile on her face. "Before Mr. Wallace left, he mentioned today is Aiden's outdoor playtime. He asked if you could join him more often lately. Seems like the little guy really enjoys hanging out with you."

Lilah opened her eyes, the excitement from before not yet gone, only now layered with a new, warmer joy.

She stood up instantly, a genuine, bright smile spreading across her face.

"All right. Got it."

Gabriel's move wasn't subtle-it was a clear shift.

Not only had he stopped pushing for a divorce-he was even encouraging her to be part of Aiden's life.

She quickly changed into something comfy and headed downstairs with light steps.

Out in the garden, in the shaded gazebo-

Aiden was crouched down, feeding snacks to a puppy.

Lilah walked up softly, not wanting to interrupt. She sat down beside him and quietly watched.

Aiden looked up, his eyes lighting up the moment he saw her.

"Mom!"

There was no timidity this time, just a natural warmth in his voice.

"The puppy's collar broke," he said, holding up the frayed piece in his hand.

Lilah smiled, took it from him, and called a maid over.

"Can you bring a new collar? Aiden, what color do you like?"

Aiden tilted his head, thinking for a moment. "I like blue."

"Perfect-Mom loves blue too."

Lilah's tone was light and gentle as she waved the maid off.

It didn't take long for the maid to return with a brand-new light blue collar.

Aiden leaned close against Lilah, his little head brushing her arm as he watched her carefully put the new collar on the puppy.

The usually mischievous little dog was surprisingly calm in her hands, letting her adjust everything without protest.

"Mom, you're amazing..." Aiden said, smiling wide and full of admiration.

Lilah laughed, gently ruffling his hair.

Aiden grabbed her hand and stood up, and the two of them, hand in hand, walked the puppy to the lawn.

From a distance, Verity watched the cozy scene, her gaze sharpening.

Seeing how Aiden depended on Lilah with zero reservations made her lip curl in displeasure.

Just a few days of playing the good mom, and Lilah had completely won him over.

Even Gabriel seemed to be taking her side now!

Clenching her fists tight, Verity's nails bit into her palms-a sharp sting grounding her boiling emotions.

Lilah-do you really think you've already won?

With a cold gleam in her eyes, Verity quietly turned and walked away.

By evening, Gabriel came back early-well before dinner.

His assistant, Lance Owen, was right behind him, arms full of files as they headed straight for the study.

Gabriel, waiting for supper, kept himself busy going over paperwork.

But before long, a maid came knocking.

Without looking up, he said coolly, "Come in."

The maid hurried inside. "Sir, something about young master Aiden-I need to speak with you."