Inside the sleek interior of the car, Ethan leaned toward Elias and whispered, “Do you think Mama’s gonna be mad?” Elias gave him a side-eye. “Probably. But maybe less mad if we come with a rich old man.” “I heard that,” Mr. Blackwood’s father said mildly, amusement tugging at his lips. They turned sheepishly toward him. “Don’t worry,” he continued. “If she scolds you, I’ll take the blame.” Elias grinned. “Promise?” “Cross my heart.” As the car came to a smooth stop in front of the private underground entrance, a valet rushed over, already bowing slightly when he recognized the man inside. The driver opened the door for Mr. Blackwood’s father, who stepped out and gestured for the boys to follow. “Stay close,” he said, his voice low but authoritative. Ethan grabbed Elias’s hand instinctively as they trailed after the man, wide-eyed at the luxury around them. The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, revealing a mirrored interior lined with polished gold accent
“Elias, are you sure this is a good idea?” Ethan asked, tightening the straps of his tiny backpack as they walked side by side. Elias grinned mischievously, hugging his little hoodie closer. “Of course it is. Don’t you want to see where Mama works?” “I do,” Ethan muttered, then glanced around. “But we’re gonna get in so much trouble. You know she’s gonna be mad when she finds out we left after school!” “She won’t be mad if we surprise her,” Elias said confidently. “It’ll make her happy.” Ethan shot him a skeptical look. “You sure about that?” “Very sure.” There was a beat of silence before Ethan mumbled, “Do we even know how to get there?” Elias smirked and patted his chest proudly. “I took it for myself.” “Took what?” “The card. Mama’s card. It has the name of her company on it. BIC Enterprises.” Ethan’s eyes widened. “You stole her business card?” “I didn’t steal it! I borrowed it. I’m gonna give it back.” They reached the sidewalk where a few cabs were parked. One of t
Irene moved through the office like a machine. From the moment she clocked in that morning, her mind had been spinning. Ethan and Elias's question from earlier haunted her like a shadow clinging to her heels. "Mama, do we have a dad?" Her lips had gone dry immediately and her heart had nearly stopped. And ever since, everything around her had felt like a blur. Her hands moved on their own—filing documents, passing forms, replying “yes sir” and “on it” to her boss's endless commands—but she wasn’t there. Not really. Her body was present, but her soul was elsewhere, trapped in that single question she had no answer to. Mr. Blackwood had barked orders all morning. "Where are the Peterson files?" "Did you cross-check the shareholder update?" "That email should’ve been sent ten minutes ago!" She didn’t even flinch. She did everything without protest, without expression—just like a robot. It was around midday. She had just returned from submitting paperwork to the PR departme
Irene lay on her bed, eyes wide open, the dim light from the window casting soft shadows on the wall. She had not slept a wink. All through the night, her mind had been a restless reel, playing and replaying the moments from the trip with Mr. Blackwood. The hotel. His voice. His gaze. Each time she tried to shake the memories away, they returned stronger—clearer. And every time, she found herself blushing like a schoolgirl. She tossed on the bed, tangled in her sheets, her cheeks warm from embarrassment. “Ugh, stop it,” she mumbled into her pillow. “He probably doesn’t even think about you. Get a grip, Irene.” Just then—beep! beep! beep! The sharp sound of the alarm pierced the silence. She jolted upright, heart pounding, momentarily dazed. “What?” She reached for her phone, blinking at the time. “Did I really stay up all night thinking about a man who might not even care about me?” she muttered, dragging a hand down her face. With a groan, she threw off the covers and s
Knock. Knock. Irene bounced lightly on the balls of her feet as she waited at Levi's front door, her heart thumping with a mix of nervousness and excitement. From inside, she heard the unmistakable thudding of tiny feet—running, stomping, probably jumping on something they shouldn’t. Her face broke into a wide grin. Before she could knock again, the door flung open. Levi stood there, eyes wide, arms outstretched. “Irene! You’re back!” Irene laughed, practically jumping forward to hug her. “Girl! I’ve missed you like crazy.” Levi pulled back with a smirk. “Missed me? You were gone for, what, two days? Please. Acting like you left for a whole year.” “Two days too long,” Irene teased, brushing past her into the house. “Where are my babies?” Levi shut the door behind her with a little dramatic click. “Mmm... I think you’ve got some serious begging to do first.” “Begging?” Irene frowned, confused. “What do you mean?” “They’re upstairs,” Levi said, walking ahead. “But brace yourse
Irene was still replaying the humiliating moment on the plane in her mind when the car rolled to a smooth stop in front of an opulent five-star resort. The towering building loomed before them, bathed in golden lights, its grand entrance adorned with luxury cars and uniformed doormen assisting well-dressed guests. She barely had time to adjust to the sight before Mr. Blackwood stepped out, straightening his cuffs as if this were just another mundane stop on his schedule. Irene hesitated. She didn’t belong in places like this. The marble floors, the crystal chandeliers visible from the entrance, the air of exclusivity—it all screamed money. And not the casual kind. The kind that whispered in private jets and dined on meals worth more than her monthly rent. Swallowing hard, she gathered her courage and stepped out of the car. The moment she did, she felt entirely out of place. Even in the sleek black dress, which now felt like a poor attempt at blending in, she stuck out. She was st