chapter 4

Elara remained silent, too stunned by the sudden attack.

"Mom, why is that lady so angry?" Ollie asked in fear.

Miss Riley tried to intervene. "Miss Amanda, please calm down—"

"No, Miss Riley! How dare this poor woman touch Anya!" Amanda, Anya's aunt, snapped at Elara again. "I know exactly what you are doing! You are trying to suck up to a wealthy family to get a reward, aren't you?"

Instead of arguing, Elara focused on comforting her son, shielding him from the screaming adult.

She looked at Ollie gently. "Ollie, that lady is acting like that because she is sick and refused to take her medicine. Shh, let's go," she whispered.

Ollie looked at her with an understanding gaze. If he got sick, he had to take his medicine. Otherwise, he would turn into a crazy adult like Anya's aunt.

On the other hand, even though it was just for a second, Elara caught Anya giggling at her remark.

Just as Elara turned around to leave, her footsteps suddenly stopped, and she took a few steps back.

A tall, broad-shouldered man stood right in front of her.

The stranger was well over six feet tall. His shoulders were broad, his physique perfectly proportioned, with a sharp, defined jawline. The formal suit he wore looked incredibly expensive, adding to his cold and untouchable aura.

But the most striking thing about him was his piercing gaze and mysterious calmness.

His eyes showed zero emotion as he observed Elara and Ollie. Elara swallowed hard, a shiver running down her spine. Even though the man was undeniably handsome, to Elara, he looked terrifying.

"Daddy!" Anya suddenly cheered, running toward the man. She reached out her tiny arms, hoping to be picked up.

However, the man she called Daddy only looked at her for a brief moment before grabbing her hand with a firm grip.

"Let's go, Anya. We are going home." His voice was deep and heavy, completely lacking any warmth.

Amanda, who was still furious at Elara, immediately approached the man and complained in a bitter tone. "Cassian! That poor woman took Anya away and fed her junk food. She definitely had bad intentions!"

Cassian Kenneth, the man Anya called Daddy, stopped in his tracks and slowly turned his head.

His gaze fell back on Elara and Ollie, observing them as if he was contemplating something.

Elara's heart beat faster. Was this man going to report her? Accuse her of kidnapping and feeding Anya inappropriate food?

Out of reflex, Elara pulled Ollie closer to her body, hiding the little boy behind her. Her blood ran cold, and cold sweat started forming on her back even though the weather was not hot.

Cassian watched her movements with a sharp gaze. Then, faintly, he let out a slight smirk.

Without saying a single word, he turned back around and led Anya into the waiting luxury car.

Over on the side, Amanda still looked entirely displeased as she walked away from Elara. Her face was red with anger, unable to accept that Cassian chose to stay silent and do nothing to Elara.

"Are you okay, Ollie's mom?" Miss Riley's voice sounded worried. Her eyes were still glued to the street, staring at the spot where the luxury car had just disappeared.

Just like Elara, she also felt the lingering coldness after the arrival of Anya's father, a mysterious figure who had never once shown up at the school before.

Elara let out a soft sigh, trying to calm herself down. She could see the uneasiness on Miss Riley's face.

"I am fine. How about you, Miss Riley?" she asked.

Miss Riley turned and gave a small smile, though she still looked awkward. "I am okay too... just a bit shocked."

"Mom... are you okay?" Ollie whined, suddenly interrupting. His eyes were full of anxiety after hearing Miss Riley's concern for his mother.

Elara smiled, gently stroking her son's hair. "Mom is perfectly fine, sweetie."

Ollie looked at his mother doubtfully but finally gave a slow nod.

"We will get going now, Miss Riley. Thank you." Elara took Ollie's hand, then looked down at her son. "Come on, sweetie, say goodbye to Miss Riley."

Meanwhile, inside the black luxury car gliding smoothly down the city streets, Cassian Kenneth let Anya doodle on his palm with colorful markers. Even though he looked indifferent, his mind was still filled with annoyance.

Earlier, he had been in the middle of a very important meeting. Everything was going according to plan until his phone suddenly buzzed, and Amanda's name flashed on the screen.

He almost ignored it. But Amanda was not the type to call him without a pressing reason.

The moment he heard the news from Amanda, he left the boardroom without a second thought.

Now, inside the moving car, his thoughts were still spinning. His eyes shifted from his tablet screen to Errol, a burly man built like an executioner who had been his loyal assistant for years.

"Make sure the teacher stays quiet," he ordered Errol. Anya's identity as his daughter had to remain hidden.

"Understood, sir."

"And find out everything about the woman who took Anya," he continued.

Errol, who was just as cold as his boss, nodded without asking any further questions.

"That lady is Ollie's mom," a small voice chimed in from beside him. Anya was still busy with her scribbles.

Cassian raised an eyebrow. The name sounded familiar. It was a classmate his daughter often talked about.

"Ollie?"

"Yes, Daddy. The crybaby boy at school," Anya answered flatly. The little girl completely ignoring the fact that she was a kid herself.

"Anya, if you disappear again, I will not come. So do not pull a stunt like that at your new school."

Anya's tiny hand immediately stopped drawing. The girl looked down, her lips forming a pout.

In silence, she slowly shifted her position, moving away from Cassian, showing her silent protest.

She just wanted her Daddy to pay attention to her. Every day, she saw her friends hugging their moms, laughing together and going home. Anya didn't even have a mommy. She only had her Daddy, but he was always distant, always busy, and rarely played with her.

Cassian glanced briefly at his daughter but said nothing.

He left the little girl alone with her disappointment. To him, discipline was more important. He didn't want Anya to grow up into a spoiled child.

That night, while Elara was keeping Ollie company by reading a bedtime story, the sound of Garrett's car echoed as it pulled into the driveway.

As usual, her husband came home late. For the past two years, Garrett often did not come home, using out-of-town work as an excuse.

In the past, Elara used to ask what kind of job required him to travel so far and so frequently.

But Garrett's answer was always harsh.

"Why do you need to know? Even if I told you, you wouldn't understand!"

Since then, Elara stopped asking. Maybe it was true, she wouldn't understand.

Garrett's calm footsteps walked in, passing by her and Ollie without a single greeting. However, he suddenly stopped.

"There is something for you in the car. I forgot to bring it in," he said briefly.

Elara turned her head. "Wait here a second, sweetie," she whispered to Ollie.

Elara got up to fetch the item Garrett had mentioned. Perhaps it was something for the house, like groceries or kitchen supplies.

But, when she opened the car door, something unexpected greeted her.

A shopping bag containing a pastel-colored dress, complete with a matching delicate silk scarf, sat on the passenger seat.

Elara froze. Her hand touched the soft fabric, and without realizing it, a smile bloomed on her face.

Since when did Garrett start thinking about giving her things? Was it possible that her husband was finally starting to show a little care for her?

However, before that feeling of happiness could truly take root, something glittering under the car's interior light caught her eye.

Even a woman who never wore makeup would know that it was a liquid lipstick tube.

Elara reached out, picking up the small object. Her fingers, roughened by daily household chores, touched its smooth surface.

Elara stared at the tube in silence. There was still some red liquid left on the tip of the applicator.

The item clearly did not belong to her.

Whose lipstick is this? Elara thought in confusion