Joxan scoffed and crossed his arms. "Seriously, are you even his dad? You don’t even know what your own son likes. Some father you are."
Daimon couldn't help but feel slightly embarrassed by Joxan's remark. The kid’s sharp tongue was unexpected, and it caught him off guard.
He felt a pang of guilt but quickly masked it with a stern look. Why did this little brat always find ways to put him on the spot? He was just a kid, but his words hit harder than most adults’.
Trying to change the subject, Daimon cleared his throat and asked casually, "By the way, back at the airport... Did you do it on purpose?"
Joxan froze for a moment, but then quickly put on a clueless expression. "What are you talking about? I have no idea what you mean." His eyes darted away, and before Daimon could push further, Joxan pointed at a toy on the shelf. "Oh, look! That one’s cool!"
Without waiting for a response, he bolted toward the toy aisle, clearly
"Miss Carter, congratulationsโyouโre eight weeks pregnant," the doctor announced with a warm smile. Enlyanโs heart soared as if it had grown wings. Joy surged through her, filling every corner of her being."Thank you so much, Doctor,"She said, her voice trembling with excitement. She quickly grabbed her report and stepped out of the office, her thoughts swirling with happiness.Enlyan had married Damian for three years and now they finally had their first child.Enlyan and Damianโs marriage was never built on love. It was an arrangement, a contract between two families. The idea of love or personal happiness had no place in the deal.For Enlyan, however, the situation wasnโt for business.She had harbored feelings for Damian long before their wedding. His charisma, intelligence, and commanding presence had drawn her in, and when their parents proposed the marriage, she agreed without hesitation. She believed that over time, her devotion and care would win his heart.But Damian had b
Enlyanโs heart shattered anew at the confirmation of her worst fears.The room seemed to tilt as the realization settled over Enlyan. Katrina wasnโt just any womanโshe was the one Damian had always loved, the one he had been forced to give up when their arranged marriage was imposed on him.Now, she was back, and she was everything Meye had saidโbeautiful, confident, and pregnant with the child Damian had never wanted with Enlyan."Youโve overstayed your welcome," Meye continued, her tone dripping with triumph. "Pack your things and leave before Damian asks you himself. Youโre nothing to him nowโif you ever were."Enlyan was still in shock until Damian's mother left.When Damian arrived home that evening, the faint sound of his footsteps echoed through the quiet house. Enlyan had been waiting in the living room, her hands clenched tightly together as she rehearsed the words she wanted to say. The image of him at the hospital, standing beside the woman, still burned vividly in her mind
Enlyanโs fingers tightened around her phone as the words burned into her mind. Her thoughts flashed back to Damianโs mother's scathing remarks earlier that day."You think heโll stay married to you forever? His first love is back. Itโs only a matter of time before he leaves you for good."Her mocking voices echoed in her ears, each word twisting the knife deeper into her chest.Tears welled up in her eyes, but this time they werenโt from sadnessโthey were from anger and resolve. She had endured three years of indifference, humiliation, and loneliness, believing she could somehow change Damianโs heart. But this was the final betrayal.Next morning,Enlyan stepped into the towering Blackwood Enterprises building, her heels clicking softly against the polished marble floor. The divorce papers clutched tightly in her hand felt heavier than they should, as though they carried the weight of her shattered hopes and unspoken pain.She approached the front desk, her nerves barely held in check
Five Years Later"Mr. Blackwood, this is the information about the designer sent by KM Company in London," Damian's assistant, Ertha, said, handing him a file. "She arrived in North City today. Should we send someone to pick her up?""Iris?" Damian asked, narrowing his eyes slightly."Yes, the designer Iris," Ertha confirmed with a quick nod." I heard sheโs incredibly famous abroad. The jewelry she designs are like treasures, and her name alone carries weight. If it werenโt for our collaboration with KM Group, they wouldnโt have let her come here"โWhat else do we know about her?โ Damian asked, his tone curt.Ertha hesitated, flipping through the notes. โNot much, sir. KM has been extremely protective of her identity. Iris was a jewelry designer who had risen to fame in the past three years. There are no public photos of her, no interviews, and no social media presence. But her work speaks for itself. Sheโs renowned not just for her fashion designs but also for her jewelry creations.
"Don't scare your sister," Enlyanโs voice turned firm, making Joxan close his mouth immediately.She exhaled softly and said, "I'll call Mini once weโre out of the airport. Weโll stay at her place for a few days.""Okay," Joxan mumbled under his breath, clearly distracted.Just then, his eyes caught sight of a man in the crowd. His figure was strikingly familiarโtall, imposing, and exuding a cold aura that could be felt even from a distance. The resemblance was undeniable. That had to be Damian Blackwood.Hisโฆ biological father?Joxanโs gaze flickered toward Enlyan, who was busy searching for a contact on her phone. Without hesitation, he clutched his stomach and groaned dramatically."Oh, Mommy! My belly hurts! I need to use the restroom!"Enlyan immediately looked down, alarmed to see him clutching his stomach so tightly his face was turning red. His legs rubbed together as if he was really in distress."Mommy will take you. Jes, stay here, okay? Iโll be right back."She bent down t
Damian, on the other hand, found himself inexplicably irritated.Why?That woman wasnโt Enlyan. He was certain of it.And yetโฆ why did she feel so familiar?No.He clenched his jaw and dismissed the thought.This woman was nothing more than a stranger.Right?And yetโฆIf Enlyan knew that he had deliberately approached her, she would have been thrilled. She had always worn her heart on her sleeve when it came to him.But that woman just nowโthere was nothing in her eyes. No emotion. No recognition.Still, her gazeโฆ those eyesโฆThey were just like Enlyanโs.Damian suddenly halted.Ertha, caught off guard, bumped straight into his back. "Mr. Blackwood, I'm sorry!" He quickly stepped back, rubbing his nose.But Damian wasnโt paying attention. His gaze was locked on the direction the woman had gone.She had walked off without hesitation, as if their encounter meant nothing. As if he meant nothing.She disappeared into the bathroom, but the way she movedโฆ that walk.His jaw tightened."Mr.
Meanwhile, Joxan listened to the sounds outside, his small lips curving into a victorious grin.Thatโs what you get for bullying my mom.This is what you deserve for abandoning us!This is just a small taste of whatโs coming. The real reckoning is still ahead!Joxan smirked in satisfaction, but he quickly wiped it away, replacing it with a pitiful sob. โUncle, please donโt hit me! I really didnโt mean it! Just think of it like being wet by your own son. Please donโt tell my mommyโsheโll punish me!โHis voice wobbled just enough to sound believable.Daimon, who had been furiously scrubbing his face, suddenly froze.My own son?The words hit him like a punch to the gut.If Enlyan hadnโt diedโฆ would their child be this boyโs age now?That painful memory resurfacedโthe day he found the pregnancy report hidden in her drawer. The crushing regret that followed had never left him, and it never would.His gaze drifted to the mirror. He had never looked more disheveledโhis damp hair clung to hi
Enlyan hailed a taxi, and it took them to Miniโs place. Even after five years, nothing had changed. Mini still lived in the same house, and the key was right where it had always been. With a sense of familiarity, Enlyan quickly found the key, unlocked the door, and stepped inside with her children.The two-bedroom house wasnโt large, but it felt cozy and inviting. Jessica glanced around, her eyes scanning the space before she quietly asked, โMom, whereโs my room?โEnlyan smiled gently and replied, โBabe, there are only two rooms. The one on the right is the second bedroom. I used to live in that one, so now itโs our room.โBut Jessica wasnโt thrilled. She huffed and pouted, โI donโt want to share with my brother. He bullies me!โ She screamed in protest.Joxan, already annoyed, snapped back, โWho wants to stay with you? But Mom said so, so we have to.โEnlyan chuckled, not letting their usual sibling squabbles bother her. She wasnโt surprisedโthey were always like this. She and Mini ha
Joxan scoffed and crossed his arms. "Seriously, are you even his dad? You don’t even know what your own son likes. Some father you are."Daimon couldn't help but feel slightly embarrassed by Joxan's remark. The kid’s sharp tongue was unexpected, and it caught him off guard.He felt a pang of guilt but quickly masked it with a stern look. Why did this little brat always find ways to put him on the spot? He was just a kid, but his words hit harder than most adults’.Trying to change the subject, Daimon cleared his throat and asked casually, "By the way, back at the airport... Did you do it on purpose?"Joxan froze for a moment, but then quickly put on a clueless expression. "What are you talking about? I have no idea what you mean." His eyes darted away, and before Daimon could push further, Joxan pointed at a toy on the shelf. "Oh, look! That one’s cool!"Without waiting for a response, he bolted toward the toy aisle, clearly
Mini couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Disappointment seeped into her voice. "You’re really losing it, Enlyan. After everything he did to you, you’re willing to risk it all just to see if he might change? Have you forgotten how he tore you apart before? How many sleepless nights you spent crying over him?"Enlyan closed her eyes briefly, fighting back the memories. "I haven’t forgotten. I just... can’t live my life resenting him forever. The hate consumes me, and it hurts Joxan and Jessica too. Maybe I’m being foolish, but I don’t want to pass on that bitterness to my children. They deserve to have something good, even if it’s just a fleeting moment."Mini scoffed, folding her arms tightly over her chest. "You’re too soft. You always think about giving them what you never had, but not at the cost of your own peace. Don’t you realize that man doesn’t deserve your forgiveness? Or your children’s
Enlyan glanced around the room, noticing someone missing. "Where’s Joxan?" she asked, concern flickering in her eyes.Mini smiled reassuringly as she walked closer. "He’s outside. He’ll come in a while."Just as Daimon reached the door, he nearly bumped into Joxan, who was standing there with a hesitant look on his face."Hello," Joxan greeted him, his tone neither warm nor hostile.Daimon raised an eyebrow, slightly puzzled by the boy’s attitude. "You called me?"Joxan nodded, his gaze steady despite his obvious reluctance."My name is Daimon Blackwood," Daimon replied, keeping his voice calm. "You can call me Daimon or Mr. Blackwood."He couldn’t help but feel a little annoyed by the boy’s bluntness, but at the same time, he didn’t know how to bridge the gap between them. Unlike Oasis, who had been taught by Katrina to be polite and even a little flattering, Joxan was unfiltered and direct.
Meanwhile, at the kindergarten, Joxan stepped into the classroom and instinctively glanced at Oasisโs seat, only to find it empty. A flicker of worry passed through his usually calm eyes.He approached his friend Mike, lowering his voice. "Do you know why Oasis didnโt come today?"Mike hesitated, glancing around before whispering back, "I heard his mom beat him up yesterday. He got a fever in the middle of the night, and his family asked for leave today. They said he still hasnโt woken up."Joxan's hands clenched into fists, and a wave of guilt washed over him. Oasis was beaten and got sick? His mind raced with unease, and he couldnโt focus for the rest of the day.Memories of Oasis running after him flashed through his mindโthe boyโs innocent smile and eager steps trying to keep up. Despite being Daimon's son, Oasis never acted spoiled or proud. Joxan bit his lip, realizing that, deep down, he never really hated Oasis himselfโjust the idea of being connected to Daimon.But now, knowi
Her mind whirled with schemes and calculations. One way or another, she had to find a way to get rid of Iris for goodโwithout leaving any trace that could link back to her.She stomped her foot in irritation, glaring at Oasis, who was still lying unconscious on the bed, his small face flushed with fever.โUseless!โ she muttered bitterly. โI went through hell to give birth to you, just so you could live the life of a young master. Yet here you are, lying there doing nothing. Why canโt you think of a way to help your mother for once?โOf course, Oasis didnโt respondโhe couldnโt even hear her. And even if he did, he was just a childโtoo young to grasp her cruel words. Katrina huffed in frustration, wringing her hands as she tried to come up with a plan. She couldnโt let Iris take everything from her.Just then, the door creaked open, and she heard the low murmur of voices outside. Daimon and Ertha had just come out of the study. Forcing a look of concern onto her face, Katrina hurried ov
Ertha paused and shook his head, keeping his tone neutral. "No, nothing about the company, Miss Katrina. Iโm just here to see the boss. Weโll talk later." Without giving her a chance to question him further, he quickly moved past her and entered the study.Katrinaโs heart pounded with unease as she watched him go. Something wasnโt rightโDaimonโs secrecy, the doctorโs vague explanation, and now Erthaโs haste. Her instincts screamed that there was more going on than just Oasisโs health.Katrina's heart pounded as she pressed her ear closer to the study door, straining to catch every word. The hallway was empty, and she knew she was risking a lot by eavesdropping, but curiosity burned inside her.Inside the study, Daimon's voice remained calm but razor-sharp. "So, someone tampered with the car before Iris drove it that day?""Yes, sir," Ertha confirmed. "I reported it to the police. They've started investigating, and a few witnesses mentioned seeing a suspicious figure enter the garage t
Once back at home, Daimon was greeted by Katrina, who rushed toward him with tears streaming down her face. โDaimon, I didnโt mean it. I just wanted to punish Oasis a little. I didnโt think heโd be so stubborn. Iโm sorry. I really am. Itโs my fault.โHer tears and frantic apology irritated Daimon, but he tried to keep his composure. โI know you acted out of concern. How is Oasis? Has he seen the family doctor yet?โโHeโs still being examined,โ Katrina replied, her voice trembling. Her red eyes showed genuine worry, but Daimon was too focused on the situation to respond with much sympathy. He walked briskly toward Oasisโs room with Katrina trailing behind him.Inside, Oasis lay on the bed, his face flushed with fever. He mumbled weakly, "Cold..." Daimonโs heart tightened at the sight. He placed his hand on the boyโs forehead, feeling the heat radiating off him.โIn the future, donโt touch the child like that again,โ Daimon muttered sternly to Katrina.Katrinaโs face crumpled, and she w
His words, while thoughtful, still left her feeling flustered. "I told you, I donโt need you! Why canโt you just listen to me?" Before she could finish, Daimon scooped her up effortlessly and, without another word, placed her back on the bed."If you're tired, you can rest. And if you need anything, donโt hesitate to ask. Iโm not going anywhere," Daimon said, his tone firm yet oddly considerate. He then sat down on the nearby sofa, opening her laptop and diving into his work.Enlyan lay there, feeling too embarrassed to speak as he conducted a video conference.She felt like an outsider in her own room as he casually dealt with business matters, as though she wasnโt there. But what truly surprised her was how little Daimon seemed to care about her presence. His work was on full display in front of her, with no attempt to hide the companyโs struggles."Sir, the companyโs confidential files have been leaked. The damage is already done, and the immediate loss is 300 million. What should
Enlyan watched the exchange quietly, her heart sinking further. She sneered bitterly to herself, the bitterness weighing heavily on her chest."See?" she thought. "This is the man you once loved with everything you had. This is the father of your daughter."Her eyes narrowed as she reflected on the contrast of Daimon's reaction to Oasis's fever. He was nervous, yes, but not in the way a parent should be. It was a far cry from the kind of care he wouldโve shown if it were another childโperhaps Katrina's.How could he be so indifferent to the life and death of his own flesh and blood? Even if he did care, could he truly be as worried as he would be for someone else's child?She shook her head slightly, her thoughts spiraling with the realization that the man before herโwho had once been everything to herโcould never be the father she had hoped for their child.The realization left her feeling hollow and betrayed."What happened to Oasis?" Daimon demanded, his voice low and full of fury.