Chapter 7.

As soon as the door to the VVIP room closed behind me, the noise from the corridor and Kael’s shadow instantly vanished. Darren, who was sitting on the plush sofa, immediately turned his head, his eyes lighting up the moment he saw me enter.

“Mommy!” he called cheerfully, proudly showing off the bowl of ice cream in his hands. “Did Uncle leave already?”

I offered him a warm smile—a genuine smile I always reserved especially for my little son. I walked closer, sat down beside him, and gently stroked his soft hair.

“Yes, sweetheart. Uncle has already left. He was just a guest who came to the wrong address,” I replied softly, soothing his innocent curiosity.

Lidya stood a few steps away near the window, holding her tablet with a serious expression. After making sure Darren was once again focused on his ice cream, I signaled to Lidya with my eyes to come closer.

“How did the investors respond after the presentation earlier?” I asked in a low voice.

“Very positively, Madam,” Lidya whispered professionally. “Five major New York consortiums have already signed preliminary agreements for the distribution of Alder Corp.’s herbal products. However…” Lidya let her sentence trail off for a moment, looking at me hesitantly.

“However, what?”

“Mr. Kael just contacted our secretarial team. He submitted an acquisition offer for exclusive distribution rights with an investment value twice the market price. He has even cleared his entire schedule this week just to request a special meeting with you.”

I let out a faint scoff. It was an entirely predictable reaction from a man like Kael Gostav. That man had always believed that money, power, and business dominance could buy anything—including the chance to control my life once again.

“Reject his offer,” I said coldly, without the slightest hesitation. “Tell his secretary that Alder Corp. does not accept partnerships from companies led by executives who cannot distinguish professional matters from personal emotions.”

Lidya nodded obediently. “Yes, Madam. I’ll convey it formally.”

The next day, I sat in the study of my hotel suite while enjoying a glass of warm tea. In front of me, Lidya presented a report on the New York market’s developments, including the latest news making the rounds among the business elite that morning.

“There’s a major rumor circulating from yesterday’s exhibition, Madam,” Lidya said as she handed me a summary document. “Mr. Kael’s attitude of ignoring the investors yesterday just to pursue you apparently triggered a massive argument at Gostav Group’s headquarters.”

I raised one eyebrow, signaling for her to continue.

“According to our internal sources, Merry Dacko stormed into Kael’s office in hysterics yesterday afternoon after seeing your photo on the cover of New York’s leading business magazine,” Lidya continued calmly.

“Their marriage, which has always appeared perfect in the public eye, is reportedly suffering a severe breakdown. Mr. Kael even threatened to throw her out of the office.”

I leaned back against the chair, a faint, cold smile forming on my lips.

The betrayal they had built upon my suffering five years ago was apparently so fragile. With nothing more than my return to this city as a powerful woman, the foundation of their false marriage had immediately begun to tremble violently. I could feel that Kael was beginning to realize his foolishness, while Merry was starting to fear losing her luxurious position.

“Then, what is Kael’s next move?” I asked flatly.

“Mr. Kael is reportedly mobilizing the best private detective network in New York,” Lidya replied. “He is no longer focusing on his business. His top priority right now is tracking down all of your medical records and Darren’s birth records in France.”

My heart beat with an utterly calm rhythm. There was no panic within me. Before I set foot back in New York, I had already hired a team of lawyers and international privacy experts to tightly secure all of the medical documents and Darren’s birth certificate. According to French legal documents, Darren Cleosan had only one parent: Aluna Cleosan.

“Let him work as hard as he wants,” I whispered, gazing at the New York skyscrapers through the glass window. “The harder he searches, the deeper the frustration and regret that will destroy him.”

I slowly took a sip of my tea. Kael might think he could penetrate the fortress I had built over these five years. But he did not realize that this game was no longer about him being the one in control.

Now, I was the one who would decide when and how the kingdom he was so proud of would crumble.