Chapter 2: Five Years Later

“Mommy! Leo won’t give me back my tablet!”

“Luna, stop yelling. I’m trying to finish this puzzle, and you’re breaking my concentration.”

“Mommy, I’m hungry! When are we eating?”

Aiden voice echoed with impatience as he shifted in his seat, glancing longingly at the plates already set on the table.

Belle massaged her temples, a tired but loving smile play on her lips. The living room was full of toys, books, and energy. Five years. It had been five long, challenging, yet incredibly beautiful years since that night.

She looked at her three miracles: the oldest, Leo, who had inherited her determination and his father’s sharp, intelligent eyes; the middle one, Aiden, calm and observant; and the youngest, Luna, the princess of the house, bubbly and affectionate. All three had the same striking facial features, the same shade of dark hair, and the same intense gaze that always made Belle's heart skip a beat.

“Alright, alright, geniuses,” she clapped her hands softly. “Breakfast is ready. And Leo, give your sister back her toy. We share in this house.” Her tone was firm but playful, a gentle reminder wrapped in warmth as she motioned them toward the table.

“Fine,” Leo sighed dramatically, handing the tablet over. “But she doesn’t even know how to code properly.”

“I do too!” Luna retorted, sticking her tongue out.

Belle shook her head, placing plates of food on the table. “Eat up, everyone. Because today is a big day.”

Aiden paused, looking at her with those serious eyes. “Is it the interview today, Mommy?”

“Yes, baby,” Belle took a deep breath, trying to hide her nervousness. “Mommy is applying for a job at a very big company. The biggest one in the country, actually. Blackwood's Group.”

“Wow,” Leo’s eyes lit up. “That’s the company run by Mr. Draven Blackwood! Some say, he’s like… the richest man in the world. He built an empire from scratch. His IQ is estimated to be over 160!”

Belle chuckled, though her stomach did a nervous flip. “Yes, well, Mommy just wants to do a good job and provide for us. If I get this job, we can have a bigger house, and you guys can go to the best schools.”

“We don’t care about houses or schools,” Luna said, munching on her toast. “We just want you to be happy, Mommy. And less tired.” Her small voice was calm but sincere, making Belle pause for a brief moment as warmth quietly softened her expression.

Her heart melted. She leaned over and kissed all three of them on the forehead. “You three are my everything. Now, finish up. Mrs. Garcia is coming to watch you while I go meet them.”

The Blackwood's Group headquarters was a towering glass monument that seemed to scrape the sky. Belle stood at the entrance, adjusting her blazer. She looked professional, capable, and beautiful, though she had tried her best to dress simply.

She walked into the lobby. The atmosphere here was cold, and intimidating. Everyone moved with purpose, and dressed in sharp business attire.

“Aurelia Belle Crawford?” a receptionist called out.

Aurelia straightened her posture, her fingers tightening slightly around the strap of her bag as she drew a quiet breath.

“That’s me.”

“Right this way. The HR Director is waiting for you.” Aurelia swallowed her nerves and stepped forward, matching the receptionist’s pace.

The interview went better than she expected. she was smart, hardworking, and had a natural talent for organization and management. She answered every question with confidence, her years of raising three children alone having taught her how to handle pressure and multitasking like a pro.

“Very impressive, Ms. Crawford,” the Director said, smiling. “We have high standards here, especially since we work directly under the CEO. But I think you are exactly what we need.”

“Really? Thank you so much!” Belle beamed, as relief washing over her.

“You can start tomorrow. You will be assigned as an Executive Assistant, reporting directly to the office of the President.”

Belle's eyes widened. “The President? M-Me? Are you sure? I am still your newly employed staff."

“Yes. He is a man of few words and high expectations, but if you work hard, you will go far here. Welcome to the team, Ms. Crawford.”

Belle left the building feeling like she was floating on cloud nine. She ran back to her car, calling her children immediately.

“Guess what, guys? Mommy got the job!”

Cheers erupted from the phone speaker. “Yay! We knew you could do it!” She can't help but smile, not only for the positivity that comes into her life, but because of the priceless joy coming from her kids.

“Tomorrow is my first day,” Belle said, starting the engine. “And get this… I’m going to be working right in the main office. For the big boss himself!” A spark of excitement flashed across her face as she tightened her grip on the steering wheel, the reality of it still slowly sinking in.

“Mr. Draven Blackwood?” Leo asked, his voice is full of awe. “Mommy, you have to take a picture of him for me! I want to see what a genius looks like!” His eyes lit up with childlike admiration, already imagining the mysterious figure behind the name.

Belle laughed. “I don’t think I’ll even see him that much, sweetheart. He’s probably super busy. You also knew that, when we try searching for him, his account is always in private. I think only his close friends knew him in person," she said it lightly, as if it didn’t matter, but there was a faint trace of curiosity lingering in her eyes as she looked from afar.

She had no idea just how wrong she was. She had no idea that the man sitting at the top of this empire, the man whose name was on every building and every newspaper, was the same man whose face she saw every single day when she looked into her children's eyes.