When he was abroad, at first, he didn't harbor any improper thoughts about this single mother with a child.
But by a twist of fate, they became partners, and through their interactions, this woman's intelligence, resilience, decisiveness, and the mysterious stories hidden in her life gradually captivated him, making his heart slowly fall for her.
Vera Warner lowered her eyes, shaking her head bitterly. "I'm sorry, I don't want to think about this right now."
It wasn't that she hadn't considered Ian Lockwood.
This man was gentle and strong, a powerful support.
But... his family did care about the differences between the two of them.
"It's okay, I will always wait for you." The man, gentle yet steady as the ocean, spoke with a promise as heavy and sincere as a mountain. Seeing that Vera still wanted to say something, he had to change the subject: "By the way, what do you think about what happened today?"
Vera swallowed her words, thinking of today's incident, her expression grew a bit cold: "I already know who the mastermind is. No matter what, she shouldn't have framed Chloe—this time, I definitely won't let her off."
...
Evening, the Morgan family.
"Bang bang bang!" Victor Morgan pounded his fist on the door, his brow full of suppressed anger: "Zola Morgan, come out here!"
From inside came Zola's stubborn and cold voice: "I want to go to Mom's house!"
Mrs. Morgan was both anxious and angry: "Good grandson, your mom is right here in our home—where else do you want to go!"
"Thud!"
The door let out a huge bang, as if something crashed into it.
Zola started screaming again: "Luna isn't my mom! I want Vera to be my mom!"
Mrs. Morgan was deathly afraid her golden grandson might fall ill or something might happen again. She spun around in worry, and seeing Luna Warner standing there meekly with her head lowered, she couldn't help but lose her temper: "What kind of mother are you, making my grandson so desperate to recognize another woman as his mom?"
Luna lifted her head, fat tears rolling down her cheeks, her eyes red as she spoke aggrievedly: "Mom, Zola was fine before. Ever since she met my sister..."
Mrs. Morgan loathed Vera to the extreme, but seeing Luna cry so aggrievedly made her irritated too: "Enough! I don't know how the Warner family raised you sisters! One's vicious, the other's useless!"
Luna stood aside with her head down. At these words, a trace of malice and hatred flashed through her eyes.
She had racked her brains to please this cold-hearted old woman, yet still got scolded like this.
It's all because of that damned little bastard!
She had to find a chance to get rid of him!
Suddenly, a muffled "thud thud thud" sounded from the room, each blow making everyone's heart clench.
Mrs. Morgan feared that Zola might be hurting herself, banging her head on the wall, so she immediately tugged at Victor's sleeve: "Do something, quick!"
Victor frowned deeply. The sound of Zola hitting the wall was like a sledgehammer pounding his heart, making it ache with every thump.
Just then, the noise in the room suddenly stopped.
Mrs. Morgan's eyes went wide, knocking on the door in panic and fear: "Zola? Zola? Answer Grandma!"
Victor's heart tightened. He pushed Mrs. Morgan aside and, with his long leg, kicked hard: "Zola Morgan! Come out right now! I'll take you to Vera's house!"
The door shook with the force of the kick, but still held tight. Victor lifted his leg, ready to kick again, when suddenly the door opened from the inside.
Zola was neatly dressed and unscathed, a glint of triumph in her calm, dark eyes: "Let's go, take me to Mom!"
Victor: "..."
Where did Zola learn all this?
Watching the father and daughter leave, Luna bit her lip so hard it nearly drew blood.
After Mrs. Morgan left as well, Luna slipped into her room, took out her phone, and made a call.
"Mom..." Once she spoke, Luna's voice was choked with tears.
Her biological mother Yvonne Chapman immediately asked, "What's wrong? Is that old witch and that little bitch giving you trouble again?"
"It's Vera! Vera is back!"
Yvonne was shocked: "What! Wasn't she burned to death in the fire?"
"Maybe something happened in between." Luna's lips were bitten so hard in hatred that they bled, but she didn't care, a look of madness in her eyes: "Mom! I want Vera and Zola dead! They have to die!"
Thinking about how Zola inexplicably accepted Vera as her mother, Luna panicked.
If... Victor ever found out what she'd done back then, she would definitely be finished!
"What exactly happened?"
Suppressing her rage, Luna recounted the entire incident.
Yvonne pondered for a moment, her piercing voice laced with venom: "Don't worry. Mom will help you get rid of those two! If Vera's mother couldn't beat me, neither can she!"
Luna steadied herself: "And Ian Lockwood! Why should Vera be noticed by the heir of the Lockwood family? She deserves to be ruined and spat on by everyone!"
"By the way, Ian Lockwood's mother's birthday is coming up soon. She'll definitely send your mother-in-law an invitation. By then you should..."
Yvonne's voice gradually lowered.
Meanwhile, Luna's expression eased, a malicious smile blooming on her face!
...
"Bang bang bang!"
Three thunderous knocks jangled Vera's nerves as she came out of the kitchen carrying a tray, a frown between her brows. Who the heck is it, so rude!
"Coming!"
As soon as Vera opened the door, she was stunned.
Outside stood Victor, expressionless, carrying Zola under one arm. The father and son clearly had a falling out; their faces were both stiff as statues.
But as soon as Zola saw the door open, he looked up and grinned at Vera: "Mommy!"
Vera: "..."
She didn't let them come in right away. Instead, leaning against the doorframe, she raised an eyebrow: "President Morgan, what is this...?"
Victor, face like ice, directly threw Zola into her arms: "He's yours now."
Vera instinctively caught her, and by the next moment, Victor had already sidestepped and walked in.
"Hey—"
Zola quickly wrapped her arms around Vera's neck, blinking her big eyes with a cutesy, clueless act: "Mom, I missed you so much!"
Vera's lips twitched, and she rolled her eyes to the heavens: "I'm not your mom!"
But there was nothing she could do—she could only carry the clinging Zola inside.
Victor swept his sharp gaze around, taking in the entire apartment layout at a glance.
Although this apartment wasn't large, everything was neatly arranged, and the decor felt warm and inviting—every corner spotlessly clean.
Especially the walls, where dozens of photos hung. Each one was of Vera and Chloe Warner smiling at the camera, their mother-daughter eyes bright with laughter, making anyone who saw the pictures feel a lift in their mood.
As Victor gazed at those photos, his expression unconsciously softened.
Zola was asking at the side: "Mom, where's Luke?"
"She..."
"Hahaha, Uncle Lockwood, you're so silly! I already passed this level!"
"I was going easy on you!"
"Yeah right, you just can't admit you lost!"
From the bedroom came the laughter of an adult and a child, with Chloe Warner especially triumphant.
Before Vera could answer, Zola had already run toward the sound: "Luke! I'm coming!"
Victor's face suddenly darkened, his gaze chilling: "Ian Lockwood is still here?"