"Mommy… I'm home!"
Ivy stirred from her light sleep as Leo came running toward her.
A smile instantly spread across her face when she saw him standing in front of her.
But the moment she took a closer look—
Her brows furrowed.
"Leo, why are your clothes dirty?" she asked.
Leo glanced down, slowly hiding one of his hands behind his back.
"Oh… that," he said with an awkward smile. "We had physical training class, and I ended up falling."
He stole a quick glance at Ivy, noticing the way her eyes narrowed slightly.
Do they make them wrestle or something? She wondered, observing how only the front of his clothes had dirt on them.
Something felt off.
But she didn't press further.
She had no real idea what children did at school beyond studying, and since Leo said he fell during training, she chose to believe him.
When she didn't question him further, Leo relaxed a little and asked, "Mommy, what are you doing here?"
He had been surprised when he returned home and asked Butler Rupert about her—only to be led to the lawn, where she was lounging as if she were on a beach vacation.
"Oh, that," Ivy said casually. "I got bored sitting inside, so I came out to explore the property… and found a perfect spot to relax."
Leo's eyes lit up as he moved closer and sat beside her.
"Do you mind if I join you?" he asked.
Ivy smiled softly.
All this time, even while she had been resting, thoughts of him had kept drifting through her mind.
"Of course," Ivy said, shifting slightly to make space for him.
Leo grinned and climbed onto the chair beside her, settling his backpack aside. He settled in, leaning comfortably against her arm as if he had always belonged there.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The breeze moved gently through the lawn, rustling the leaves while the faint sound of the fountain filled the silence.
Leo sighed contentedly. "This is nice."
Ivy glanced down at him.
"It is," she admitted.
A quiet pause followed before Leo suddenly straightened, as if remembering something important.
"Mommy," he began, his tone unusually careful, "if… if someone falls at school, it's normal, right?"
Ivy's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Depends," she said calmly. "Did you fall… or were you pushed?"
Leo froze.
Just for a second.
Then he looked away, fidgeting with the plushie in his lap. "I told you… I fell."
Ivy didn't respond immediately.
Instead, she leaned back, her eyes drifting ahead as if she wasn't paying attention anymore.
"Hmm," she hummed lightly. "Because the way your clothes are dirty… and the way you hid your hand earlier…"
Leo stiffened.
"And the fact that you asked me if falling is normal," she added casually, "makes me think something else happened."
Silence.
Leo slowly peeked at her.
"…You're scary, Mommy," he muttered.
Ivy smirked faintly. "I've been told that."
By now, Ivy had confirmed one thing—
Leo was lying.
But the reason behind it… remained unclear.
***
It took Xander some time to fully accept the report Taylor had placed before him.
The DNA results were clear.
Ivy was, without a doubt, Leo's mother.
That alone was enough to keep his mind occupied—but before he could process it completely, another matter surfaced.
"Gavin has been using the Emerson name to gain investors' favor," Taylor reported, watching Xander closely. He seemed distracted.
But just as Taylor assumed he wasn't paying attention—
"He can do whatever he wants," Xander replied coolly, "as long as he doesn't bring trouble to the company."
Xander lifted his gaze, his expression composed.
Taylor nodded. "Understood."
It was no secret that the members of the Emerson family didn't see eye to eye—especially when it came to Xander.
At just twenty-six, he had taken over as President of Globe International.
And more importantly—
He had an heir.
A son who, in time, could overshadow every other claimant to the family's immense fortune.
That alone was enough to breed resentment.
Enemies weren't just outside the business world.
They were inside the family.
Smiling. Pretending.
Waiting.
Xander knew better.
He was living among snakes.
And sooner or later—
They would strike.
"Did you find the attacker?" Xander asked.
Taylor's silence said enough.
His expression fell slightly.
Xander exhaled, his patience thinning.
"Pull back the search team," he ordered. "If someone has managed to stay hidden this long… they won't be easy to find."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"But that doesn't mean they're out of reach."
The attack on Xander hadn't been the first.
But this time, things had taken an unexpected turn.
It was Ivy who had taken the bullet.
And before his men could get hold of the attacker—
She had jumped.
Yes, Xander knew one thing for certain.
The person who had attacked him was a woman.
But the bigger question remained unanswered—
Who had sent her?
"Understood, boss," Taylor said before excusing himself, leaving Xander alone with his thoughts.
And without warning, his mind drifted back—
To the first time he met Ivy.
[Flashback]
"I know you won't believe me," Ivy said, looking straight into his eyes, her voice steady. "But I'm not lying. You can ask me anything—I'll answer."
Xander remained calm, his expression unreadable as he studied her.
There was confidence in her tone.
Too much confidence.
"Then tell me," he said, his voice even. "Why now? After all these years, why did you decide to show up?"
Ivy paused.
Her gaze dropped to her fidgeting hands before she spoke again.
"Because I realized… I can't let my child stay away from his mother."
Xander found her words hard to accept.
If she was telling the truth—
Then why had she abandoned a newborn at his mansion's doorstep with nothing but a note?
I can't take care of him.
He still had that note.
Locked away.
Hidden from Leo.
And now, here she was—standing in front of him, composed, confident, claiming to be his son's mother.
It didn't make sense.
"I'll confirm it myself," Xander said, rising from his seat as he looked at her.
But before he could take a step, Ivy suddenly rushed toward him.
"Watch out!"
That was all he heard before a gunshot rang out.
The bullet tore through her back and exited through her chest.
The force sent both of them stumbling and in the next moment, Ivy collapsed, her body hitting the floor as blood rapidly spread beneath her.