"Mommy, can you help me pull this T-shirt down, please?" Leo called out, his voice slightly muffled as he struggled, half-stuck in his Hello Kitty T-shirt after freshening up from school.
Ivy couldn't help but smile at his clumsiness. Walking over, she gently helped him adjust it.
"Ouch!" Leo suddenly squeaked when she caught hold of his hand while pulling the shirt down.
"Leo, what happened?" Ivy's smile faded instantly and frowned, turning his hand over.
That's when she saw it—a small bruise on his palm.
'Is this why he was hiding his hand behind? So I couldn't see it'
"Did this happen during physical training?" Her gaze slowly lifted from his hand to his eyes.
Leo pursed his lips… then nodded.
Ivy sighed.
"You shouldn't be reckless, Leo," she said softly, holding his wrist and guiding him toward the bed.
Since Ivy was already familiar with the room from by now, she opened the side drawer and found a first-aid kit without trouble.
"Come, sit here," she instructed, applying ointment carefully to his palm.
"Mommy, I wasn't reckless," Leo said quickly. "It's just that… someone was being naughty."
Ivy's brow arched.
"What does that mean?"
Leo froze for a second, as if he had said too much. Then he quickly smiled.
"Nothing."
Ivy narrowed her eyes slightly but said nothing as she placed the first-aid box back in the drawer.
"You're quite clever with your words, Leo," she said, turning to face him again. "But there's something Mommy wants you to remember."
Leo looked up at her, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"All ears, Mommy," he said eagerly.
Ivy glanced at his injured hand again.
She still wasn't convinced he got hurt during class. But more than that—she didn't want him to grow into someone who silently endured pain.
Holding his hand gently, she met his gaze.
"When someone tries to be naughty," she said calmly, "make sure you outsmart them. That's the only way to teach them a lesson."
Leo's eyes widened in admiration.
"Oh… Mommy, you're so smart!" he said, giving her an enthusiastic thumbs-up. "I promise I'll remember this!"
Ivy let out a soft sigh, watching him all smiling.
She knew he didn't fully understand that she had already seen through his lie. But then, what did she expect from a six-year-old?
Never mind, she thought.
For now… this was enough.
Leo sat there for a moment, his eyes sparkling—not with innocence this time, but with something far more mischievous.
Then suddenly—
"Mommy!" he called out, straightening up. "I have an idea!"
Ivy raised a brow. "That sounds dangerous already."
Leo gasped dramatically. "It's not dangerous! It's educational."
"…That's even more suspicious," Ivy muttered under her breath.
But Leo was already bouncing slightly in excitement.
"Let's play a game!" he announced. "So I can show you that I understood what you said."
Ivy crossed her arms, watching him carefully. "A game?"
"Yes!" Leo nodded eagerly. "You said when someone is naughty, I should outsmart them, right?"
"I did."
"So we'll play a game where you act like the naughty person," he explained with great seriousness, "and I will outsmart you."
Ivy blinked, but soon a faint smirk tugged at her lips.
"Alright," she said, leaning back slightly. "And how exactly do you plan to outsmart me?"
Leo's expression turned thoughtful. He tapped his chin, pacing a little like a tiny strategist.
"Hmm… okay," he said finally. "Rule number one—you can't use your strength. Only your brain."
Ivy tilted her head. "Fair."
"And rule number two…" He paused, then pointed at her. "You have to try to trick me."
Ivy chuckled softly. "So I'm the villain now?"
"No," Leo said confidently. "You are my ninja."
Ivy leaned forward slightly, resting her elbow on her knee.
"Alright then," she said, her tone turning playful yet sharp. "Let's see what you've got, Leonard Emerson."
Leo grinned, ready to prove to Ivy that he had learned his lesson, but she had no idea what Leo had planned.
***
Later that evening, Xander wrapped up his work just as Taylor stepped in with a reminder.
"Boss, your meeting with Elder Emerson is scheduled for this weekend," he said.
"I remember," Xander replied, already grabbing his coat as he walked out of the office.
But the moment they got into the car, Xander noticed Taylor hesitating.
"What is it, Taylor?"
Taylor shifted in his seat, glancing at him through the rearview mirror.
"Boss… are you sure you don't want to postpone the meeting?"
Xander frowned slightly. "And why would I do that?"
Taylor hesitated again, clearly choosing his words carefully.
"Well… Miss Ivy was just discharged from the hospital. And she's… uh…"
"She's what?" Xander asked, his tone sharpening.
Taylor cleared his throat. "She's… different."
Xander leaned back, unimpressed. "Be specific."
Taylor let out a breath. "Okay, I'm just going to say it."
He didn't say anything for a few seconds, but then he suddenly spoke up.
"…She feels possessed."
Silence filled the car.
Xander blinked once.
"…Excuse me?"
"I'm serious, boss!" Taylor insisted, turning halfway in his seat. "The way she was looking at me this morning—I swear I felt my soul leave my body for a second."
Xander stared at him, completely unamused.
"That's called fear, Taylor."
"No, no," Taylor shook his head vigorously. "This wasn't normal fear. This was… supernatural fear. Like I offended her in a past life or something."
Xander exhaled slowly, already regretting asking.
"And what exactly made you come to that conclusion?"
Taylor raised a finger, counting dramatically.
"First—she smiles, but her eyes don't. That's already suspicious."
"Second—she looks at me like she knows all my secrets. Boss, I don't even know all my secrets."
"And third—" he lowered his voice slightly, "—I'm pretty sure she was imagining ways to kill me."
Xander pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Taylor."
"Yes, boss?"
"You're being ridiculous."
Taylor immediately turned defensive. "I'm not! You didn't see her! If she ever joins the company, half the employees will resign out of fear."
Xander shot him a flat look. "Or maybe they'll finally start working properly."
Taylor paused. "…That's actually a fair point," he admitted.
Xander leaned back again, his expression returning to its usual calm.
"Postponing the meeting has nothing to do with Ivy," he said. "Handle your fear separately."
Taylor sighed dramatically. "I'm not afraid… I'm just… respectfully concerned for my safety."
Xander didn't respond. But for a brief moment a faint image crossed his mind.
Ivy.
The way she spoke. The way she looked at him. The way she had stood her ground without hesitation. And then that moment last night.
His jaw tightened slightly.
"…Focus on the road," he said coldly.
"Yes, boss," Taylor muttered, turning back properly.
But under his breath Taylore muttered. "I'm telling you… something's different about her."
And for once—Xander didn't completely dismiss it.