When M''s phone rang, Adrian was in her bedroom, so he naturally overheard the entire conversation.


    Adrian was ying a video game and shook his head, saying, "Yeah, she said I was supposed to have dinner with my great-aunt. I don''t even remember her, probably one of Mom''s rtives."


    "Great-aunt?" Giselle mused, puzzled.


    One of Giselle''s goals for her trip back was to ensure M was left with nothing. She had enlisted Ryan''s help long ago to dig into M''s background. What they found was an ordinary family, and she thought she knew all the close rtives. A great-aunt was news to her. But now wasn''t the time to dwell on it.


    "Adrian, if your mom''s calling you, it seems she''s forgiven you for making her faint. If you go back now, maybe your dad won''t be so hard on you," Giselle suggested, testing the waters.


    Adrian shook his head quickly. "No way. My dad is mad because I didn''t listen to him. Whether mom forgave me or not doesn''t change that. I can''t go home yet."


    He shivered at the thought of being hauled to his stern grandfather''s ce. Looking at Giselle with puppy eyes, he asked, "Giselle, am I bothering you by staying here?"


    Hearing how low M''s status was within the Montgomery family always delighted Giselle. Her eyes crinkled with satisfaction as she reassured him, "Of course not. Stay as long as you want; this is your home too."


    "Giselle, you''re the best!" Adrian eximed, bouncing into her arms with delight.


    As sheforted him, Giselle gently introduced her suggestion, "Adrian, how about I take you there tomorrow?"


    "Huh?" Adrian hesitated.


    He wanted his mom and Giselle to get along better so he wouldn''t have to sneak around to visit Giselle. But he also didn''t want to upset his mom after so long.


    Sensing his hesitation, Giselle amended her offer, "I won''t interfere when you meet your mom. I just want to make sure you get there safely. I''ll leave once you''re there and arrange for the driver to pick you up after dinner."


    Adrian was moved by her words and readily agreed.


    With a smile, Giselle kissed his cheek. She was curious about M''s supposed family connections. Wasn''t it said that she had severed ties with her blood rtives long ago?


    Nevertheless, can such bonds ever truly be cut?


    Giselle''s lips curled into a sly smile.


    ...


    The next day, around noon.


    M arrived early at the hotel her grandaunt had booked, eagerly waiting for Adrian.


    Jade, the grandaunt, was brimming with anticipation to finally meet her grand- nephew. She had wanted to wait outside too, but M insisted that she stay inside, away from the biting cold.


    Adrian arrived nearly an hourte. The car that brought him wasn''t one of the familiar Montgomery family vehicles, but M assumed it was one of Lysander''s new purchases and thought nothing of it.


    As soon as Adrian hopped out of the back seat, he dashed into her arms.


    "Mom!"


    Hugging the small, warm bundle that was Adrian, M felt a tightness in her chest.


    It had been too long since she had held her child.


    She took a deep breath to steady her emotions, then took Adrian''s gloved hand and led him into the hotel.


    What she didn''t notice was the ck car lingering by the curb. As she turned away, a window rolled down ever so slightly, revealing Giselle''s cold, calcting gaze, her eyes drilling into M''s back with icy intensity.