Headquarters Office.


    After skimming the new project proposal and Giselle Harvey''s Al Automation Coverage n on her desk, M Suthend pushed the papers back toward Randall McKenna and, for the second time, gave a firm, unambiguous answer.


    "No."


    "Mr. McKenna, I''ve told you a dozen times—your team just doesn''t have the technical backing for this project. No matter how you tweak the proposal, it''s a money pit. Are you out of your mind? Can''t you find something better to do?"


    Her tone was edged with impatience.


    As a major shareholder who''d given years to thepany, M tried not to sound too harsh, but Randall''s stubbornness was beyond reason. She was reaching her limit.


    Had Giselle put some kind of spell on him? Or was he just being an idiot?


    "But you can see for yourself, this project has real potential. It''s worth giving a shot-we could start with a small investment, see how it goes, and then..."


    Randall barely got the words out before his phone vibrated on the desk. He nced at the screen, intending to ignore it, but after reading the message, he muttered a quick apology to M and stepped out to take the call.


    Finally, some peace and quiet.


    M waved Cara in to tidy up the scattered paperwork and nced at the clock on the wall. Just a little longer and she could leave to pick up Adrian Montgomery from school.


    She actually had a free evening for once. Maybe she''d take Adrian out for dinner -do something fun together.


    It had been a while since she''d spent any real time with her son. Now that she was finally back in the country, she needed to make up for lost time. Pulling out her phone, she started searching for kid-friendly activities around town.


    Just then, the door mmed open. Randall stormed back in, his face thunderous as he red at her. "Chairman Suthend, if you don''t like me or my proposals, just say so. You don''t need to resort to these underhanded tricks or take it out on my kid!"


    M blinked. "Excuse me?"


    Take it out on who?


    She opened her mouth to ask what he was talking about, but Randall was already storming out, practically mming the door off its hinges.


    Leonard stepped in just as Randall exited, calm as ever. "Chairman Suthend, the school just called. There''s been an incident-Adrian got into an argument, maybe even a fight."


    "What?"


    ...


    "What happened exactly?"


    In the car on the way to the school, M leaned forward from the back seat, questioning Leonard as he drove. Cara, up front, was busy on the phone with the school.


    Over the years, with M often abroad, Adrian''s school matters had mostly been handled by the Montgomery family and Leonard. After all, Adrian was the only heir to the family name. The Montgomerys took it seriously.


    M wasn''t usually worried. But now-what on earth had happened? An argument? A fight?


    "I only caught the basics," Leonard replied, eyes on the road. "Didn''t want to


    waste time in case it turned serious, so I called you right away. Not sure about the details."


    "Is this a regr thing?" M asked.


    "...I don''t think so," Leonard said.


    "You don''t think so?" M''s voice sharpened.


    "Chairman Suthend," Leonard said, steady as ever, "I''m not entirely sure. Adrian''s always done well in school-good grades, popr, noints from the staff. As for himself... he sometimes tells me he doesn''t want to go to school, but I always thought that was just childish sulking. Other than that, I don''t know."


    Doesn''t want to go to school?


    M remembered Adrian mentioning he wanted to study abroad. Was it more than just a desire to spend time with her? News headlines


    shed through her mind-bullying, school conflicts, all the usuab worries. But Adrian wasn''t the type to let people walk all over him.


    He was just like his father, and M couldn''t deny it: not just the looks, but the stubborn streak too. If someone really crossed him, he''d say something. So was this the first time?


    No point specting. M urged Leonard to drive faster. They needed to get to the school and see for themselves.


    ...


    Sunnybrook Elementary.


    The moment M stepped into the nurse''s office, she froze at the chaotic scene. Two boys, both with bruised faces and puffy eyes, were being kept apart by teachers.


    So it really was a fight!


    "Mom!"


    As soon as Adrian saw her, he barreled across the room, clutching her waist and bursting into loud, blubbering tears. His words tumbled out between sobs, "Mom, they were mean to me they hit me! I lost my tooth!"


    That was all M needed to hear.


    She immediately knelt down, gently cupping Adrian''s battered face. His upper lip was bloodied, and sure enough, one of his front teeth was missing, leaving him lisping through his tears.


    Her anger red. How could someone hit a child this hard?


    "Ms. Suthend, if I could just exin—" the teacher began, her face tense, but


    the door banged open before she could finish.


    Randall swept in, looking furious, with two hulking bodyguards on his heels. "Where''s my son?"


    "Dad! Waaaaaah!"


    Parker McKenna, just as bruised and battered as Adrian, had been quietly dabbing at his eyes. At the sight of his father, he broke downpletely, wailing even louder than Adrian, "Dad, Adrian hit me! And he caffed me names!"