Lydia


    “Lydia?” That voice had me frozen in ce. I turned slowly, my heart pounding against its rib cage, only to see a familiar face-one I hadn’t seen in years.


    Priest John.


    He stood a few feet away, looking just as he did back then. A little older, maybe, but still the same gentleman who used to visit the orphanage, bringing food and prayers.


    For a split second, I almost ran to him. I just wanted to wrap my arms around him like a child who finally found home. But then I remembered I wasn’t that child anymore. And if I hugged him, if I let him see that I remembered him, it would mean exposing myself to someone.


    He would know who I was, and to the world, Lydia is dead. Until theunch, I cannot let a single soul know of that.


    So, I swallowed down my emotions, straightened my back, and let the cold, distant expression take over my face. “I’m sorry,” I said smoothly. “I think you have the wrong person.”


    He blinked, taken aback. “You… you don’t know me?” I shook my head.


    His face fell slightly. “I see.” I forced a polite smile. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m quite busy.” He looked like he wanted to say more, but I turned away before he could.


    I walked past him without another nce, my heels clicking against the floor. Every step away from him felt heavier, but I didn’t stop. I kept my head high, pretending not to care.


    But inside, I was already whispering an apology. “I’m sorry, Priest John. I do remember you,” I said to him in my mind.


    “I remember every prayer you said for us. Every meal you brought when the orphanage barely had enough to eat.” I sighed, turning to see his fallen shoulders.


    “But I can’t be that girl anymore. Especially not when I was standing in the same airport as him.”


    Mason.


    My fists clenched as I turned my attention back to where he stood with his girlfriend. There he was, standing in the middle of the arrivals hall, a bouquet of roses in his hands as he offered them to his all smiles girlfriend.


    It seems Victoria would be delighted with this one, the perfect daughter-inw she had craved for all these years.


    My nails dug into my palms. How nice. How perfect. I can already hear wedding bells ring.


    Mason Woods, the man who had once promised me the world, the man who had kissed me with the same lips, now standing there, looking like a doting boyfriend.


    A caring man. I almostughed at the irony.


    When we were dating, he used to bring me flowers, too-roses, lilies, whatever he thought I’d like. But after marriage?


    Nothing. No flowers, no attention. Just distance. Coldness. Indifference. And now here he was, smiling at her like she was the best thing that had ever happened to him.


    I watched as he took her hand, leading her out of the airport like the perfect gentleman. I watched as he opened the car door


    for her as if he cared. As if he hadn’t spent years pretending I didn’t exist after attempting to murder me.


    The anger in me boiled, but I forced myself to breathe. Not here. Not now. I needed to leave.


    I turned away before I did something reckless, staying out of sight in the airport, waiting for him to be gone.


    And soon enough, he was.


    The moment his car disappeared, I let out a slow breath, pressing a hand to my chest. I didn’t have time to focus on him; my children were arriving soon, and they were all that truly mattered.


    When their flightnded, I stood near the gate, my hands tightening around my purse, waiting agitatedly. Then, I saw them.


    Mom came first, walking ahead, scanning the crowd.


    And then-


    “Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!”


    Mnie’s voice. I barely had time to react before she ran toward me, her little arms outstretched. I dropped to my knees, catching her just in time.


    She held on tightly, her small body feeling even tinier in my arms. “Mommy,” she whispered, pressing her face against my shoulder.


    “I’m here,” I murmured, stroking her hair. “I’m here, baby.” I lifted my head and found Liam standing a few feet away; his expression was guarded, as usual, whenever he wasn’t in his natural habitat.


    But the moment our eyes met, I saw just how much he missed me in those orbs. I reached out a hand. “Liam.”


    He hesitated for a second before finally stepping forward, letting me pull him into the hug, too. “I missed you,” I whispered. Mnie squeezed me tighter. “We missed you too.”


    I swallowed the lump in my throat. Mom gave me a knowing look but said nothing, simply cing a hand on my shoulder.


    I stood up, adjusting Mnie in my arms. “Come on. Let’s go home.”


    But first… I looked down at Mnie, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “How are you feeling, sweetheart?”


    She hesitated. “Better.”


    I nced at Mom.


    She sighed. “We should take her to see the doctor.”


    I nodded. “Then that’s where we’re going first.”


    Mnie pouted. “But―”


    “No buts,” I said gently. “I just want to make sure you’re okay.”


    She huffed, crossing her arms. “Fine,” Liam smirked. “You’re so dramatic.”


    “I’m not!”


    “Yes, you are.”


    I shook my head, guiding them toward the exit. As much as I hated hospitals, I needed to know Mnie was okay. Because no matter what happened, no matter how much my past haunted me, my children would alwayse first.


    The day of theunch was nothing short of chaotic.


    From the moment I stepped into Kavas Corporation’s headquarters that morning, I barely had time to breathe. Meetings,st-minute adjustments, calls with investors-every single detail had to be perfect.


    And I wouldn’t have it any other way.


    Mom had stayed back at the hospital to watch over Liam and Mnie. The doctor had given me some hope. He said that if Mnie was taken care of properly, she might not need another surgery. It was the only good news I had received all day.


    But there was no time to dwell on that now.


    Theunch party was set to take ce on thest floor of the building. Only the most important guests were invited: business moguls, investors, industry leaders. The media would be there, too, but only the ones I approved.


    This wasn’t just a businessunch.


    It was a statement.


    Kavas Corporation wasn’t just entering the industry—it was taking over. And there was nothing Woods Enterprises could do


    about it.


    I sat in my office on the top floor, watching the event unfold through the security cameras on my tablet. The ballroom was already filling up, guests dressed in expensive suits and gowns, champagne sses in hand as they whispered about the mysterious CEO who had risen out of nowhere.


    My name was on everyone’s lips, yet none of them knew my face. Not yet.


    A knock on my office door made me look up. Mia peeked her head in. She had arrived just yesterday for theunch party as I was now making this branch in New York our headquarters. “Everything is running smoothly,” she said. “No issues so far.”


    I nodded. “Good.”


    She hesitated. “Also… you might want to look at this.”


    I raised a brow as she walked over, cing her tablet on my desk. I nced at the screen, and there he was.


    Mason woods.


    Standing right outside the entrance to the ballroom. I felt my lips curl into a slow smile. He looked pissed.


    The security guards stood in front of him, arms crossed, clearly not letting him in. His brows were furrowed, his jaws were clenching and unclenching, and beside him, Julia looked equally humiliated.


    I tapped into the audio feed.


    “This is ridiculous,” Mason snapped. “Do you even know who I am?” One of the guards barely blinked. “Your name’s not on the list, sir, and you have not been invited.”


    Julia crossed her arms. “We shouldn’t even need an invite. This is an industry event.” The guard’s expression remained nk. “The CEO has made it clear-invitation only.”


    Mason let out a sharp breath. “Call whoever is in charge,” Mia smirked. “Should we let them rot out there a little longer?”


    I tapped my fingers on the desk, watching Mason shift on his feet, clearly ufortable. I had known he woulde.


    And I made sure that the event was exclusive. It was all part of the n. Nothing felt better than watching Mason Woods feel small for once.


    Still, I wanted to see how far he would go. I leaned back. “Let’s make him wait five more minutes.” Mia grinned. “You’re evil.” I smirked. Five minutester, a call came through from security. I picked up. “Yes?”


    “Miss Alissa, Mason Woods is at the entrance. He’s demanding to be let in.” I let a short silence fill the air before responding. “Let him in.”


    The guard hesitated. “And his plus one?” I looked at Julia, who was clinging onto Mason’s arm as her life depended on it.


    “Yes. Let them both in.” I hung up.


    Mia gave me a look. “You want them here?”


    I stood up, smoothing out my dress. “Oh, Mia,” I said, picking up my tablet again and watching as Mason and Julia were finally granted entry.


    “This is exactly what I wanted.”