After checking into the Exclusive Hotel, Amelia Gray was finally beginning to settle into their suite. The journey had been long and draining, but she was relieved to finally have a moment to breathe. The presidential suite was luxurious, floor-to-ceiling windows bathed the space in golden afternoon light, and soft jazz music floated from hidden speakers. Her children had immediately scattered in three different directions the moment the door closed, claiming their temporary new territory with excited chatter.
She walked over to the elegant leather suitcase perched near the foot of the bed, ready to unpack before they made dinner plans. But the moment she unzipped it and flipped open the lid, she froze.
Her brow furrowed. Instead of the carefully folded dresses, medical journals, and her work laptop that she had meticulously packed just two nights ago, the suitcase was filled with something else entirely.
Tailored men's suits, expensive ones by the look of the fabric were lined up with military precision. Crisp white shirts, silk ties, cufflinks gleaming like miniature stars in a velvet pouch. Beneath them, rolled designer boxer-briefs, a bottle of cologne, and a leather folder. She blinked in disbelief, as if her vision would correct itself if she stared long enough.
This… was not her luggage.
With a gasp of exasperation, she slammed the lid shut so hard it echoed through the suite with a sharp bang!
"Mom?" Luther's voice came from the hallway, calm but tinged with innocent curiosity. "Everything okay in there?"
Amelia narrowed her eyes suspiciously. That tone. That too-casual innocence. Her eldest only spoke like that when he'd done something or knew something and was trying not to get caught.
"The suitcase…" she said helplessly, gesturing to the obviously high-end luggage that looked exactly like hers, same model, same navy leather exterior, even the same monogram placement, but somehow wasn't. "It's got men's clothes in it."
Adin bounded into the room, his little face scrunched up in mock confusion as he peered at the bag. "Oops," he said with exaggerated concern. "Maybe it got, uh… switched at the airport?"
Amelia narrowed her gaze further.
Ariel, ever the practical one, moved to the tag. "It says Blake Enterprises," she murmured, tilting her head. "Isn't that the company that…"
"That's not important right now," Alex interjected smoothly, cutting her off with a look. "What's important is getting Mom's stuff back."
Meanwhile, just one wall away in the neighboring suite, someone else was having an equally unpleasant surprise.
Alan Blake, CEO of Blake Enterprises, was wheeling himself through the expansive living room of his suite, already halfway through mentally reviewing the night's itinerary. "Get my stuff out, will you?" he called over his shoulder. "I want a shower before the event."
His assistant, Samuel, obediently moved to the bag. "On it, boss."
The moment Samuel unzipped the case, he froze. His posture stiffened, eyes locked on the contents like they didn't make sense.
Alan noticed the hesitation. "What's the problem?"
When Samuel didn't immediately reply, Alan rolled over to investigate for himself. He leaned forward, pulled open the lid and then recoiled.
"What the hell is this?"
Instead of his documents, suits, and presentation materials, the case was full of unfamiliar items. Designer dresses in soft pastels. High-end skincare bottles nestled among satin makeup pouches. A slim silver laptop gleamed beneath a neatly folded blouse. Then, his fingers brushed against something delicate, soft. He lifted it. A small silk sachet.
A familiar scent drifted from it. Jasmine. Vanilla. Amber.
Something tightened in his chest.
Just then, the hotel's private security guard, who had been standing nearby, stepped forward hesitantly. "Uh, sir? I saw some kids at the baggage carousel earlier. They had a suitcase identical to yours. Twins. Might've gotten swapped?"
Alan's gaze sharpened. "Twins?"
"Yeah, two of them," the guard said. "Really well-behaved kids. Same suitcase, down to the initials."
Samuel swore under his breath. "Those documents are in her case, your presentation, everything."
Alan's jaw tightened. "Great. Just great. Now my million-dollar proposal is in the hands of a woman who uses perfume that smells like temptation."
Back in Amelia's suite, Adin put on his most pitiful face.
"I'm really sorry, Mom," he mumbled, scuffing his shoe against the plush carpet. "I didn't mean for this to happen. Are you gonna ground me?"
Despite her irritation, Amelia felt her heart melt a little. Those wide, guilty eyes, he always knew how to work them. She sighed.
"Oh baby, no one's getting punished. It was an accident."
Adin's face lit up. "So… maybe we could have dinner at the fancy restaurant downstairs? You know, to make up for the whole suitcase thing."
"They have a live piano performance tonight!" Ariel added, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Luther, who had been silent the whole time, casually chimed in, "It's a four-star place. Great reviews."
Amelia looked at their hopeful faces and felt her resolve start to crumble. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
"Fine. We'll eat there tonight."
Adin and Ariel launched into an animated discussion about desserts, while Luther quietly retreated to a corner, his laptop already booting up. His fingers flew over the keys with practiced ease as he pulled up a private forum and began scanning.
Blake Enterprises Consultation Fee: $5,000,000.
Luther let out a low whistle. "Our maybe-dad really doesn't mess around," he muttered.
Still, money wasn't the point. What mattered now was leveraging this suitcase swap to arrange a meeting between Alan Blake and their mother. Amelia still had no memory of that strange night six years ago, no clue how she'd gotten pregnant.
But Luther was determined to solve the mystery.
"Sometimes being the eldest is exhausting," he thought.
Just then, Amelia's phone rang. It was her grandfather.
"Why aren't you at the cabin yet?" came the gruff, familiar voice.
"James is being difficult again, isn't he?"
"No, Grandpa," she said, smiling despite herself. "I just need to wrap up a few things first."
"And the kids?"
"They're dying to meet you."
He chuckled. "Well don't take too long. I'm not getting any younger."
After they hung up, Amelia gathered her things.
"I'll be back in time for dinner, okay?"
"Sure Mom," Luther said, smiling a little too sweetly.
Amelia raised an eyebrow. "No schemes."
"Would we ever?" he replied, hand over his heart.
Amelia stepped into the quiet hallway, mentally listing her errands: return the wrong suitcase, collect hers, pick up gifts for Grandpa, and check in with the hospital. Her heels clicked against the marble as she neared the elevator.
From the other direction, Alan approached in his wheelchair, Samuel just behind.
The elevator dinged.
Amelia stepped forward.
Alan caught a sudden drift of air as the doors opened and the scent hit him like a thunderclap. Jasmine. Vanilla. Amber.
His hand shot out.
"Stop!"
Amelia froze, startled as his fingers curled gently around her wrist. She turned—and their eyes locked.
For a heartbeat, time stilled.
Neither of them noticed the two small heads peeking around the corner, or the mischievous grins on the boys' faces.
Phase One of Operation Mom's Happiness had just officially begun.