Liana walked toward the car parked just outside the building and saw Alena happily playing with the toys Alex had brought.
A soft smile tugged at her lips as she saw the little girl's grin—it mirrored Ethilia's. Sliding into the car, she settled next to Alena.
"Are you happy? Did Uncle Alex bring you everything?" Liana asked, her hand gently brushing the girl's cheek.
Alena beamed, snuggling closer. In her innocent mind, she thought of Liana as a fairy godmother, just like in her storybooks.
"Yes! Uncle brought me everything. Thank you so much," Alena said with a bright giggle.
Liana's lips curved into a smile, though her resolve wavered. She lifted Alena into her lap, holding her close with a quiet, tender warmth.
"If you ever need anything, you must tell me, okay?" Liana whispered, earning another soft laugh from the girl.
"But… what should I call you?" Alena asked, looking up with her wide, trusting eyes.
Liana hesitated, searching for the right word. Before she could answer, Alex's voice came from the driver's seat. "How about… Angel?"
Both Liana and Alena turned to look at him. Alena's eyes lit up. "My angle!" she declared proudly.
Liana laughed softly, exchanging an amused glance with Alex. "Cutie, it's angel, not angle," she corrected gently.
Alena giggled again, turning back to her doll, and Liana watched her, a quiet warmth bloomed in her chest.
Just then, Alex's phone buzzed, cutting through the calm. He answered quickly, and from the backseat, Liana noticed the subtle darkening in his eyes.
Minutes later, he hung up, eyes dark, and looked toward her.
"Is… that attacker here now?" Liana whispered. Alex's slow nod made her stomach tighten.
Liana glanced at Alena, then at Alex. Taking a steady breath, she cupped Alena's cheeks. "Cutie, go with Uncle Alex for now, okay?"
Alena nodded obediently. Liana's eyes shifted to Alex. "Alex, make sure she gets to her mother safely."
"Got it," he replied, lifting Alena gently into his arms. He opened the car door and stepped out.
Liana waved, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she watched Alena go. Only when they disappeared from sight did she let her shoulders fall.
She unlocked her phone; messages from her parents and CEO stacked up, but one notification caught her eye—her best friend.
Bestu: Am I hearing right that you're back in town? OMG! I'm coming to meet you, okay?
A chuckle slipped past her lips as she typed back:
Yes, I'm back. I was about to tell you myself. But wait—how did you even get this new number?
Exhaling, she leaned back, eyes closing briefly despite the weight on her mind. The car door opened again, and Alex slid back in, giving a small nod as he restarted the engine.
Her phone buzzed once more.Bestu: Your mom gave me this number. And where are you? I'm already inside your house.
Liana smiled, a soft warmth spreading through her chest.
"Everything alright, Liana?" Alex asked, his gaze sharp.
"Yes. It's just Char," she replied, meeting his eyes. His fingers tightened on the steering wheel. "As your bodyguard, driver… and friend, I should warn you about something."
She set her phone aside, giving him her full attention. "Go ahead. You're no less than a best friend to me."
He hesitated, then spoke low. "I feel like Char is… jealous of you."
For a moment, Liana was silent. Then she broke into a laugh.
Alex pulled into the parking space, frowning. "What's funny?"
Liana shook her head, laughter softening into chuckles. "Alex, jealousy between friends is normal. Don't overthink it."
She pushed the door open, and before she could say more, Char rushed out of the house and wrapped her in a hug.
From the driver's seat, Alex's eyes sharpened. He pulled out his phone, sending a quick message to Liana's CEO. The reply came almost instantly. Without hesitation, he dialed Rio—one of Liana's bodyguards stationed in the main city.
"Get here as soon as you can," Alex ordered, his voice firm. "Keep a close watch on Liana's best friend. Track who she meets, where she goes… everything."
They walked inside the house, where Liana's mother had brought out snacks. Soon, she and Char were deep in gossip with Liana. Alex slipped away quietly, heading to his room.
He opened his laptop, replaying the very footage of the night the acid was thrown. His jaw tightened. "Still can't see his face," he muttered, leaning closer to the screen.
His gaze hardened. "That dating scandal… it wasn't just gossip, was it? Too neat. Too perfectly timed. Someone wanted her in the middle of a storm." He exhaled slowly, voice dropping lower. "And the attack… it can't be separate."
For a moment, he just stared at the frozen frame, fingers drumming against the desk. Then something clicked in his mind. He grabbed his phone, dialing quickly.
"Mark," his tone sharpened, "I'm sending you two photos. Keep a close eye on them both." He hesitated before adding, softer, "They're important to Miss Liana. More than you know."
He didn't doubt Mark. The men guarding Liana weren't just employees—they had weathered every storm with her, like family.
Meanwhile, back in the small apartment, little Alena sat at the table, happily eating the breakfast her mother had made. Ethilia, however, looked distant, her thoughts far away. The three-year-old didn't notice; she only cared about flashing her bright smile
"It's so tasty, Mommy," Alena chirped, hands sticky with food.
Ethilia smiled faintly; she hadn't touched her own plate. "You like it?" She asked, finally taking a bite herself.
Alena nodded, still sucking at her messy fingers.
Ethilia chuckled and reached for a tissue to wipe her daughter's hands. That was when Alena tilted her head and said brightly, "You know the pasta we ate last night? My angel made it."
Ethilia froze mid-motion, her heart tightening. "Angel? You mean… Liana?"
Alena bobbed her head eagerly. "Uncle Alex said she made it."
The words struck deeper than Alena could ever know. Ethilia blinked rapidly, swallowing the lump in her throat as she finished wiping the child's hands. "Are you done, baby?" she asked softly.
Alena nodded, oblivious to the guilt weighing on her mother's heart.
Ethilia gathered the plates and carried them into the kitchen. As she washed the dishes, her mind replayed Liana's voice, the words that haunted her even now:
Do you ever wonder if things would've been different… if you hadn't rejected me?
Her gaze fell to her trembling hands. She hadn't poured herself a drink before everything went wrong. And here she was, scrubbing as if she could wash away the regret.
"Yes," she whispered, her voice breaking as tears slipped down her cheeks. "I regret choosing to fit into society over choosing you."
She finished the dishes, dressed quickly, and helped Alena get ready for daycare before heading to work at the call center.
ut as she stepped into the office, her stomach dropped. Her boss was already seated at her desk, waiting.
"Sir?" she asked cautiously. "You're here?"
The manager rose with a smirk and placed a hand on her shoulder. Ethilia's body stiffened, jaw tightening, fists curling at her sides. She didn't need words to understand his intentions. Being a single mother, she had faced such predatory offers before. But this time, the insult cut deeper—her own boss.
"Come," he said smoothly. "Let's talk in my cabin."
His tone made her skin crawl. She stepped back and forced a polite smile. "If it's about work, you can say it here."
His smirk vanished, his jaw tightening. He dropped his hand and, with a sharp motion, flung a stack of papers into her face. "Look at this! You've never hit your targets. And why do you always have to be so—"
Before he could finish, Ethilia calmly reached into her bag and pulled out an envelope. She had grown used to keeping one ready.
"My resignation," she said, her voice low but firm. She crossed her arms, meeting his eyes without fear. "I know exactly what kind of man you are. When you can't get your filthy hands on someone, you hide behind excuses like this."
The manager's eyes widened, his face flushing with anger as he jabbed a finger at Ethilia. "Mind your language! At least I'm not some single parent with no idea about the other parent."
Ethilia's gasp caught the room's attention. Without hesitation, she twisted his finger sharply, drawing gasps and a few satisfied smiles. "You won't be… because you didn't carry the child yourself, you pig. And before pointing a finger at me, take a look at yourself."
Her gaze was sharp, unyielding. "You have a wife and two daughters—and yet you make moves like this on your juniors? I will report everything to the MD."
With that, she struck him hard across the face. "I'll tell your wife too."
She turned and walked out of the office, leaving stunned and satisfied faces behind.
Outside, her resolve faltered. She bit her lip, shivering in the chill as storm clouds mirrored her life.
"I've lost my job… again," she whispered to herself, running a hand through her hair. "What am I going to do now? No one's going to hire me easily."
Rain began to pour, and she hurried to the bus stand, seeking shelter from the downpour. "I still have to pay for the daycare…" Her eyes fell, and the first tear slipped down her cheek. Then another. And another. Soon, she was sobbing quietly, rain mixing with her grief, soaking her through.