Chapter 2 Chapter 2 The Cold-Hearted CEO Husband

At Lilah's question, the maid flinched like she'd been shocked, swallowing hard.

"Mr. Wallace and young Aiden... they're resting in the garden," the maid stammered, quickly dropping her gaze.

The original Lilah was moody and unpredictable-her temper flared without warning. After the earlier scene, the staff were even more on edge.

Lilah sighed inwardly but kept her tone calm. "Got it. Thanks."

Her voice was low, even soft.

But not until her composed figure disappeared did the maids finally relax.

"Did hell just freeze over? She actually said thank you?"

"She probably freaked out earlier and got chewed out by Mr. Wallace."

"Shh! Don't let her hear you!"

"Might just be a phase anyway. Good thing she's leaving soon..."

"Seriously, she's scary as hell..."

-

Afternoon sunlight spilled across the garden. Aiden Wallace ran around the lawn with a fluffy white puppy, while Gabriel reclined under the shade, Verity close beside him. The scene looked like some perfect family moment.

Aiden, now three, was Lilah's biological son-clever, but awfully quiet.

Because of his mom's past instability, Verity had ended up handling almost all of his care and education. She'd gone from helping out as a friend to basically living in the Wallace house as a full-time nanny.

Gabriel didn't vocalize much, but anyone with eyes could tell-the staff already treated Verity like the real lady of the house.

The garden was bursting with life, ideal for Aiden to play around in. Gabriel stayed nearby, his sharp features softening as he watched his son.

The father and son looked alike, though Aiden's delicate features carried traces from Lilah.

Verity had switched into a pastel pink dress. Next to Gabriel, she looked an awful lot like Mrs. Wallace already.

From a short distance away, Lilah stood with arms crossed.

Verity, who had just been about to speak, caught sight of her and instantly dropped the sweet act.

"Lilah? What brings you out here all of a sudden?" she said, pulling her shoulders in, voice trembling like she was about to cry. "Are you still mad? I know it was wrong of me to push you about the papers..."

Her eyes welled up, rimmed red. Gabriel visibly tensed.

He glanced up at Lilah. Her outfit was simple, but her gaze was razor-sharp, as if nothing could pierce that calm surface.

"What now? Here to lose it again?" Gabriel's voice came low and cold.

He didn't move, but the intimidating weight of his presence felt like palpable frost.

Lilah didn't flinch. "I came to talk to you."

Aiden, noticing something was up, froze mid-play, then crept behind a maid, a little scared.

"Come here, sweetie. Don't be scared," Verity quickly said, pulling Aiden closer and placing them both by Gabriel's side.

But that only made Aiden more uneasy-head down, he stepped even farther back.

Lilah stopped herself, worried she might scare Aiden more. But just as she was about to speak-

"Lilah, please... calm down. Don't hurt the kid again..." Verity bit her lip, eyes full of fake concern. "Gabriel won't be okay with that."

Lilah nearly gagged.

Telling her to calm down, while sneakily painting her as some unhinged woman who hits her own kid-Verity made passive-aggressive an art form.Just as expected, Gabriel frowned. "Lilah, don't you think this is ridiculous?"

Lilah was confused for a second, then quickly realized-he thought she was faking it again.

"Sign it, and get the hell out of the estate," Gabriel said coldly, not even trying to hide how done he was.

Verity gently covered her face, but a flicker of delight lit up her eyes.

Finally. This lunatic was about to be kicked out for good.

Lilah stared at Gabriel, her voice steady. "I know losing it like that was wrong, but I won't admit to things I didn't do. I didn't push Verity. Just check the security footage-everything's on there."

She stepped closer, eyes full of rare determination and clarity.

"I'm sorry for all the mess I caused before. I just want to live peacefully now. I'm not going to make the same mistakes."

Gabriel looked at her with growing impatience. "If you won't sign, I'll throw you out myself."

He didn't care what she had to say-every word sounded like another excuse to him.

Truth was, he had zero trust in her.

Given all her past outbursts, it made sense he didn't believe her.

Still, Gabriel was being impossibly stubborn. Time for a new approach.

Seeing his face darken more and more, Lilah quietly pinched herself hard, forcing a few tears to well up.

Damn, that hurt. Her eyebrows twitched slightly from the sting.

She got a little closer, her teary eyes looking straight at him. "Gabriel, we've known each other since we were kids. After everything... you really feel nothing at all? No matter what, I'm still the mother of your child, right?"

Gabriel paused, glancing at little Aiden, who was standing silently to the side. His expression faltered, just for a second.

"Gabriel," Verity's voice chimed in at the perfect moment, soft and careful. "Don't forget... Lilah's scheduled for a psych evaluation tomorrow."

She gently stroked her flushed cheek, her fragile expression on full display.

"I know she struggles to control her emotions... but it's okay. I'm not blaming her..."

Whatever crack had formed in Gabriel's resolve disappeared instantly. Right. Lilah was just unstable.

Why had he almost let himself fall for her tricks again?

This was just another move-her trying to slip away from consequences and drag things out a little longer.

"I'll check the footage," he said, face blank. Then, without another word, he took Aiden's hand and turned to leave.

His back was straight, his pace firm. No second thoughts.

Lilah finally let out a quiet breath. At least he agreed to check the footage.

Verity, on the other hand, froze the moment she heard that.

But as soon as Gabriel disappeared from view, she recovered fast and looked smug, back to that smug little smirk.

"Lilah, I wouldn't bother if I were you. Gabriel doesn't love you anymore. Just sign the papers and be done with it."

Her tone was full of triumph.

Lilah's gaze drifted to the still-swollen bruise on Verity's face. She stepped forward, just enough to make Verity instinctively step back.

"Looks like your face isn't swollen enough yet," she said flatly.

Her stare lingered on Verity's cheek, like she was considering giving it another go.

"You-! You're going too far!" Verity's expression twisted, voice trembling with anger as she glared at Lilah.

But Lilah suddenly broke into a bright smile.

"Don't worry. I'm not signing anything. I've been foolish before, but I've woken up. As long as I'm here, you'll never be more than a shadow. That title of Mrs. Wallace? Keep dreaming. Maybe try again in your next life."