Chapter 9 Chapter 9 This Mom Is Good

Verity's teeth were clenched so tight they could've cracked. Her head was filled with one thing only-

Lilah had to go.

"Take care of yourself? Please," she scoffed, tone gradually regaining its usual arrogance. "Aiden's depended on me since he was a baby. For his sake, Gabriel won't just throw me out like that."

Instead of getting mad, Lilah's expression was laced with a cold, almost pitying sneer.

"Depended on you? Do you actually think you're irreplaceable?" she said slowly. "This house doesn't need someone scheming behind fake smiles. Aiden deserves better than a pretender playing nanny."

"You-" Verity's face darkened, anger rising.

But Lilah didn't give her a chance to hit back. Her voice turned sharp, no room left for pretense. "Whatever dirty tricks you're cooking up-save it. As long as Gabriel and I aren't divorced, you'll never step into this family."

"You should pack up while you can. Otherwise, don't blame me when there's no exit left."

"Leave?" Verity's temper finally snapped. "Cut the act, Lilah. Who do you think you are?"

"I've been here three years! I'm not going anywhere just because you say so!"

Done pretending, Verity turned and stormed out, heels echoing with fury.

As the sound of her footsteps faded, Lilah found herself oddly calm.

Verity had walked all over the former Lilah for three whole years-no wonder Lilah now had to clean up the mess and rebuild everything.

Honestly, letting Verity stay around was even better. Kicking her out now would be letting her off too easy.

Debts needed paying. Every little one of them.

Even if the title of "Mrs. Wallace" didn't mean much anymore, it still gave Lilah a right to stand here. Legally, she was still the lady of this house.

Gabriel hadn't brought up divorce again either lately.

Lilah felt a strange kind of emptiness.

She didn't expect Gabriel to fall for her. That wasn't the point.

What mattered was that Aiden was finally opening up to her.

The thought of her son's sweet little gestures made her expression soften.

Upstairs in the study, the heavy oak door dampened every last echo of the clash downstairs.

Behind the spacious desk, Gabriel was buried in documents, his whole posture composed and sharp.

Not far away, Aiden was sitting on the carpet, flipping through a picture book quietly-not at all like a typical three-year-old.

Every now and then, Gabriel's eyes drifted from the page to his son's fluffy little head.

Eventually, he set down his pen and rubbed his temples.

"Aiden," he said, tone surprisingly gentle, as if testing the waters, "why do you want your mom to come along?"

Aiden lifted his head from the book. His voice was soft, tentative.

"Mom is really nice now," he mumbled.

He paused, seeming to search for the right words.

"She doesn't yell. She reads me stories. This mom is... good."

Something in Gabriel's chest gave a strange thump, unexpected and unfamiliar.

For a second, he just sat there, thrown off balance by that sudden tug at his heart.

He exhaled, reined it in.

"Keep reading," he said, tone reverting back to cool.

Aiden glanced up at his dad's now expressionless face, then quietly lowered his head again and stayed silent.

...

The next morning, the sunlight poured in just right.

Lilah sat in front of her laptop, blinking in disbelief when she spotted one particular email in her inbox.

It was from Damien Hart.

Her eyes stung.

The older brother she hadn't seen in ages-someone the former Lilah never managed to reach before the end.

A wave of guilt welled up.

Then she clicked the message open.The anonymously submitted business proposal hit Hart Group's biggest issue right on the nose.

Though Damien was still trying to figure out who this mysterious advisor really was...

Damien messaged: "It's truly an honor to have your guidance. May I know how to address you?"

Reading that respectful tone, Lilah couldn't help but smile wryly.

She typed her reply carefully.

"No need. If your company runs into any issues later, feel free to reach out."

She shut her laptop and leaned back, closing her eyes. That old, familiar rush of victory pumped through her chest.

She'd finally got a foothold in the Hart family's business-her first real move in this strange world.

"Ma'am," Nina pushed open the door gently, a smile on her face. "Before Mr. Wallace left, he mentioned today is Aiden's outdoor playtime. He asked if you could join him more often lately. Seems like the little guy really enjoys hanging out with you."

Lilah opened her eyes, the excitement from before not yet gone, only now layered with a new, warmer joy.

She stood up instantly, a genuine, bright smile spreading across her face.

"All right. Got it."

Gabriel's move wasn't subtle-it was a clear shift.

Not only had he stopped pushing for a divorce-he was even encouraging her to be part of Aiden's life.

She quickly changed into something comfy and headed downstairs with light steps.

Out in the garden, in the shaded gazebo-

Aiden was crouched down, feeding snacks to a puppy.

Lilah walked up softly, not wanting to interrupt. She sat down beside him and quietly watched.

Aiden looked up, his eyes lighting up the moment he saw her.

"Mom!"

There was no timidity this time, just a natural warmth in his voice.

"The puppy's collar broke," he said, holding up the frayed piece in his hand.

Lilah smiled, took it from him, and called a maid over.

"Can you bring a new collar? Aiden, what color do you like?"

Aiden tilted his head, thinking for a moment. "I like blue."

"Perfect-Mom loves blue too."

Lilah's tone was light and gentle as she waved the maid off.

It didn't take long for the maid to return with a brand-new light blue collar.

Aiden leaned close against Lilah, his little head brushing her arm as he watched her carefully put the new collar on the puppy.

The usually mischievous little dog was surprisingly calm in her hands, letting her adjust everything without protest.

"Mom, you're amazing..." Aiden said, smiling wide and full of admiration.

Lilah laughed, gently ruffling his hair.

Aiden grabbed her hand and stood up, and the two of them, hand in hand, walked the puppy to the lawn.

From a distance, Verity watched the cozy scene, her gaze sharpening.

Seeing how Aiden depended on Lilah with zero reservations made her lip curl in displeasure.

Just a few days of playing the good mom, and Lilah had completely won him over.

Even Gabriel seemed to be taking her side now!

Clenching her fists tight, Verity's nails bit into her palms-a sharp sting grounding her boiling emotions.

Lilah-do you really think you've already won?

With a cold gleam in her eyes, Verity quietly turned and walked away.

By evening, Gabriel came back early-well before dinner.

His assistant, Lance Owen, was right behind him, arms full of files as they headed straight for the study.

Gabriel, waiting for supper, kept himself busy going over paperwork.

But before long, a maid came knocking.

Without looking up, he said coolly, "Come in."

The maid hurried inside. "Sir, something about young master Aiden-I need to speak with you."