Five years later.

 

In the principal’s office of a prestigious kindergarten in the city.

 

“Look at how your child has treated my son! What if he ends up disfigured?!” A heavily made-up woman rolled up her sleeves and lunged at Vanessa but was stopped by the principal beside her.

 

“Calm down! Calm down! Let’s talk this over civilly!”

 

Vanessa squatted down, looking at the little girl in front of her, and gently asked, “Tell Mommy what happened.”

 

The five-year-old girl, with ponytails and a fair, round face full of grievances, said, “Today, when we were playing a game, Adrian lifted my skirt… and tried to touch my feet. Mommy, you said that girls’ feet shouldn’t be touched by others…”

 

Vanessa’s eyes turned icy. “Did he touch you?”

 

The little girl shook her head. “I hit him when he reached out…”

 

Vanessa gave a thumbs-up to the little girl. “Well done! If you encounter something like this again, do the same as today, understand?”

 

The woman beside her scoffed and turned to the principal. “Did you hear that? She admitted it! My son’s face was scratched by her daughter, and this matter must be handled seriously! Otherwise, no one leaves today!”

 

“And how do you explain your child lifting a girl’s skirt?”

 

“That’s just kids playing around! What’s the big deal? Besides, she was wearing shorts underneath, right? I think she was hoping someone would see!”

 

The woman finished speaking sarcastically and picked up her child. “It’s okay, Adrian. Mommy’s here. Today, I will make those two little brats apologize! Let’s see who dares to bully you again!”

 

The child, puffing up with pride, joined in, shouting, “Apologize! Apologize!”

 

“Indeed, like parent, like child. Your kid was in the wrong first, and instead of correcting him, you, as his mother, cover for him and call them little brats while wanting to hit someone? Ha! Do you really think this is your family’s territory?”

 

Vanessa turned her gaze to the principal. “My request isn’t much. Just an apology, and we can put this matter behind us.”

 

“Apology? That’s laughable! My son just lifted a skirt, and now his face is scratched like this. What if he ends up with a scar or an infection? You think I’m going to let him apologize? Dream on!”

 

Vanessa’s eyes glinted with anger, her face set in a cold smile. “If I remember correctly, your family is currently negotiating with Cortex over that piece of land in the south of the city, right? Seems you have quite the advantage.”

 

Mrs. Marwood felt a chill creeping up her spine at the look in Vanessa’s eyes. “What do you mean?”

 

“Nothing much. Just that the bird ready to be caught might fly away,” Vanessa said, pulling out her phone and sending a text message.

 

Before Mrs. Marwood could grasp Vanessa’s meaning, her phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID, she felt a sense of foreboding.

 

“Hello, dear?”

 

“What have you been doing out there today?! Cortex just said they will never cooperate with the Marwoods again!”

 

Mrs. Marwood’s face changed drastically. “Why?”

 

“They sent me to ask you! Why? I want to know why too! Get back here now!”

 

Although Mrs. Marwood did not put her phone on speaker, the voice on the other end could still be heard by everyone in the room.

 

Vanessa hadn’t expected her assistant to be so efficient. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she smiled like a cunning fox. “Well? What do you think?”

 

Mrs. Marwood stared at her, incredulous. “Who are you?!”

 

“The priority now is to go home and figure things out, not to ask such foolish questions,” Vanessa kindly suggested. As for the apology, she could wait a few more hours.

 

Mrs. Marwood gritted her teeth in anger, but all she could do was leave with her child.

 

The principal looked at Vanessa with a hint of curiosity, about to speak when a teacher hurried in and said, “Mr. Mone, there’s a parent looking for you.”

 

“Take them to see Mr. Sullivan first.”

 

“The visitor is from the K Group.”

 

The principal cast an apologetic glance at Vanessa.

 

Vanessa understood and turned to leave, taking the child with her.

 

Just as she was about to hail a taxi at the corner, a Maybach slowly pulled up nearby.

 

The car door swung open, revealing long legs stepping out.

 

Luca, dressed in a well-tailored black suit, appeared with a cold expression, standing tall and exuding an air of aloofness that pushed people away.

 

Then a child came out, clinging to the man’s hand.

 

Vanessa’s body stiffened as her gaze fell on the child. This was his and Beatriz’s child? Hatred surged in her heart, but she quickly forced it down, managing to return her expression to normal.

 

Luca, holding the child, was heading to the kindergarten when he looked up and saw a familiar figure.

 

That person was also looking at him.

 

Their eyes locked, and the atmosphere around them instantly froze.

 

Luca’s breath caught, and a wave of emotions surged in his heart, but he quickly returned to his usual demeanor.

 

“Mommy, this uncle looks a bit scary.”

 

Vanessa averted her gaze and bent down to pick up the little girl. “It’s okay, don’t look at him. We’re going home.”

 

Treating Luca like air, Vanessa walked past him, but a hand grabbed her.

 

“Are you not going to give me an explanation?”

 

A smile that didn’t reach her eyes appeared on Vanessa’s face as she asked knowingly, “Who are you?”

 

Luca furrowed his brow, his tone laced with anger. “You didn’t die.”

 

“Surprised?” Vanessa leaned closer to his ear and whispered softly, “Too bad you didn’t get what you wished for.”

 

After saying that, she ignored Luca and turned to leave.

 

Luca was stunned for a second, watching Vanessa’s figure disappear around the corner. He quickly chased after her.

 

He was only a second too late; by the time he caught up, she was already gone.

 

A surge of anger rose within him, and he turned to grab the child standing by the car and lifted him inside. He took out his phone and called his assistant.

 

“Find out who took Vanessa away five years ago.”