Meanwhile…Joxan collapsed into his chair, exhaling sharply.Damn it.So his unreliable dad wasn’t a total fool.Joxan had almost exposed himself. He’d have to be more careful next time.Just then—Knock. Knock."Jo, dinner’s ready."Joxan nearly jumped out of his skin.Crap.Quickly, he shut down the computer and took a deep breath. "Got it. Right away, Mum." He forced his voice to sound calm and lazy.Enlyan opened the door. Her eyes narrowed when she spotted the video game running on his screen.She sighed. "No video games, Joxan. I told you before, but you never listen."Then she added, "Also, apologize to Auntie Mini later. Do you understand?"Joxan scowled.Apologize?To that old hag?No way!“She came at me first.”Joxan’s voice held a trace of grievance, his beautiful eyes locking onto Enlyan’s with an expression that was almost pitiful.Enlyan knew better. This little brat was faking it.Still… she couldn’t help but soften just a little.Shaking her head, she sighed. "That's
Meanwhile, Enlyan made her way toward Blackwood Corporation.Eight years ago, she had married Daimon.Five years ago, she had been forced to leave.As the eldest daughter-in-law of the Blackwood Family, as Daimon's wife, she had never once stepped into this company.Now, she was returning—as a stranger.Would Daimon be able to sleep at night when he saw her real name in his company?Enlyan’s lips curved slightly.A flicker of hatred flashed in her eyes.But she quickly calmed herself, keeping her expression neutral as she stepped through the grand front gates of the company.The moment she entered, a receptionist approached her with a professional smile."Ma’am, how can I help you?"Enlyan took a quick glance around the welcoming hall, its modern elegance exuding wealth and power."Magnificent," she thought to herself.Blackwood Corporation was indeed one of the city’s top enterprises.But would it stay that way now that she was back?She turned to the receptionist, her smile composed
Daimon stood frozen, his mind racing as he processed what was happening.It’s her?He thought, his eyes widening slightly in surprise. Iris? The woman who shares not only the same name but also looks like Enlyan?However, the shock didn’t last long. He quickly composed himself, his professionalism taking over."Yes, I'm Daimon Blackwood," he said, his voice steady but apologetic. "I owe you an apology for her behavior just now. It was a misunderstanding. Katrina isn’t part of our company—she's just... my family.".The word "family" cut through Enlyan like a knife, reopening old wounds she had worked hard to heal. Her heart tightened, the fresh pain flooding back."Family?" she scoffed, her voice laced with bitterness. "Even your family doesn’t welcome me. Mr. Blackwood, how do you expect me to believe your company is sincere in this collaboration?"She paused, locking eyes with him. "Blackwood isn’t the only option for our company. I think we both need to reconsider."Without another
To outsiders, Daimon was a generous partner, providing for Katrina in every material way, yet the emotional void between them remained unbearable. What Katrina longed for was simple—to be more than just a caregiver for his son. She wanted to be his wife, to be the one he loved, the one he needed.But Daimon kept his distance. No matter how hard she tried, no matter how many subtle advances she made, she was always left in the shadows, locked out of his heart and his life. She wasn’t allowed in his bedroom, and her place in his world was cold and distant. He never acknowledged her beyond what was necessary for Oasis's sake.Now, the thought of leaving the Blackwood family, the family she had fought so hard to be a part of, filled Katrina with dread. Without Oasis, without the title of "mother of his son," what would she have left? Daimon’s indifference had chipped away at her sense of self, and the thought of facing the world without him by her side was a nightmare she wasn’t sure she
Enlyan leaned against the sink and pressed the cold ice pack to her face, not because of the physical pain but because of the turmoil in her mind. As the cold numbed her skin, her thoughts spun in a circle. Katrina had given birth to Daimon’s son, yet she wasn’t his wife.Why?Katrina should have been a guaranteed step toward cementing her place in the Blackwood family, yet she wasn’t. Enlyan couldn’t understand it. Daimon had feelings for Katrina, after all. He’d even gone so far as to contemplate murdering his wife for her. So, what was stopping him from marrying her? Why hadn’t Daimon made Katrina Mrs. Blackwood yet?Enlyan needed more information before making any decisions, but before anything else, she had some unfinished business with Katrina to take care of. She wasn’t in the mood to think about Daimon’s possible plans; his temptation to destroy her could wait.What mattered now was getting back at Katrina. Enlyan knew Daimon was serious about working with her company, and he
Enlyan appeared, her fluffy hair unkempt, wearing loose pajamas and barefoot. Yet, despite her casual appearance, she looked as stunning as ever."Come on, stop jerking around," she said nonchalantly, her voice smooth and playful.Daimon froze. The laziness in her tone, the casualness of her demeanor—it all reminded him so much of Enlyan."Enlyan..." he whispered, his voice thick with disbelief.Enlyan stood frozen, utterly shocked to see him standing at her doorstep. How could it be him?She had known that staying at Mini’s house might raise Daimon’s suspicions, but she never expected him to track her down so quickly. Panic surged through her, but she forced herself to remain composed. Straightening her posture, she tugged at the collar of her loose pajama top and cleared her throat before speaking."Mr. Blackwood? Why are you here? How did you find my address?"The formal tone of “Mr. Blackwood” seemed to snap Daimon back to reality. His narrowed gaze locked onto her, scrutinizing h
Enlyan didn’t hesitate. She took a step back, adjusting her wrinkled blouse while forcing her breath to steady. She needed to remain in control.Daimon took a slow step forward, and despite herself, Enlyan felt her breath hitch. His presence was overwhelming, his gaze burning into her like he was stripping away every layer of her disguise.Daimon glared at her, his eyes sharp and filled with warning."Play whatever tricks you want, but I’m not falling for them. Now tell me—who are you? What do you really want?"Despite the pain coursing through him, his dominant presence didn’t waver.Enlyan’s heart pounded in her chest, her head throbbing.How could he still be this intimidating after that?Daimon Blackwood was truly ruthless.Quickly, she adjusted her pajama top and took a step back, putting distance between them. Her expression turned cold and guarded."Mr. Blackwood, you really love making demands, don’t you?" she scoffed. "You barge into my home, manhandle me, and then question m
Daimon’s eyes narrowed.Without hesitation, he scanned the area—and sure enough, in the distance, a shadowy figure hurriedly ducked into a corner.Not surprising.Katrina was predictable.His face darkened as he turned to her. "Go home. You’re making a fool of yourself.""No! It’s not like that! I don’t know what she’s talking about!" Katrina protested, but the more she spoke, the worse it sounded.She had counted on Daimon not questioning her, on him dismissing Enlyan’s accusations as nonsense.But now, things weren’t going according to plan.Still, she wasn’t going to let Enlyan win.The paparazzi wouldn’t admit they were hired.And as long as she kept denying it, there was no proof against her.She just needed to hold her ground.Enlyan had no patience for Katrina’s act.“Save the tricks for someone who cares. If you have an issue with me, just say it directly. As for you, Mr. Blackwood, I expect compensation for what happened today. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m tired.”Without wa
Her mind whirled with schemes and calculations. One way or another, she had to find a way to get rid of Iris for good—without leaving any trace that could link back to her.She stomped her foot in irritation, glaring at Oasis, who was still lying unconscious on the bed, his small face flushed with fever.“Useless!” she muttered bitterly. “I went through hell to give birth to you, just so you could live the life of a young master. Yet here you are, lying there doing nothing. Why can’t you think of a way to help your mother for once?”Of course, Oasis didn’t respond—he couldn’t even hear her. And even if he did, he was just a child—too young to grasp her cruel words. Katrina huffed in frustration, wringing her hands as she tried to come up with a plan. She couldn’t let Iris take everything from her.Just then, the door creaked open, and she heard the low murmur of voices outside. Daimon and Ertha had just come out of the study. Forcing a look of concern onto her face, Katrina hurried ov
Ertha paused and shook his head, keeping his tone neutral. "No, nothing about the company, Miss Katrina. I’m just here to see the boss. We’ll talk later." Without giving her a chance to question him further, he quickly moved past her and entered the study.Katrina’s heart pounded with unease as she watched him go. Something wasn’t right—Daimon’s secrecy, the doctor’s vague explanation, and now Ertha’s haste. Her instincts screamed that there was more going on than just Oasis’s health.Katrina's heart pounded as she pressed her ear closer to the study door, straining to catch every word. The hallway was empty, and she knew she was risking a lot by eavesdropping, but curiosity burned inside her.Inside the study, Daimon's voice remained calm but razor-sharp. "So, someone tampered with the car before Iris drove it that day?""Yes, sir," Ertha confirmed. "I reported it to the police. They've started investigating, and a few witnesses mentioned seeing a suspicious figure enter the garage t
Once back at home, Daimon was greeted by Katrina, who rushed toward him with tears streaming down her face. “Daimon, I didn’t mean it. I just wanted to punish Oasis a little. I didn’t think he’d be so stubborn. I’m sorry. I really am. It’s my fault.”Her tears and frantic apology irritated Daimon, but he tried to keep his composure. “I know you acted out of concern. How is Oasis? Has he seen the family doctor yet?”“He’s still being examined,” Katrina replied, her voice trembling. Her red eyes showed genuine worry, but Daimon was too focused on the situation to respond with much sympathy. He walked briskly toward Oasis’s room with Katrina trailing behind him.Inside, Oasis lay on the bed, his face flushed with fever. He mumbled weakly, "Cold..." Daimon’s heart tightened at the sight. He placed his hand on the boy’s forehead, feeling the heat radiating off him.“In the future, don’t touch the child like that again,” Daimon muttered sternly to Katrina.Katrina’s face crumpled, and she w
His words, while thoughtful, still left her feeling flustered. "I told you, I don’t need you! Why can’t you just listen to me?" Before she could finish, Daimon scooped her up effortlessly and, without another word, placed her back on the bed."If you're tired, you can rest. And if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. I’m not going anywhere," Daimon said, his tone firm yet oddly considerate. He then sat down on the nearby sofa, opening her laptop and diving into his work.Enlyan lay there, feeling too embarrassed to speak as he conducted a video conference.She felt like an outsider in her own room as he casually dealt with business matters, as though she wasn’t there. But what truly surprised her was how little Daimon seemed to care about her presence. His work was on full display in front of her, with no attempt to hide the company’s struggles."Sir, the company’s confidential files have been leaked. The damage is already done, and the immediate loss is 300 million. What should
Enlyan watched the exchange quietly, her heart sinking further. She sneered bitterly to herself, the bitterness weighing heavily on her chest."See?" she thought. "This is the man you once loved with everything you had. This is the father of your daughter."Her eyes narrowed as she reflected on the contrast of Daimon's reaction to Oasis's fever. He was nervous, yes, but not in the way a parent should be. It was a far cry from the kind of care he would’ve shown if it were another child—perhaps Katrina's.How could he be so indifferent to the life and death of his own flesh and blood? Even if he did care, could he truly be as worried as he would be for someone else's child?She shook her head slightly, her thoughts spiraling with the realization that the man before her—who had once been everything to her—could never be the father she had hoped for their child.The realization left her feeling hollow and betrayed."What happened to Oasis?" Daimon demanded, his voice low and full of fury.
Enlyan scoffed bitterly, but tears prickled at the corners of her eyes. The realization hit her hard—loving him had always been a losing battle. She had loved him with everything she had, yet he had never once looked at her the same way.Even if he was good to her now, it was only because of her status and what she could offer him professionally. Men like Daimon were practical and realistic—love had nothing to do with it.A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she wiped away her tears, forcing herself to regain her composure.She whispered to herself, "Never again."Enlyan wiped the tears from her cheeks and picked up her phone, turning it back on. The screen lit up, and she hesitated for a moment before dialing Austin’s number. He answered almost immediately.“Iris, did he give you a hard time?” Austin’s voice was tense with concern.“No,” Enlyan replied softly, trying to keep her voice steady. “To him, I’m just a stranger now.”Austin let out a sigh of relief, a faint smile in his tone.
Austin still wanted to say something, but before he could, Daimon suddenly snatched Enlyan’s phone from her grip and spoke coldly into the receiver."Mr. White, handle your own matters. As for Iris, I'll be the one taking care of her."Enlyan's eyes widened in disbelief. "Daimon! What the hell are you doing? Give me my phone!" she yelled, reaching for it, but Daimon stepped back, completely ignoring her protests.Consumed by a surge of jealousy and frustration, Daimon didn’t give Austin a chance to respond before ending the call and switching the phone off. The possessiveness blazing in his eyes made Enlyan’s blood boil."Daimon, are you out of your damn mind? That was my phone, my boss, my friend! Who gave you the right to interfere like that?" she snapped, her voice trembling with fury.She looked like a furious little kitten, baring her claws and ready to fight. The way her eyes flashed with anger cut right through Daimon’s heart, but his irritation only grew stronger. He couldn’t
Enlyan felt her heart jolt, but she refused to show it. She gritted her teeth, trying to ignore the warmth that flickered in his gaze and the determination in his tone. Why is he doing this now?Daimon quietly poured a glass of warm water and placed it on the bedside table before settling into a chair next to Enlyan’s bed. He opened his laptop, his voice low and gentle as he spoke.“You’re injured—get some rest. I won’t bother you. If you need anything, just call me. You don’t have to treat me like your boss right now. Just think of me as... your personal caregiver.”Enlyan shot him an incredulous look. Caregiver? This man had truly lost his mind! She scoffed, trying to mask her confusion.“You’re the president of the company,” she argued. “I can’t just treat you like some... male nurse. Besides, there’s a gender issue here!”Daimon raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a faint smirk. “Gender issue?” he repeated, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Are you worried because you’re bei
Daimon’s eyes flickered with something unreadable as he felt the emptiness on his face and hands. It was like his heart had been left hollow too. He thought back to the endless, sleepless nights in that cold, empty bedroom—nights where he had nothing but memories to keep him company.And now, after five years, she was right in front of him—alive, breathing, her emotions dancing openly across her face. Seeing her here made his heart feel warmer than it had in years. Even if she refused to admit who she really was, even if she kept pretending to be someone else, it didn’t matter. Sooner or later, he would break down that wall and see the truth behind her disguise.A faint smile curved on his lips, one so full of warmth and affection that it sent a shiver down Enlyan’s spine. She couldn’t help but feel uneasy. What’s wrong with him? The man who had always been so cold and distant was now looking at her as if she was his entire world.Was he crazy? What game was he playing this time?“Dai