Prologue: Little Devil

It was another blissful afternoon in the neighborhood and a car can be seen with heavily tinted windows navigating through the main gate as the entrance towards the renowned Marquez mansion.

The tall and lean men in black suits guarding the entrance didn't spare a glance at the familiar and already registered car as it drove past them and instead settled their eyes at the quiet and peaceful neighborhood while speaking to the other men in their earpiece who heavily monitored the actions of their surroundings, ready if there was any threat coming.

Hidden from the curious eyes of the neighborhood of high and wealthy socialites, inside the car seating in the spacious backseat alone was a woman taking off her sunglasses, revealing the fury hidden in her monolid eyes.

Her temperament against the dim light of the car was as pale but as elegant as the freshly bloomed white tulip flowers in the garden they had passed.

The woman wipe off the heavy makeup on her face with the wet wipes she always had in her pouch bag, rubbing off the itchy and irritating colors and cream applied on her face that masked the fairness of her skin and her real head turner beauty, preventing her to gain a line of suitors from the socialite circle.

She’s the only woman who owned such piercing eyes paired with her delicate features, the heir of the Marquez Family and the CEO of the Marquez Corp.

The one and only infamous Hillary Marquez.

Hillary was glad that she had now gained the free will to finally remove her makeup when she had completed and reviewed all the proposals from the other companies laid on her desk this morning and the other errands she had to do.

The ride was smooth and the chauffeur had driven the car at a slightly slower pace the moment they entered the dull property, taking secretive glances from the rear-view mirror to continue monitoring the young miss personally, battling inside his head whether to inform the big boss that her daughter had once again skipped lunch for the third time this week.

He had already predicted this would happen when the young miss's secretary had notified him when she neither left the building with an ounce of rest nor have eaten her meal, carrying the repetitive news of her employees gossiping about her status as a single woman of her age and doubting her capabilities as a woman handling the company.

Everyone only knew her for having a bad reputation.

No, they were blinded by envy. 

It was a long and tiring ride for Hillary to even spare formalities with her chauffeur, who had open the car door for her to step out.

Upon the sign of her arrival, numbered men and women rush out and form a long line from the entrance door as they bowed in respect to welcome the heiress home.

They were her loyal servants who are there to witness her everyday life.

The only people who had admired her.

How can they not? To them, she's a saintess...their savior.

One slim and slender leg came out next to another. Hillary lifts herself and got off the car with her private chauffeur closing the door behind her.

From where she stands, her keen eyes caught a small figure by the window from the third floor.

Unbeknownst, someone was peeking and watching her, waiting for her arrival.

In a blink of an eye, the figure dispersed with the red curtains slightly swaying.

The corners of her lips rose as she walks towards the main door. When she saw Butler Yang was waiting for her at the end of the lined servants, she grins and her genuine smile had warmed the hearts of the onlookers.

Specifically, the guards in the shadows, who are just about to retreat to their post as the mission of returning the heiress home was another safe and successful journey.

"How's he?" she formally asks.

Her smile was as warm as summer and the old butler, whose loyalty towards the family was stronger than the bond between his own wife and children, smiled back at her, showing the fine wrinkles on his face before bowing once again.

He knew who she meant.

"He had refused to attend his homeroom lessons early this morning," he replied.

The devil of the house.

He then offers her his hands to fetch her bag and coat, which he passed on to the servants who already knew where to place such belongings.

Hillary's grin widened after hearing how flat-edge the butler's voice was. Right there, she knew he wasn't lying but partially not telling her the truth because of the lack of details.

Knowing Butler Yang is heavily devoted to the youngest master in the house, she knew he was protecting the spoiled young boy for an afternoon nagging from her.

She had a strong feeling from the start that there was something wrong when she didn't spot the large porcelain vase of her mother in the living room and the missing pieces of her father's favorite teacup collection.

It seems the little devil has once again troubled the whole mansion with his unstoppable frenzy.

The butler froze from his place, with sweaty feet and hands. He was anxious and Hillary was able to see through the lies in his eyes.

The troubled butler immediately tried changing the subject without being too obvious.

"Master and Madam Marquez have left a note to inform you, young miss, that they will not be home for two months. Their presence is needed in the burial of the late general as well as attending a few banquets."

The butler spoke what he’s told to say and his heart put to rest upon the idea that their beloved heiress will not be beaten once again for skipping meals.

"Might as well not return," the spoiled heiress fearlessly mumbled, but not a single servant dared to speak and protest as they share the same loyalty to every member in the Marquez Clan.

She hastily strides towards the long white couch in the main living room and sat there carelessly, relaxed from the absence of her monitoring parents.

"Call that mischievous boy here," she commands, taking off her heels.

The servants instantly handed her a pair of comfy slippers before retrieving back their bodies towards the corner, standing on the sidelines, awaiting her next command like they usually do.

Butler Yang signaled a maid to fetch the young master with worry in his eyes.

His memory is sharp, the young boy's anger from earlier had not yet subsided, but seeing the heiress of the house is already home, all the servants broke out a sigh of relief.

Finally, the stressful day was over. Praise to the Lord, they had survived yet again, but they do not dare to let the heiress acknowledge the earlier wrath of the young boy, no, a beast they must say, in fear of provoking the boy further.

The foot of the maid that Butler Yang had commanded, had not yet touched the staircase when all of a sudden, a tall, yet still small frame of a boy ran down the staircase.

"Young Master, you had yet to finish dressing!"

Another poor and troubled maid ran in tow behind the young boy whose face was the brightest they have seen this day, and it's always in the afternoon where the heiress arrives home from the office.

"Mother!" his voice high-pitched, making the servants flinch upon his incredible speed to arrive here in just a minute from the third floor.

The maids and butlers held their breaths upon the presence of a dangerous beast in the same living room as the incident from earlier that turned the house into a busy morning imprinted trauma to their heads. Terrified and trembling, they took a few steps back farther away from the eerily happy child.

Hillary, who was sitting pretty, too excited to see her son after her tight schedule, failed to see and notice the fear in everyone's eyes.

She had worn her sweetest smile towards her little handsome prince.

She rises from her seat to embrace the joyous child, but before she could, everyone witnessed how the boy's arms wrapped around her waist without warning and his face shoved against her lower abdomen.

Despite his age, the boy had excelled in everything twice children of his kind could achieve.

With his fluent way of communicating without stuttering, his incredible intelligence, and his tall height beyond the average of his age, one could always mistake him as a kid instead of a child.

"You're back!" the young boy mumbled happily.

He then lifts his head and presses his cheeks that resembled freshly steamed buns against her abdomen. They were soft and his healthy thick hair swung backward, revealing more of his prominent features.

His keen green eyes shone brighter than the chandeliers above them, "You smell nice, mother."

She always does.

A few of the newly hired servants widen their eyes at the sight of the innocent and tamed child far from the scene they had witnessed earlier this day, while the older ones smiled warmly at the sight of both of them.

Such lovely sight and smiles were contagious. They can't help but put a smile on their faces, seeing the mother and child reunited for today.

Hillary laughed at him for being such a sweet tooth before bending down, leveling her head to his. My adorable child, "I missed you too, little bunny," she teases and pinched his reddened cheeks.

Little bunny?!

The servants almost choked on their saliva, although they have heard the endearment every single day, they still can't find the soul to get used to hearing it.

"Mother!" her child scolds, yet whisper the words to her softly.

She couldn't suppress to widen her smile further as she cups his face and kiss both of his cheeks before peppering kisses all over his pale white face as an apology. 

Staring at him this closely anyone could tell he resembles her feminine features, but she knew greater that someone's genes were too strong to be overpowered.

From the young boy's point of view, he was ecstatic about his mother's teasing and not embarrassed about it at all. He liked it as much as he adores her, but he needs to keep his act up so he could receive his extra kisses from her.

It was all he yearned for, especially when it came from his adoring mother.

Soon, his playful laugh echoed in the quiet and wide living room.

After everyone had witnessed her pampering the spoiled young master with kisses, the boy then clings his arm around her neck and purses his lips at her. He was jumping up and down in glee while spouting 'more' repeatedly.

"Now, now, don't pout on me, Kieran. I know you did something earlier this day."

Sadly, she flew off to work before he could even wake up as she had an important proposal to revise and it was urgent. Due to her early departure to work, she had no idea what happened in the house since then and no one was willing to stand in front of her and tell her the truth in full detail.

After hearing her statement, the voice suddenly died down in the entire living room.

Servants halted on their feet, nervous and anxious, only to spree away immediately after seeing the shift of emotions on the face of the merciless young man, who now looked uneasy towards his mother.

His tiny fist clenched firmly on the side of his thighs as he gave off swift deadly glances towards the servants, who already had 'terror' written in their faces as they pale even more.

They have once again seen the menacing darkness around him, his anger that they wish to not provoke. 

Should they run out of here? But would they get fired by doing so?

"I’m surprised, I haven’t done anything, but who told you, mother?"

The young boy maintained his sweetest smile and the sight of his grin was like a fatal venom rushing through the bloodstreams of the uneasy attendants, killing them little by little with apprehension. 

No one knew better than him how genuinely and automatically his face and mood would light up upon the presence of his mother before him in any odd or tight situation he's facing.

Yet deep down inside his guts, he was amused to know he'll be having another human doll to play with once he'll get the name of the traitor who provoked him.

Didn't he say, not a word shall reach his mother's ears, no?

They seem to test his kindness.

Hillary stared at her child's calm demeanor in front of her with suspicion running back and forth inside her head, "No one did. Now, tell me honestly what happened," she says in a stern voice, warning him as she has already seen through his lies.

The servants all breathe in relief. God has really blessed them with her saving grace.

Upon sensing the dark aura of her son emerging rapidly around him, she felt the temperature around them dropped to its lowest point.

It was life-threatening for every person in the house to witness, and thus Hillary wave her hand to her people within sight and send them off to give her a private space to deal with her mischievous son.

The servants bowed their heads and ran out of the living room in a hurry.

Once they were nowhere in sight, Hillary separate herself from her son's clingy arms and sat down on the couch behind her. Her face was stern and emotionless as she's the only parent to discipline him. She’s not happy with what he did.

Has she ever mistreated him?

No.

It’s not questionable where he took this arrogance from, even the taste of it is familiar and vividly clear to her.

She's used to dealing with this kind of madness, but she has no intentions of cohabitating with his arrogance for the rest of her life.

He’ll grow up to be a good man she wants him to become. She believes so.

The boy's lips thinned. He longed for warmth from her embrace only to be ruined by the nosy mouths of his maids. Slowly, the bright glow in his eyes vanished and was replaced by sorrow, slightly tearing up, yet the wetness of his eyes was merely visible for her to see.

He shook his head, "I didn't do anything wrong, mother," he said, stubborn with a calm voice as he believes nothing was wrong with what he did.

"When are you planning to stop lying on me, Kieran? Cause it's not nice," she threatens, purposely saying his first name to appear more disappointed and menacing.

Because she changed tone and mood, he reacted like how she expected him to be. The wetness on the corner of his eyes grew worst as she can see it in a short distance, yet she brush it off, unbothered and unfazed.

She had spoiled her child too much for him to continue his dishonesty.

"Kieran Elixir Marquez."

She once again called out, this time it was his full name which she rarely does.

After a minute of silence and discomfort, he finally spoke.

"I’m sorry,” his voice as low as a whisper. His head drops as he played with his fingers. 

“What are you sorry for?”

She could embrace him right now, but she had to do this as a consequence of his wrongdoing, even though guilt was eating her up. She loved him too much that it breaks her heart to see him in this vulnerable state.

“I’m sorry for breaking a few things,” no more excuses, he did what he did, but he does not have even a drop of guilt with him.

He just despises seeing his mother upset towards him. 

Hillary can hear the bitterness in his voice. Just a few things? These ‘things’ he mentioned have over a thousand dollars value.

She sighs, “And why did you decided to do that?”

“Because I wanted to go out, mother," without hesitation, he replied.

She studied him and it was enough for her to read what's inside his head.

'Rebellion at a young age.' She thought to herself, seeing her young reflection in him when she was just as his age after looking at her baffled and quiet son.

Her heart began to prickle in pain when she realized he has no friends at his age to talk and play with.

He must have been lonely with his lessons alone with his private tutors.

"I understand you wanted to have fun with the other children in the neighborhood, but that doesn't mean you would throw a tantrum and drag the maids with you by messing with your grandparents' heavily treasured items," says Hillary.

Her voice was soft and filled with understanding, for she too understands what he felt more than anyone in this house.

Unexpectedly, the young boy's head lifts and bobbed to the other side in confusion while looking back at her, his clean-cut hair brush against his thick brows.

What now?

"Mother, I do not want to hang out with brainless pest below my level." He responds, frowning. That would bring him annoyance.

Hillary's brows knit, irked by his choice of words. She caresses her temple. This boy.

"Then why did you cause a ruckus to the guards and maids? You said you wanted to go outside."

She was getting more confused and suspicious of his claims, but after seeing his teary and sadden eyes, she patiently waited for him to open up to her himself. She needs to be patient with him, but was he lying to her again?

He pause for the slightest bit and his frail voice cracked, "Because I wanted to see you mother."

This time it was her turn to pause for a moment on her seat, processing his confession. So that's what this is all about? He wanted to leave the house because he wanted to see her?

Even though her heart pounded and melted by his words, she maintained her posture to avoid showing him a weakness he can use to his advantage next time when she nags.

After witnessing his shoulders and body shaking before her, bit by bit, the cold barrier around her heart melted as her face softens at the sight of him whimpering.

She opens her arms, urging him to an embrace which he immediately closes the distance between them and leans to her, crashing his small body against hers and his arms encircle around her, face buried to her neck.

Even his breath that’s fanning against her skin was shivering.

Was she too tough on him?

Hillary embraces him back, tightly. She picks him up and lets him sit on her lap while she soothes him by caressing his back repeatedly.

She can see why his maid from earlier was troubled chasing him when she failed to button up his polo shirt. It looks like he was in a hurry to see her.

Oh, this child, how can she ever get tired in life when she has this sweet devil with her.

Just as now, embracing him had erased all her worries away.

"You should have called me, sweetheart. Mommy's phone is always open for you."

She comforted him by placing a soft kiss on the side of his head.

"You have meetings, mother. I thought the best way to see you were to meet you in person." Plus he didn’t like the idea of just talking to her on the phone. It's as if she's too far to reach.

Kieran played with the pearl earring she wore. His thumb was rubbing against the white pear surrounded and accompanied by tiny gems. He decided white will be his favorite color as it suits his mother well.

Hillary smiled at how considerate her son was, he was very mature to think of her welfare. What did she do in her past life to deserve someone like him?

"Saturday, I'll take you to the office with me. How does that sound?" she says, brushing a handful of his thick but healthy hair with her hand.

Kieran liked the sound of it. It was like music to his ears.

"Every Saturday? I promise I'll behave."

There it is again. His foolish smile was back. Meanwhile, she suppresses the smile wanting to break free from her lips, how cunning this little man is.

"Okay, every Saturday it is. As long as you behave inside the house and listen well to your tutors."

This way, she can keep his tantrums in check.

"Deal," said the young boy without hesitation. He was joyous; it was not because of the thought of him going outside to finally see the world, but because he was happy to spend a long span of hours with his beloved mother.

He's looking forward to it.

Hillary brushes the sweat rolling down his forehead with a clean handkerchief, "But I have to apologize. I can't start this month."

Because stubbornness is in his nature, "I can wait," he replied.

A promise is a promise, he just needs to wait for her to fulfill her promise and his mother never backs down on her words.

Hillary bites her lips. "I'm going on a business trip to the Capital of Shangwei the day after tomorrow, little bun," she whispers, hoping her child could be this considerate enough to let her be without making another tantrum in the mansion.

But as expected of his reaction, he distances himself and looks up at her with eager and curious eyes.

Well, she has prepared herself well for his intrusive attacks.

"Who's coming with you?"

Kieran's voice turned slightly distant and cold.

"Don't sulk, little devil. I'm just going with my secretary," she chided. Sometimes, she wondered the nosiness of her son is very similar to a man she knew in many aspects.

"Mother, is your secretary a he or she?"

"A he, but he may be interested with another 'he'," she says, trying to imply that her secretary is not straight.

"That doesn't count. It's still a guy, mother."

What should he do? Should he pretend to have an upset stomach to stop her from leaving? Would it work this time as well?

Hillary could only shake her head at his oblivious response.

Mark Zheng, her meticulous secretary, had already proven his loyalty towards her well. Whereas the only missing piece for the evidence of his truthfulness was a pledge paper, which stated that he's willing to take a bullet for her.

Over the years he worked under her, they had shared the same burden and pressure throughout her overtime schedules. There was not a single moment where he complained of the workload or left the office before her.

She had watched his sincerity and valued his honesty. He's a man who wouldn't make any reckless move and thus respected her by showing no ounce of interest other than admiration towards her.

She even assumed her secretary wasn't straight as he wasn't interested in women, and thus he only sees and respects her as his boss.

In this cunning world, she needed loyal and trustworthy subjects by her side, and she's glad to call him one.

"You'd get to meet him next month."

Letting him meet Kieran is a perfect idea. She bets these two would understand each other well.

"Then it'll be summer already." Kieran was unhappy. He rests the side of his head towards her shoulder.

Does his mother have to go to the office even on summer breaks?

Being an adult sure is exhausting.

Hillary fixed his clothes. She was terrified of the idea of him catching a cold. Afterward, she embraces him. She couldn't resist not doing so when he's so adorable in her sight. She hopes to lend her warmth to his cold body.

"Only a month to go before it does," she replied.

Not to mention, she's looking forward to this summer. There are certain events she had planned, specifically, a birthday surprise she had organized for him. Eventually, a month from now, they both will be staying on a private island she bought a month ago, where they could do whatever they want together.

She's sure he'd be ecstatic to see the sea for the first time as she wants to treasure their time together somewhere far away from the gawking eyes of their society.

This year they will peacefully celebrate his fourth birthday, no more hiding inside the quiet and dull mansion.

She only wants him to experience and acknowledge, there's still beauty in life, despite its cruel reality.

She fathoms how time had passed at a light speed. She didn't notice how fast the digits were flying on the calendar.

Kieran's finally turning four in as short as a month. Every single day, he was growing more bright, attentive, and curious. It's only a matter of time before he starts questioning her about the missing presence in the family, his father's absence to be precise.

Her throat went dry at such thought. She knows the day she feared will eventually come.

Although she had tried everything she could to support him and give him the love and treatment he deserved, it will always be lacking for him as a child. He will always yearn for a father's love that she couldn't provide him.

How disappointing must it feel for him?

It breaks her heart if ever she'll hear him say those words to her.

As the mother and son pair shared a comfortable silence, the servants resume walking confidentially to the staircase leading towards the second floor after seeing their young master was recharging from his mother's embrace, tamed and ever so docile.

"Mother, promise me you'd stay away from bastards in Shangwei."

Kieran's voice slowed down with a hint of drowsiness. She rests her hand behind his head, swaying their bodies gently from side to side while embracing him in her warm and comforting arms.

"Indeed I will, sweetheart." She softly says as she continues to rock their linked bodies before the little man in her arms falls into a deep sleep.

Even without his request, she'll be extra cautious when she gets to the country, especially when there's a dangerous pest whose fame and authority overpowered the country's government itself.

Soon light footsteps echoed inside the room.

"Young master's having trouble falling asleep these days, young miss," Butler Yang intruded in a low voice, hating to break the mother and son moment laid before his eyes.

The pitiful boy had no ounce of sleep since yesterday. He stood by the window and waited for the heiress to arrive home. Butler Yang couldn't find the opportunity to tell the boy that his mother wasn't coming home as she was seeking her grandparent's residence during that evening.

His eyes settled miraculously at the little man in deep slumber as he resumes speaking, "According to his doctor, the charts from his records have been awful. His insomnia had gotten worst in the past days, young miss."

Without her inside the house, the young boy rarely sleeps in comfort.

"I will take note of that," replied Hillary towards her butler while looking down at the young child sleeping under her embrace, unaware of his sufferings.

Sadness was visible in her eyes.

He's such an aggressive boy, yet too mature of his age, but those rough barriers he had, without doubt, would falter when he's in her arms.

Worry hovers her for the weeks of her absence inside the mansion. The uneasiness she felt was filling the anxiousness she felt against her bottled-up fear.

In the last three days, she was unable to sleep too. She was overthinking the possibilities of coming across a man she's been hiding from.

The man she wishes to not come across with, the main root of her son's frantic behavior. Surprisingly, Kieran inherited his traits naturally.

No matter what, it looks like their blood finds its way to his senses. Kieran was growing more like him as if he was his mini or junior version.

She doesn't know if such results she only knew are to be celebrated or weep over. He was also the man who drove her down, mentally and emotionally. By recalling the unwanted memories they shared, she had to seek her homey grandparents' house to sleep more comfortably rather than staying inside this mansion where almost all her terrors and nightmares in life began.

It was like her therapy.

But she shouldn't have done that.

She didn't know her son was experiencing continuous discomfort because of her selfish decisions.

There are too many things to prioritize in life that sometimes she wondered when will she have the freedom to live peacefully in a house of her own choice and with her son to live alone in peace.

From the bottom of the list was her broken and mended heart, where it was the last issue she bats her lashes to.