A new job.

It was a radiant and beautiful day. Caitlin awoke early and bathed Sultan, dressed him smartly, fed him a wholesome breakfast, and accompanied him to his kindergarten class at the preschool.

"Now, Sultan, you be a good boy for mommy, okay?" she said with a smile, and he responded with a cute smile and a slow nod. Despite not yet being completely fluent, he was incredibly adorable and had picked up speaking quite quickly.

"That's my little one," she said, kissing him on the forehead. "What would you like me to get for you?"

"Cho...colate!" he said with a cute grin, and she smiled back. "Of course! I'll get you just that, my dear."

The teachers at the preschool smiled warmly. They all had a soft spot for Sultan. Not only was he charming, but he also showed exceptional intelligence for his age.

"Don't worry. We'll take good care of him. He's very bright," one of the teachers said with a big smile as she took him from Caitlin's arms.

Afterward, Caitlin headed to the job interview. Grace had cleared all hurdles for her, leaving only the interview and acceptance.

Meanwhile, Kane sat in his office, sifting through piles of paperwork. Exhausted, he took a moment to relax on the sofa. His neck and shoulders ached. Surely, being the CEO of such a large and significant organization like the Holton Empire (HEO) was no simple feat.

Numerous responsibilities rested on his shoulders, demanding his attention to prevent his company from facing bankruptcy once again. The memory of the last occurrence was dreadful, with the organization sustaining significant financial losses. It had been a challenging task to restore the company to stability.

Kane Esmond had been serving as the CEO of the organization since the age of twenty. It had been five years since then, and the organization had consistently maintained the highest rating for importing top-quality foreign goods of various types, including clothing, accessories, armaments, and machinery.

Kane was not only renowned for being a young and responsible CEO but also widely popular both in the country and abroad for his remarkable good looks and striking handsomeness. He was considered the ideal man by many women, being wealthy at a young age and possessing captivating looks that attracted every woman's desire.

Standing tall with a perfectly sculpted body, Kane boasted broad shoulders that were highly coveted. His deep gray eyes exuded passion and held a penetrating gaze. His facial features were impeccably sharp, with a perfectly defined jawline and a long, thick neck that women yearned to hold. His deep, soothing voice and persuasive aura added to his allure.

He was a determined individual who pursued his desires without looking back. His luscious dark, silky hair was a treasure to behold. With his rare blend of masculine beauty and wealth, he stood as one of the wealthiest men in the country. His net worth soared into the billions and continued to grow, owning countless properties both domestically and internationally. His wealth was beyond comprehension.

As he sat there, taking a moment to recuperate from the day's challenges, his assistant, Darian, entered the room clad in a black suit.

"Sir, there are new candidates for interviews in the sanitation department."

"I'm feeling exhausted," he responded after a prolonged pause. "Let the head cleaner take care of that."

"Understood, sir. I will relay the message to her."

Upon her arrival, Caitlin was escorted to her department within the expansive office building. There, she encountered other job applicants vying for the same position. Given the building's size, there was a high demand for cleaners to ensure it stayed impeccably clean, requiring five cleaning sessions daily. This task was no small feat, but the compensation offered was quite generous, even for cleaners.

Having some cleaning experience, Caitlin felt confident in her ability to handle the workload that lay ahead. With Grace's support, she secured the position with ease. Following her interview with the head cleaner, Mrs. Matilda, Caitlin was promptly welcomed into the team.

On that very day, she donned her cleaner's uniform, a black dress adorned with white trimmings and a white apron, and commenced her duties. Her task involved cleaning the women's restrooms on the second and third floors of the fifty-story skyscraper. These two floors alone housed numerous bathrooms.

After completing her work, she took a well-deserved break in the canteen. Her striking beauty caught the attention of many male employees who sought to engage her in conversation, but she politely declined their advances. She became the point of attention, drawing the gaze of Darian, Kane's assistant. Initially failing to recognize her, Darian was suddenly flooded with memories, realizing that she was the same young woman from two years ago, whom his employer had taken by force. It had to be her! He inched closer to observe her more closely.

"It was her!" He recalled how he had conspired with his master to lure her into the car and force her to inhale the potent drug. The memory left him horrified, unable to recall her name. Without hesitation, he hurried to inform Kane of what he had witnessed.

Caitlin arrived at the preschool to collect Sultan. His face lit up with joy at the sight of his mother, and he ran to her eagerly. Embracing him, she lifted him, beaming with delight.

"My darling! How have you been?! You must have missed Mommy, haven't you?"

He nodded slowly, prompting a smile from her.

"Time to head home now, sweetheart. And I got you some chocolates, your favorites!" She handed him two packs of chocolate bars. Excitedly, he tore open the pack and happily indulged in the treats.

"Oh... isn't he just the sweetest!" exclaimed one of the teachers. "He performed excellently today, mastering the alphabet correctly and writing numbers from one to a hundred without a single mistake. He's incredibly bright. I believe he will excel in his studies."

"Really? Well, that calls for celebration, Sultan!"

"Mummy... I want cake!" he exclaimed excitedly, still nibbling on bits of the chocolate bars as they made their way to the roadside to hail a taxi.

"I think we have some strawberry cake left in the fridge," she mentioned as they settled comfortably in the cab. The driver smiled warmly at them.

"Wow... your son is so cute! His father must be a very handsome man, right?" Caitlin's expression turned serious, and the driver noticed the change in her mood.

"I... I apologize for that. But your son is adorable. You're very fortunate to have him."

Caitlin forced a smile, though she felt deeply uneasy. The last thing she wanted was to be reminded of the father of her beloved son, the cruel man who had taken advantage of her. Despite the passage of two years since the incident, the painful memories remained vivid in her mind... his cruel smirk, the malevolent smile, every agonizing moment... she shuddered with cold chills whenever those recollections surfaced.

No matter how hard she attempted to push them away, those memories persistently haunted her. It seemed like something she would carry with her for the rest of her days. Yet, as long as she had Sultan by her side, she found solace and happiness.