As promised, Ivy reached Daffodil Academy just before Leo’s dismissal time. Seated comfortably in the back seat, she looked out at the large gates, patiently waiting for him.

Raven had always found it fascinating to watch children play in parks. There was something about their carefree laughter, especially when they were with their parents, that made everything feel lighter.

Strange as it sounded, when she had promised Leo a trip to the park, a small part of her had wanted to experience that feeling herself.

"Hmm... should I check what children usually do in a park?" she murmured.

Pulling out her phone, she quickly opened a search engine and began scrolling. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Tilting her head, she studied images of parents and kids playing together. Slides, swings, see-saws...

"Maybe I should try this one first," she said thoughtfully, stopping at a picture of a see-saw.

Up front, Teddy and Benny exchanged a look through the rearview mirror.

Benny blinked slowly before leaning toward Teddy and whispering, "Has she... never been to a park before? Why is she researching it like it’s a mission briefing?"

Ivy, completely absorbed in her phone, had no idea she was not as quiet as she thought.

Teddy glanced back at her, equally puzzled.

Wait... what if she really hasn’t?

No one knew much about Ivy except one thing, she was Leo’s mother. Xander had never bothered to explain anything else, yet suddenly assigned them as her guards.

At this point, being around her felt like reading a mystery novel with missing Chapters.

And every day came with a new plot twist.

Teddy sighed and looked ahead again, deciding it was safer not to think too much.

"Ah... how about we try this?" Ivy suddenly exclaimed from the back seat.

Both men jumped.

Benny clutched his chest. "Madam! Please... I have a weak heart."

Teddy just stared at her for a second, as if questioning all his life choices.

Why does she have to be this dramatic? Benny complained internally, already regretting every decision that led him to this job.

He then glanced out the window at the car parked beside them.

Inside, Percy and Nico were watching the scene unfold.

The moment Benny looked at them, they gave him a cheerful thumbs up.

Benny narrowed his eyes.

Traitors.

There he was, suffering in the front line... while they sat comfortably in the "safe vehicle," enjoying the show.

Completely ignoring Benny’s complaint, Ivy then darted her eyes back at the gates where students were walking out.

"AH! THERE HE COMES!" she shouted again, startling the men for the second time before jumping out of the car. But she froze mid-step.

A man had just walked up to Leo... and, in one swift motion, picked him up.

Ivy’s instincts roared to life watching Leo kick and wriggle in the man’s grip, clearly trying to fight him off—and in that instant, a memory flashed in her mind. The first time she had met him. The same helpless struggle.

Kidnapping. Oh, absolutely not.

Meanwhile, Teddy and Benny stepped out, already prepared to complain about her dramatic screaming—but the moment they saw her expression, the words died in their throats.

Her eyes? Pure murder.

"Isn’t that—" Benny started, squinting, but before his brain could finish the sentence, Ivy had already stormed forward like a woman possessed. And then—

THUD!

Her kick landed squarely on the man’s back, sending him crashing face-first onto the ground.

"AHH!" the man cried out in pain.

But Ivy? Oh, she was just getting started.

She grabbed his shoulder, flipped him over onto his back with surprising strength, and straddled him in one smooth move, raising her fist, ready to punch.

"Mommy!"

Her fist froze in mid-air. But the rage in her eyes? Yeah... that didn’t freeze.

"Leo, stay back," she said coldly, not even sparing him a glance. "I won’t let anyone abduct you."

The man beneath her whimpered, staring up at what he was now fully convinced was his impending death, and the second her fist lifted again, he cried in pain.

"I—NEPHEW! HELP YOUR UNCLE!" he screamed in sheer panic. "THIS CRAZY WOMAN IS GOING TO KILL ME!"

"...Nephew?" she repeated slowly as her fist stopped mid-air once again and her mind recalled over his words.

"...Uncle?" her voice dropped an octave.

Her eyes slowly darted to Leo, who gave her an awkward little wave.

A wave.

"Madam, stop!" The guards rushed in only to halt right away. Because there, on the ground...was their second young master. Crying hysterically and currently being pinned down by an extremely furious woman.

Their jaws dropped in perfect unison.

Today... was officially the worst day of his life.

***

Inside the Emerson mansion, a deafening silence settled over the living hall.

Aaron sat there, shooting daggers at Ivy.

Ivy, on the other hand, casually waved her hand in the air—like she was physically swatting those glares away. As if his anger were just... bad Wi-Fi.

"Ah!" Aaron scoffed, utterly offended by her shameless indifference. If anything, her attitude made him more suspicious. Who knocks someone down, almost breaks their spine, and then acts like they just tripped over a pebble?

Suspicious. Very suspicious.

"Why am I having a bad feeling?" Bulter Rupert muttered to himself, but Freda appeared from the side.

"I thought it was just me, but I’m glad I’m not the only one," her words startled Bulter Rupert, who watched her nod with assurance.

"Uncle Aaron," Leo’s cheerful voice cut through the tension, completely out of place in the battlefield of glaring adults. "This is my mommy, Ivy. And Mommy, this is my sweet Uncle Aaron."

Sweet.

Aaron almost choked.

"Now come on," Leo continued, placing his hands on his hips like a tiny commander, "shake hands."

"??" Neither of them moved and it was then Leo’s lips twitched and shouted

"NOW."

And as if struck by lightning, they both lunged forward and grabbed each other’s hands in a frantic handshake.

Leo, meanwhile, dramatically flipped his imaginary hair and let out a relieved sigh—like a director finally getting the perfect shot.

Everyone: "..."