The man didn’t seem to mind the woman’s actions, nor did he respond. He simply continued with his work.

The woman’s patience finally ran out. She reached over and snatched the documents from his desk. "Silas Kent! How much longer are you going to drag this out?"

"Absolutely not! You’re not going back!" Silas Kent rose to his feet, his voice cold.

"Silas Kent, you’re the one who said that once I landed the IS Group project, you would let me return. I’ve done it, so why can’t I go back?"

"When I say no, I mean no!" The IS Group project had just been his way of making things difficult for her, but he never expected it to backfire so spectacularly.

"Silas Kent, I’m not listening to you this time." The woman hopped off the desk and, with an angry declaration, turned to leave.

Watching her storm out of the office, Silas Kent barked, "Mika Summers, stop right there!"

Mika Summers stopped but didn’t turn around.

Silas Kent strode over to her and grabbed her arm. He pulled her toward a nearby sofa and pushed her down onto it. His tone softened. "I’m not against you going back to see your son. But I absolutely will not allow you to go back right now!"

"Silas Kent, you bastard! You’re going back on your word!"

Mika Summers threw a punch at Silas Kent, but he easily caught her small fist in his palm. He raised a brow smugly, a roguish grin on his face. "Does the little apprentice want to strike her master?"

"Bastard!" Mika Summers cursed, lashing out with a kick. Silas Kent released her hand and sidestepped the blow. Pushing off the sofa with one hand, Mika launched herself to her feet and began to fight him in earnest.

Silas only dodged, never striking back, while Mika’s attacks were real. When he saw she was starting to pant from exhaustion, Silas frowned and said with a sigh of resignation, "Alright, alright, I lose. I lose. Stop fighting." ’This woman is truly the ungrateful brat I raised with my own two hands.’

Mika Summers crossed her arms and sat back down on the sofa. "So? Have you come to your senses?"

"Yes, I’ve thought it through. I’ll go back with you." ’Since I can’t stop her from going back, I’ll just have to go with her.’

"Silas, I can go back on my own. I don’t need you—"

However, Silas cut her off, his voice sharp. "You can go back by yourself, but I wouldn’t be able to rest easy. I have to go with you. And don’t forget what I promised you. I’m going to help you crush everyone who ever hurt you under your heel!"

Mika’s gaze darkened. A cold smile touched her lips as she brushed his hand off her shoulder. "Thank you."

***

After leaving the Joyce Family estate, the woman yanked off her wig. Wine-red curls instantly cascaded over her shoulders. She took off her glasses, a self-deprecating smile playing on her lips.

She pulled her keys from her bag, unlocked her car, and slid inside. She changed out of the formal suit and into casual clothes more fitting for her age, only then allowing herself to relax.

She leaned back in her seat, brows knitted. The image of what she had just seen at the banquet flashed through her mind.

Despite her best efforts to maintain her composure, she couldn’t help the ache in her heart. ’In the end, Cassian Jennings is still with that woman.’

’The old Amelia Avery would have marched right up to that couple and given them a beating. But Amelia Avery is dead. I’m not Amelia Avery. I’m Celia Osborne...’

’A grown woman, four years older than Amelia Avery!’