Mika Summers waited until the young couple had left happily before she approached the cashier. She retrieved her card, then left the store with her shopping bags.

Meanwhile, the man in the hallway was still staring, lost in thought.

Suddenly, a woman smacked him hard on the shoulder. "Hey! Aaron, what are you spacing out for?" she demanded, sounding annoyed.

"Sis, I just remembered I have some unfinished work to take care of, so I have to go now. You go ahead and enjoy your shopping. If you see anything you like, just buy it and put it on my tab." After saying his piece, the man hurried away, ignoring the dissatisfied shouts of the woman behind him.

By the time he got out of the shop, he saw that Mika Summers had already driven away.

The smile on his face widened. ’Miss Summers,’ he thought, ’I’m sure this won’t be the last time we meet.’

*****

「Newcroft, Villa District.」

When Mika Summers got home, she saw Tristan Grayson was already back.

He was sitting on the sofa watching TV, holding Kiki.

When Tristan Grayson saw her walk in with two large bags, he quickly set Kiki down on the sofa. Frowning, he walked over and took the bags from her. "What did you buy?" he asked in a cold voice. "Why so much?"

Mika Summers looked away, slightly embarrassed. She reached out and tugged the bags back from his hands. "They’re all for Kiki."

With that, Mika Summers carried the two heavy bags of toys into the living room. She looked at Kiki and said with a smile, "Kiki, Mommy didn’t know what kind of toys you like, so I got you one of everything. Come take a look and see if you like them."

Kiki nodded, hopped off the sofa, and walked over to Mika Summers.

Mika Summers set the bags on the floor and gently ruffled Kiki’s hair. "If you don’t like any of these," she said softly, "Mommy will take you to pick some out yourself another day."

Kiki didn’t say anything, just kept his head down, staring at the things on the floor.

Seeing Kiki’s lack of response, Mika Summers felt a pang of disappointment. Still, she forced a smile and began to take the toys out of the bags one by one.

Tristan Grayson stood in the doorway, watching the scene unfold in the living room. He saw how hard Mika Summers was trying to win Kiki over, but the boy never said a word, only shaking or nodding his head.

His brow furrowed at the sight, his eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions.

’Even he couldn’t understand why Kiki disliked Mika Summers.’

"Kiki, you don’t like them?"

Kiki shook his head, his eyes darting away, unable to meet Mika Summers’s gaze.

"Kiki, tell Mommy what you like. We can go buy it right now, okay?"

At the mention of going out to buy something, Kiki immediately turned to look at Tristan Grayson, seeking his father’s permission.

The smile on Mika Summers’s face froze when she saw Kiki’s first instinct was to look to Tristan Grayson for approval.

’Looks like I really am a complete failure as a mother.’

Seeing the look on Mika Summers’s face, Tristan Grayson knew she was upset. He walked over and said in a cold, heavy voice, "Kiki, Mommy is talking to you."

Tears welled up in Kiki’s eyes at his father’s reprimand. Pouting, he crossed his arms over his chest. "I don’t know." ’He wanted to go out and play, but he didn’t want to betray his dad...’

’What else could he say besides "I don’t know"?’

"Kiki, you’re going too far."

Kiki fought back tears and snorted, tilting his head back defiantly. ’Me, going too far? How am I going too far? This mother just wants to trick me into leaving with her. I’m not going to pay her any mind.’