Behind her, Skylar muttered something under his breath, already fixing his hair with one hand while still holding the iPad in the other.

Zoey didn’t look back, but her smile lingered.

She made her way down the familiar corridor, her steps light. However, just before she reached her parents’ bedroom, her steps slowed and then stopped.

Her expression changed. The playful, relaxed look from before has given way to a more intense, focused expression.

Zoey pulled out her phone.

"I need his confirmation first."

Her thumb hovered over the screen for a second.

"I need to ask Zach about this, Sienna..."

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"Is she his lover...?"

The thought lingered.

"...Or," she said softly, almost hesitantly, "No way! She’s Sky’s biological mother!?"

The moment the words left her lips, her fingers tightened around the phone.

A strange sensation welled up in her chest, not because the question was unfamiliar, but because it was something her entire family had been pondering for years, ever since his brother brought newborn baby Skylar home.

Skylar’s mother? A mystery no one had been able to solve. Because Zachary never tells anyone who Skylar’s mother is.

He also never brings any woman to their family, before and after.

And now, suddenly, a woman appeared out of nowhere.

A woman who made Zachary smile like that.

A woman he even brought to his most reclusive place, introduced her to Skylar, and all three stayed there together over the weekend.

Zoey takes a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. Without wasting another second, she tapped on Zachary’s number and pressed call.

"Hello, my older, wiser brother..." Her voice carried its usual bright, light, teasing tone, as if she were calling a friend instead of the most difficult man in her life.

Unfortunately, Zachary Sterling was not in the mood to play along. His response came immediately. Flat. Cold. Straight to the point, like always. "What do you want this time?"

Zoey rolled her eyes the moment she heard it, already walking toward the tall glass window at the end of the hallway.

"My goodness, older brother," she said, her smile widening with amusement. "You really need to change your cold, indifferent attitude, or the ladies out there will keep their distance forever."

"If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll end—"

"Bro, wait—wait—don’t you dare hang up on me!" Zoey quickly stopped him, her tone rising just enough to show she meant it.

She knew him so well that he would hang up without hesitation.

"Speak like a human." His voice grows even colder. "I’m busy and don’t have time for your nonsense."

Zoey shook her head softly, her fingers tapping lightly against the glass window as she stared outside.

’Fine! I will get straight to the point, then.’ She scolded him in her mind.

"Who is the woman you brought to your Pine Mountain Villa?"

The question slipped out casually. But the moment it left her lips, something inside her tightened nervously.

She was waiting for his reaction.

But after a few seconds, nothing came.

Only silence.

Zoey’s brows slowly furrowed.

’What is this? Why is he not answering? Did he hear me, or is he pretending not to hear?’

The silence stretched just long enough to feel wrong.

"Zach, are you there...?" she spoke again before pulling the phone slightly away from her ear to check the screen.

’Huh!? Still connected. But why does he say nothing?’

Just as she was about to speak again, Zachary’s voice returned. It sounds colder than before.

"Did you send someone to spy on me?"

"What? No!" she said quickly, her tone turning defensive. "Of course not, brother. I saw her in Sky’s picture—"

She didn’t even get to finish properly.

"Where are you now?" he interrupted.

Zoey tightened her grip on her cell phone, confused by the sudden shift. "At our parents’ house..."

Beep!

The call ended. Just like that.

Zoey stared at her phone. Completely speechless.

"...oh, wow. That’s rude."

She slowly lowered the device, her expression shifting from confusion to disbelief.

"How dare he hang up on me like that...!?" she muttered, shaking her head in annoyance.

Zoey let out a deep sigh as she continued walking toward her parents’ bedroom. She tried to put Zachary out of her mind, but she couldn’t.

’So he reacted that way just because I asked about Sienna... why?’

Her lips curved slightly.

’Sienna must be someone special for you, right, bro?’

...

Not long after, a sleek Maybach pulled up in front of the Sterling family’s main entrance and came to a smooth stop.

The driver stepped out first, moving quickly to open the rear door.

And a moment later, Zachary Sterling stepped out, looking sharp in his black suit. He didn’t waste time. He didn’t even glance around as he walked toward the main entrance.

But before he could take another step, the butler had already approached him.

"Welcome, sir," the older man greeted politely, bowing his head slightly, "Madam has been waiting for you since morning."

Zachary nodded once, his expression unreadable as he walked past him.

"Does Mom feel better?" he asked, his tone calm yet direct.

"Yes, sir. She is much better now."

Zachary simply nods as he continues walking, his pace steady.

"Where’s my son?"

The butler gestured politely. "He is in the family room at the back."

Zachary nodded slightly and dismissed him.

The butler stepped aside immediately.

Zachary didn’t slow down until he reached the familiar family room. He could see Skylar sitting on the sofa, just as before, completely focused on his iPad, lost in his own little world as he edited a picture.

He watched him for a moment before finally speaking. "...Looks like you’re having fun here?"

Skylar flinched at the sudden voice, quickly turning around.

"Dad!" He stood up immediately, his expression brightening for a brief moment, before it softened. "Not fun..." he admitted honestly. "Granma can’t play with me. And, Grandpa is also busy taking care of her..."

He glanced down at his iPad. "I only stay here to edit my photos..."

Zachary’s gaze shifted briefly to the screen.

And just like that, everything made sense.

’So, she did see Sky’s photo collection...’