The school bell rang loudly, signaling the end of the day as students poured out of their classrooms.

Mia, Leo, and John walked out together with their backpacks slung over their shoulders.

The atmosphere around them had become much lighter these days now that Nate had stopped openly bothering them.

None of them had expected Principal Thames to personally address the bullying issue during the assembly. Even though he never mentioned any names directly, his warning had been clear enough.

Any kind of misconduct would no longer be tolerated at Daffodil Academy.

For the first time in a long while, the students finally felt at ease.

As the three children approached the school gates, John suddenly stopped walking.

"Mia, is that your mom?" he asked, pointing ahead.

Mia immediately turned toward the entrance.

The moment she spotted the familiar woman standing beside a black car, her face brightened instantly.

"Yes! That’s my mom," she said excitedly, her smile widening.

John blinked in confusion while staring at Mia’s mother.

"But why does she look so different?" he asked honestly. "I remember during the last parent meeting she was much thinner. Is she sick or something?"

Leo frowned slightly as concern crossed his face.

"Is she okay?" he asked quietly.

Mia looked at the two boys as though they were hopeless before letting out a dramatic sigh.

"She’s not sick," she said immediately. "And she’s not getting fat either."

Then she proudly placed her hands on her waist.

"She looks like that because I’m going to have a younger sibling soon."

Both Leo and John froze.

The boys exchanged clueless glances before slowly looking back at Mia’s mother, who was now smiling and waving warmly at them from outside the gates.

Realization slowly dawned on their faces.

"Oh," John muttered awkwardly.

"I have to go now," Mia said cheerfully while adjusting her backpack. "Daddy said I shouldn’t make Mommy tired."

Without wasting another second, she ran toward her mother.

Leo and John quietly watched as Mia carefully held her mother’s hand and helped her into the car before climbing in beside her.

The sight made both boys blink in surprise.

"So that’s what she meant," John mumbled thoughtfully.

Leo gave a faint nod.

It finally explained why Mia’s mother looked different from before.

A few seconds later, another car pulled up nearby.

"Anyway, my chauffeur is here too," John said before turning to Leo. "See you tomorrow."

"See you," Leo replied with a small nod.

John quickly left while Leo adjusted his backpack and started walking toward his own car.

However, before he could take another step, someone suddenly blocked his path.

Leo immediately looked up and frowned the moment he recognized the person standing in front of him.

Nate.

"Move," Leo said coldly, his expression unreadable.

Leo had always believed that ignoring people would eventually make them lose interest and leave him alone.

But Nate was different.

The more Leo ignored him, the more determined Nate became to provoke him.

Nate stared at him silently for a few seconds before finally speaking.

"I’m not here to cause trouble."

That only made Leo frown harder.

Coming from someone like Nate, those words were difficult to believe.

Leo remained silent, his sharp eyes fixed on Nate as though trying to figure out what game he was playing this time.

The school entrance was still crowded with students leaving campus, but many slowed down when they noticed the two boys standing face to face.

After the principal’s warning earlier that week, everyone had become unusually alert whenever Nate approached someone.

Leo tightened his grip on his backpack strap.

"Then what are you here for?" he asked coldly.

The response he received left him completely stunned.

"Sorry."

Leo’s brows lifted slightly while his lips parted in disbelief.

An apology? From Nate?

For a moment, he genuinely thought he had heard wrong.

But Nate neither backed away nor changed his expression.

"For everything I did," Nate said quietly. "I came to apologize."

Leo blinked slowly, struggling to process the situation.

This was the same Nate who used to corner students without a hint of guilt and act as though the entire school belonged to him.

And now he was apologizing?

Before Leo could even respond, another voice interrupted them.

"Young Master."

Teddy had arrived to pick Leo up from school.

The moment he approached, his sharp gaze immediately landed on Nate standing in front of Leo.

His expression turned cautious at once.

Nate recognized Teddy instantly.

Without saying another word, he simply stepped aside and walked toward the car parked across the road.

Teddy watched him carefully until he left.

Ever since Nate’s bullying issue came to light, everyone around Leo had become extra vigilant.

After learning what had happened at school, Xander had not only warned the academy management but had also instructed the staff around Leo to stay alert at all times.

Although Xander trusted his son, he also knew Leo had a habit of quietly enduring problems without telling anyone.

And considering Nate was Gavin’s son, nobody wanted to take unnecessary risks.

Teddy finally shifted his attention back to Leo.

"Did he do anything to you?" he asked immediately.

Leo lightly shook his head.

"No."

Teddy still looked unconvinced.

"Uncle Teddy, where is Mommy? Didn’t she come to pick me up today?"

Leo’s question pulled Teddy out of his thoughts. But when he noticed how completely clueless the boy looked, he could not help sighing inwardly.

"For that, you’ll have to go home and see for yourself," Teddy replied mysteriously.

Leo blinked, confusion clearly written across his face, completely unaware of what Ivy was planning and why she had skipped picking him up from school that day.

***

By the time Leo returned home, the entire mansion had fallen into an unusual state of chaos.

Not the dangerous kind.

The embarrassing kind.

The moment Teddy stepped into the living hall with Leo, he froze.

Every servant in the mansion had gathered there as though some grand event was about to take place. Even the maids from the kitchen had abandoned their work and stood near the staircase whispering excitedly among themselves.

At the center of the hall stood Ivy.

Or more accurately, posed Ivy.

Leo blinked in confusion.

His mother was standing on top of the long marble platform near the staircase with one hand on her hip while a nervous looking stylist adjusted the end of her dress.

"What is happening?" Leo asked slowly.

Teddy pinched the bridge of his nose as if he had already suffered enough.

"Young Master," he muttered tiredly. "Your mother discovered fashion videos online."

Leo immediately looked alarmed.

That explained everything.

Before either of them could react, Ivy suddenly noticed them.

Her eyes sparkled.

"Leo! Perfect timing!" she exclaimed happily. "Come watch me."

Watch her?

Leo suddenly had a very bad feeling.

Sal, who was standing nearby, covered his face helplessly.

"Why does she have to involve a child in such an embarrassing situation?" he muttered under his breath.

Because unlike Ivy, the one actually feeling embarrassed was everyone watching her.

"Should we call the doctor in advance or wait until after the accident?"

"I already prepared the emergency kit," Teddy replied calmly.

Leo stared at the adults in disbelief. However, he simply ignored it and walked ahead to cheer his mother.

Meanwhile, the maids looked completely enchanted.

"Madam looks so beautiful"

"She’s glowing lately."

"Her confidence is amazing."

Ivy beamed after overhearing them.

"See?" she said proudly to Sal. "The people understand talent."

Sal adjusted his glasses.

"With all due respect, your talent usually does not require four bodyguards standing nearby for safety reasons."

Benny immediately nodded.

"We were told to stay alert in case Madam slips again."

"I slipped only once," Ivy argued.

Teddy stared at her blankly.

"Madam, you fell into the fountain."

"That fountain was unnecessarily placed."

"It has been there for eight years."

Ivy ignored him completely before taking a deep breath.

"Alright," she declared dramatically. "Everyone watch carefully," she said, and the entire hall went silent, cautiously watching her.

Even Leo unconsciously stepped closer, watching his mother walk.

Ivy placed one foot forward elegantly, then another, causing everyone to gape in return.

For exactly three seconds, things looked surprisingly normal. However, Sal narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"She’s actually doing it?"

Teddy looked equally shocked. "I think so."

The maids nearly burst into applause. But then, the very next second, disaster struck.

Ivy attempted to spin dramatically at the end of the platform only for her heel to catch on the edge of her dress.

Sal’s soul nearly left his body.

"Ivy!"

Three bodyguards rushed forward instantly. "Madam!"

Leo gasped as horror struck him.

Teddy looked ready to age another ten years as they all held their breath. But, through pure luck and overconfidence, Ivy managed to grab the nearby curtain before falling, and the curtain came down with her.

"Ah..."

The entire living hall froze as the loud ripping sound echoed everywhere as Ivy disappeared beneath expensive fabric.

"..." Then her offended voice emerged from underneath the curtain.

"This house is trying to assassinate me."