Aaron blinked the moment Leo exposed him.

Without wasting a second, he quickly pulled the boy closer and leaned down to whisper.

"That’s not something to announce so loudly, nephew," he muttered, half-scolding, half-panicking.

Leo blinked at him, clearly ready to argue back—but before he could even open his mouth, Aaron slapped a hand over it.

"Mmmph?!"

"And that still doesn’t change the fact," Aaron continued loudly, straightening up and pointing an accusing finger at Ivy, "that she attacked me. Not once, but twice!"

Ivy raised a brow.

Twice?

He’s counting now?

Aaron puffed his chest, determined to paint himself as the victim of the century.

Xander, meanwhile, pinched the bridge of his nose, already feeling a headache forming.

Aaron might be his cousin—someone he had known since birth—

—but dear lord, he could be unbearable.

"Brother, I’m telling you," Aaron continued dramatically, turning toward Xander, "call the police. She almost choked me!"

Leo’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Before anyone could react—

STOMP!

"Ow—!" Aaron winced, hopping slightly as he clutched his foot.

Leo glared up at him, hands on his hips.

"No, you are not going to do that," he declared firmly, his tiny face scrunched in a frown.

Aaron froze.

Then slowly clutched his chest like he’d just been stabbed.

"My nephew..." he whispered, voice trembling. "Have I... already lost you to this imposter?"

He looked seconds away from collapsing onto the floor again.

Leo ignored him completely.

Instead, he marched straight toward Ivy and stood beside her like a tiny bodyguard.

"You are not taking Mommy away," he said firmly, shooting daggers at Aaron. "Or else I’ll go with her."

The room fell silent.

Aaron blinked.

Everyone blinked.

Leo crossed his arms, doubling down.

"Do you want your dearest nephew to grow up in jail? Eating bland food? Wearing dirty clothes?" he added, clearly horrified at the thought.

Aaron gasped.

"NOT THE BLAND FOOD!"

"I heard they don’t even give dessert!" Leo continued dramatically.

Aaron staggered back a step.

"Brother," he whispered to Xander, shaken to his core, "we cannot let this happen to the child..."

Xander: " ..."

Can’t he see Leo is using his own tricks on him?

"Enough."

This time, the voice didn’t belong to Xander.

Ivy, who had been sitting back and watching the entire circus unfold, finally stood up.

"Excuse me, my son," she said sweetly, gently nudging Leo aside.

Leo blinked, slightly confused but obedient.

Ivy stepped forward, her calm smile still in place—but there was something dangerous about it.

"Let’s get straight to the point," she said, walking toward Aaron.

The moment she stopped in front of him, Aaron stepped back immediately with his arms crossed. Full defense mode activated.

"I know what you want," Ivy continued coolly. "So stop wasting everyone’s time and just say it."

Aaron’s jaw dropped.

She walked into the trap willingly?

Leo, who had been mentally preparing to save his mother from his uncle’s ridiculous punishment, quickly ran to her side.

"Mommy, let me handle this," he whispered—or at least, he thought he whispered.

"I know he’ll give in soon. I just might have to cry a little."

The room went still.

Aaron’s heart cracked audibly. "My dear nephew..." he said, clutching his chest once again. "You wound me... again and again..."

But then his expression shifted as he looked back at Ivy, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"Are you sure," he asked cautiously, taking another small step back, "that you won’t attack me after you hear what I have to say?"

Ivy smiled sweetly.

"...Depends," and that made Aaron swallow.

"Promise, or I won’t say anything," Aaron insisted, lifting his chin like he was negotiating a million-dollar deal.

Ivy’s lips twitched. This holigan...

For a brief second, she imagined all the very satisfying ways she could throw him across the room. But then she glanced around.

Too many eyes. Too much audience.

Control yourself.

"I promise," she said, smiling sweetly through gritted teeth.

The kind of smile that looked polite...but felt like a warning sign.

Aaron visibly shrank. "...Why do I feel like that promise has terms and conditions?" he muttered under his breath.

"Speak," Ivy said, her smile widening just a fraction.

Aaron hesitated for a bit, but seeing the sharp glint crossing Ivy’s eyes, he leaned forward.

"Come closer," he whispered.

Ivy narrowed her eyes but stepped in anyway, folding her arms as she bent slightly toward him.

Aaron glanced around one last time, then cupped his hand around his mouth and whispered something into her ear.

However, he had no idea that while he was busy whispering into Ivy’s ear, he was being absolutely flamed from a distance.

Not just by Leo...but also by Xander. Because if there was one thing Xander despised at that moment, it was how close Aaron was standing to Ivy.

***

"Woah... finally," one of the maids whispered, letting out a long breath of relief. "The war is over."

"Don’t say it too loudly," another maid muttered nervously, glancing toward the living room. "It might start again."

"I was already preparing to call medical help," a third one added dramatically. "I thought we’d have to carry the second young master to his own hospital this time."

"Same." Another nodded. "I even imagined the headline—’Second Young Master defeated... by video game and one furious woman.’"

They all stifled their giggles.

"I swear, the way Madam pinned him down earlier—"

"Shhh! Do you want to lose your job?"

"But did you see his face? He looked like he saw his ancestors—"

"Stop it!"

"And the young master—oh my God—he literally chose his mother over him—"

"That was the real tragedy."

"His heart broke at least five times today."

"Minimum."

They all nodded solemnly, as if attending a memorial.

"And Master Xander?" one of them added quietly. "He looked like he was reconsidering his entire life."

"Honestly, I would too."

Just as their gossip reached peak entertainment, someone cleared her throat.

"Ahem."

The group froze.

Freda stood behind them, arms crossed, expression sharp.

"...Are you all done?" she asked coolly.

The maids straightened instantly.

"Yes, ma’am!"

"Good," Freda said, adjusting her posture. "Since the war has apparently ended, you can all return to your actual duties."

"Dinner is ready. Go and prepare the table."

"Yes, ma’am!"

And just like that, the gossip squad scattered, though not without exchanging one last look.

Because something told them... dinner tonight was not going to be peaceful either.