Lyla Greene dragged her suitcase into the villa under the scorching midday sun, feeling like she was about to melt. When she finally stepped inside, the housekeeper, Mrs. Warren, hurried to greet her, and that's when Lyla discovered that her husband, Cameron Carlson, and his aunt hadn't arrived as planned.
Mrs. Warren, who had been with the Carlson family for ages, knew the household inside out. Upon learning that the suitcase belonged to Nora James, she immediately instructed the driver to take it elsewhere.
Lyla was puzzled. It seemed Nora preferred to stay somewhere else, which wasn't unusual given the unpredictable nature of the Carlsons. Approaching fifty and never married, Nora appeared even more aloof than Cameron. The family certainly shared their cool demeanor alongside their striking looks. According to Mrs. Warren's whispered gossip, Nora had once been infatuated with a man and had done foolish things to win his love, but he never returned her feelings. Lyla wasn’t one to indulge in gossip, so she took it all in with little interest.
Exhausted and relieved she wouldn't be sharing the house with Nora, Lyla took a quick cold shower and collapsed into bed.
Meanwhile, at another Carlson estate, the mood was far from calm. As soon as Nora walked in, she hurled her purse at Cameron's face, fuming with anger.
"Who gave you the right to do this?" she snapped, pointing a trembling finger at him, her frustration evident. "Have you been enchanted by that little minx? Haven't you learned anything from what I told you?" Her anger seemed to grow, nearly making her lose her balance.
If the media hadn't plastered it everywhere, Nora might still be unaware of Cameron's marriage to Lyla Greene!
Cameron rushed to steady her but was brushed off with disdain.
"Aunt Nora, I haven't forgotten. That's exactly why I did it!" Cameron insisted, kneeling beside the sofa, worry etched on his face. After all their years together, she was his only family, and he wanted nothing more than her well-being.
"Then why marry her? Why give her the summer cottage?" Nora's frustration was clear as she pushed Cameron away again, dismissing his explanations.
"Aunt Nora, I have my reasons. The pain that man caused us will be avenged through his most cherished daughter!" Cameron's voice was full of emotion, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Nora's expression softened, a sly smile forming. Cameron, known for his level-headedness and honesty, surely hadn't lied to her. Maybe she had judged too hastily.
With a softening gaze, she reached out to ruffle Cameron’s hair. "Cameron, regardless of your intentions, it was reckless not to consult me about something this significant. You know how captivating that Lyla Greene is. Can you guarantee you won’t fall for her? You've even given her the summer cottage. Have you already fallen for her?" she probed.
"Absolutely not. I’ll never love her, not ever!" Cameron's vehement denial was immediate, as if the suggestion deeply unsettled him.
Nora paused at his intensity, then nodded in approval. "Good. Never forget how your sister and your parents died. They’re gone because of that woman! You must seek revenge, Cameron. They won’t rest in peace until you do."
"Don't worry, Aunt. I will," Cameron assured, determination evident even as he struggled with the ghostly silhouette haunting his mind.
Satisfied, Nora gestured for Cameron to sit beside her on the sofa.
"Oh, by the way, Cameron, I heard Jolie is coming over too. Her family's influential in Europe, and with their support, expanding the business there will be easier. Jolie's feelings for you are no secret. It's time to settle things with Lyla and marry Jolie," Nora suggested, her mind always strategizing to settle personal scores and expand their empire.
"I’ve told you, Aunt, I don’t love Jolie Stone. I have no interest in marrying her. Leave the business to me; I’ll lead it to success," Cameron said, discomfort accompanying the thought of marrying someone he didn’t love. Lyla’s face inexplicably surfaced in his mind.
"Why the hesitation? Is it because of Lyla? Do you not intend to divorce her? Be honest, Cameron, have you developed feelings for her?" Nora’s suspicion grew at Cameron’s reluctance, her mind racing with possibilities.
"No, I haven’t. You must trust me, Aunt. I'll never love my enemy’s daughter! Even if she wasn’t my enemy, I wouldn’t fall for her!" Cameron insisted, a wave of restlessness coursing through him. Could Lyla truly be so enchanting that any man would eventually fall for her?
"Alright, get some rest, Aunt. You've had a long flight. I have some matters to attend to, but I'll visit again in a couple of days," Cameron said, eager to end the conversation before it could drag on.
As he left, Nora watched him go, a shadow crossing her eyes. Her mind was calculating, plotting. If Cameron couldn’t do it, she would take matters into her own hands. She would ensure that Lyla Greene found no peace.
Back at the villa, Lyla found herself nodding off with a book in hand. Evening was drawing near, and Cameron hadn’t returned. She wandered the villa aimlessly, boredom creeping in.
"Ma’am, why not step out for a walk? The master lifted your restriction, didn’t he? There’s a lovely wooded area nearby. It’s beautiful, especially at night, with fireflies lighting up the scene," Mrs. Warren suggested while tending to her chores.
Intrigued, Lyla perked up. Having been confined for over a year, she yearned for fresh air, and with Cameron's recent declaration of freedom, she had no reason to stay cooped up.
Nestled on a hillside, the villa offered breathtaking views. Exiting through the main door, Lyla followed a path leading into the lush forest. An archaeologist by profession, she was always drawn to ancient and natural wonders, so she ventured into the woods without a second thought.
In the auditorium, parents and children gathered for the school’s opening ceremony. Lyla chose a seat by the window with her son Keily, as sunlight poured through, casting a radiant glow on them. Lyla, without a touch of makeup, still possessed a striking beauty that drew the attention of many fathers present.
“Lyla, why do you have to be so stunning? Those dads are practically drooling over you!” Keily commented, fiddling with a Rubik’s Cube, having noticed the admiring gazes directed at his mother. He scowled, clearly displeased.
“Keily!” Lyla felt a surge of embarrassment. Her son had a knack for saying things far beyond his years, displaying maturity unusual for his age. "Alright, I won’t mention it again. But, Mom, why didn’t you let Uncle Skyler join us for my ceremony? You know I…" Keily trailed off with a pout. It irked him to see other kids surrounded by both parents, while he only had his mother and an empty chair where his father should have been.
Hyper-aware and sensitive, Keily felt a pang of sadness at this realization.
“Keily, Uncle Skyler is very busy and doesn’t have time for school ceremonies,” Lyla said, knowing exactly what weighed on her son’s mind but avoiding the delicate subject, as it stirred a dark urge within her.
“Hmph! You’re thinking about my deadbeat dad again, aren’t you? He’s been gone for so long. Why dwell on him? I hate him!” Keily burst out, words flowing in a rush of bottled-up emotion, his small face tight with suppressed tears.
“Keily, I'm so sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you,” Lyla said, knowing Keily's rare emotional outbursts revolved around this topic. She felt keenly aware of her failings as a parent — in this case, her inability to fulfill Keily’s wish to know his father, even if just through a photograph.
“Why do other kids have dads, and I don’t? Mom, it makes me sad. I don’t want to upset you, but…” Keily sobbed, feeling the sting of injustice that came with being different at just five years old.
“Keily, I've explained this many times. You do have a dad. He just… passed away before you were born. Please be strong, okay?” Lyla said, hoping to soothe him as she watched her son’s teary face with a sinking heart.
“I'm sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean to bring him up,” Keily apologized, trying to rein in his emotions, turning his head away to avoid seeing her face.
“Keily…” Lyla’s heart ached at her son’s response. For years, she had been shielding him from the truth, but he had always been sensitive to her feelings.
If Keily ever learned the truth, he might despise her for it.
Lyla frowned, reaching out to touch Keily’s cheek, only for him to subtly dodge her hand, leaving it hanging awkwardly in the air.
“Attention, please!” A sharp rap on the podium brought silence to the room. A stern voice echoed across the gathering, bringing the ceremony to order.
“Welcome to Norris Academy, our newest students. Here, you will have access to the world’s finest educational resources. Although Norris Academy was established only five years ago, its global influence is already among the best! This is all thanks to its founder!”
In any grand ceremonial event across the globe, opening remarks generally followed the same script, regardless of cultural differences.
"Our tradition at Norris Academy is to conduct various assessments before the new students begin. Norris selects the best and brightest young minds from around the world, so the assessments are rigorous! And of course, with testing comes ranking, and with ranking comes rewards!” The host raised a sealed envelope, showing it to the audience.
Inside was the list of rankings for this cohort of young students, based on their pre-admission intelligence tests.
“This year’s top rank goes to…” The host paused dramatically, scanning the audience.
“Keily Greene!” The host announced, stumbling slightly over the unusual name, while searching the crowd for the brilliant child, not yet five, who had outperformed peers several years older.
“Keily, they’re calling you. You need to go on stage to accept your award!” Lyla encouraged, familiar with such events and neither surprised nor overly excited. Keily had constantly amazed her with his achievements since birth.
Possessing exceptional intelligence, Lyla had recognized her son's extraordinary mind early on.
“These ceremonial events are always such a bore,” Keily muttered, grudgingly rising despite his distaste for the formalities.
Small in stature, he stepped up to the stage, drawing gasps of surprise from the audience. This small, strikingly unusual boy was this year’s recipient of Norris Academy’s coveted Golden Boot Award.
“Oh, what a beautiful little girl!” The host exclaimed, reaching out to touch Keily’s cheek.
“I’m sorry, but I’m all boy, sir! Maybe you should see an eye doctor!” Keily retorted confidently in fluent English, drawing chuckles from the audience with his quick wit.
Laughter rippled through the room, all charmed by the sharp-witted young boy. Despite the host’s mild attempt at bias, his audience found the lively exchange amusing.
From her seat, Lyla was both anxious and amused, her son’s cheeky wink reassuring her.
“Ah, so he’s a little gentleman! Now, let us invite the founder of Norris Academy to present this award to our charming boy! Please welcome... President Carlson!”
The heavy journal slammed shut. Cameron’s eyes, bloodshot and weary from a sleepless night, were filled with disbelief. The revelations within the pages had left him shocked — even shaken.
He had never known the truth of the past. His father’s journal recounted a harrowing tale of sins — both against a woman and an entire family. Cameron’s father had hidden his wrongdoings within this journal, leaving Cameron to blindly perpetuate the mistakes of the past. The car crash years ago had claimed four lives, among them Emerie Adams’s parents and two others, one of whom was Rivka Hayes. But who would have thought they were mother and daughter! Cameron’s supposed sister, as it turned out, wasn’t his sister at all, but Rivka’s daughter with Chaim Greene.
At that archaeological convention, Cameron's father had clung to a final hope that Rivka would return to him, despite their separate marriages. His love for her drove him to desperate pleas for her to leave Chaim and reunite with him, promising to leave Cameron’s mother in return. But it was all one-sided. Rivka had never cared for him.
In his heartbreak, Cameron’s father had turned his desperate love into a fierce hatred. He orchestrated the kidnapping of Rivka’s child, using her as leverage during the convention to blackmail Rivka into compliance.
Rivka, upon discovering her eldest daughter was alive, was overcome with emotion. Cameron’s father had stolen the child from the hospital, a fact recorded in his journal but unknown to many.
Faced with the impossible choice between reuniting with her daughter and yielding to Cameron’s father’s demands, Rivka refused to bow. Amidst their deadlock, a girl’s piercing scream shattered the silence. The girl, unable to bear the revelation, fled, realizing the man she called father was a thief who had stolen her away.
In the ensuing chaos, Rivka chased after her, but the girl vanished, prompting Rivka to drive off desperately in pursuit.
Cameron’s father followed, still caring for the child he had raised, yet horrified at the unfolding tragedy.
Rivka’s reckless driving led her up a mountain road, her maternal instincts driving her towards the isolation of the hills. Her vehicle was unsteady, and in a moment of panic swerved to avoid a figure on the road, but it was too late.
The collision was catastrophic. Emerie’s parents’ car became airborne, striking Cameron’s sister, who was tossed aside as both vehicles plunged off the cliff.
As Keily stepped off the Ferr
