Damien had a nagging sense that something was wrong.
Beneath the swirling snowfall, Ava's almond-shaped eyes widened slightly. She covered her mouth with both hands, too delighted to speak.
She had grown up in the south, petite in build. Her palm-sized face wasn't particularly striking, yet her features came together in a way that uncannily resembled a younger, still-innocent Lydia.
Like a little princess, she spun around in the snow, excitedly grabbing his hand before boldly slipping straight into his arms.
Damien instinctively wanted to push her away. He glanced around, but remembering that it was her birthday, he merely frowned and did nothing.
Those cameras didn't escape his notice, especially after his executive assistant, Miles Hart, had leaned in earlier and whispered, "Several accounts are already livestreaming."
Damien knew that Ava had grown increasingly spoiled and arrogant these past few months, but he was willing to indulge her.
Everything Ava was doing was meant for Lydia to see.
And even if she saw it, what could she possibly do?
Damien thought of the woman at home who always waited quietly for him, quickly forcing a smile the moment he looked her way, and his confidence hardened.
Even if Lydia saw it, she would cry and make a fuss at most. He could placate her with a few perfunctory words, and she would obediently continue being his quiet wife.
And if things had to be dragged into the open, he wasn't afraid either.
When he had been fighting his own brothers for control of Hayes Realty, the Carter family had simply gone along with the tide and married their daughter off to him.
Victor Carter had placed his bet on Damien, and over the past few years, he had made extensive use of Damien's resources to secure connections and projects for Carter Group.
Unfortunately, secrets never stay hidden forever.
On the day they returned from their honeymoon, Victor had drunk too much and, brimming with smug satisfaction, told Damien, "Lydia isn't my biological daughter at all. She was baggage my dead wife brought with her. I was generous enough to raise her, marry her off in style, and I didn't mistreat her in the slightest."
When Victor got drunk, his true colors spilled out. He muttered, "Who knows who her real father is? Probably some lowlife. After all, that dead wife of mine used to sell drinks for a living."
Damien never told Lydia.
Instead, he increasingly saw her as something pitiable. Once her background was exposed, there would be an unbridgeable gap of status between them.
Curled up in his arms, Ava's cheeks flushed red. She blinked innocently, her voice tinged with feigned grievance as she spoke.
"I really love the snow you made for me," she said softly. "But Damien, I wish I could bring Ronan to see it too. He'd be over the moon."
Damien's brow tightened unconsciously. His expression turned cold as he pulled her slightly away and lowered his voice in warning.
"Don't ever say things like that again."
Ava's eyes instantly reddened, but she didn't dare say another word.
She had no idea that what she had just said had struck one of Damien's untouchable nerves.
Ava had gotten pregnant at eighteen and delivered prematurely at seven and a half months. The child she shared with Damien was named Ronan Hayes.
Two years later, she became the housekeeper of the Hayes estate.
Damien had the child sent away to be raised in secret.
It wasn't that Ava didn't want to be with her child, but after weighing her options, she wanted even more to stay by Damien's side.
Watching Damien grow increasingly cold and indifferent toward Lydia, Ava became more convinced that she had made a brilliant move.
There had been no snow in Crownford this year.
When Damien asked her what she wanted as a gift, she casually said she wanted to see a snowfall.
She had imagined a sweet, intimate trip with him to the cold regions. What she got instead was an artificial snowstorm falling from the sky.
She nestled back into Damien's arms and coaxed him gently, "I really love this gift. Tonight… I've prepared a gift for you too."
The unique nightdress clung and concealed in all the right places. She was certain Damien would like it.
At that moment, Miles hurried over with a grave expression and whispered a few words into Damien's ear.
Damien's expression changed abruptly. "How is that possible? What was she doing on the ring expressway?"
Ava leaned in and saw the image on Miles's phone clearly.
A nine-vehicle pileup had occurred on the ring expressway. A truck from the opposite lane had smashed into the leading sports car, shattering it completely. The vehicle had already burned down to nothing but a charred frame.
Ava vaguely remembered that today was the day Lydia was supposed to undergo the abortion.
The hospital had called many times, and Damien had ordered every call to be turned away.
At the time, she had clung to him in tears, and he had softened his voice to comfort her. "I'm not going. The most important thing today is spending your birthday with you."
Now, Damien took several calls in quick succession, his expression growing more severe with each one.
He pushed past everyone, got into the car, and started the engine immediately.
Ava tried to chase after him, but Miles stopped her. His own expression looked grim as well.
"Mrs. Hayes… may be dead."
