On the third day after the surgery, a faint scent of medicine still lingered in Nikolai’s apartment.

“How are you feeling today?” Nikolai came over with freshly cooked vegetable soup, his hand gently brushing the top of my head, his face filled with tender concern.

“Much better.” I took the bowl, my fingertips accidentally brushing against the back of his hand. The warmth of that touch slipped away too quickly.

Nikolai paused, his gaze fixed on me. For a moment, it seemed he wanted to say something soothing, yet he only let out a soft sigh.

“Tonight is my father’s sixtieth birthday banquet. He really wants to see you. Will you come with me?”

“Alright.” I met his hopeful eyes glowing beneath the sunlight and smiled as I gave my answer.

I really couldn’t bring myself to refuse this version of Nikolai.

By evening, he had changed into a black, custom-made suit. At his cuffs gleamed the sapphire cufflinks I had once given him; he seemed especially fond of them, wearing them almost every time he dressed in a suit.

“Let’s go.” He reached out and steadied my wrist, the warmth of his fingertips seeping through the sleeve, steady and reassuring.

Just as we opened the door, a figure rushed out from the shadows of the hallway.

“Alina!”

Leandro stood at the doorway, his suit disheveled, eyes bloodshot, as though sleep had abandoned him for days.

His gaze locked onto Nikolai’s hand holding mine, his face dark with fury.

“So it’s true!” he spat. “We’re not even divorced yet, and you’re already in another man’s house?”

I didn’t bother with a reply and lifted my foot to walk past him, but his hand clamped hard around my wrist, the pain slicing sharply.

“Let go,” I said, my voice cold.

“Come home with me! Do you even know what people are saying outside?! You’ve completely disgraced the family!”

Nikolai stepped forward, his hand clamping down on Leandro’s wrist with such force it almost sounded like bones creaking under pressure.

“Leandro.” His voice was cold as ice. “If you touch Alina again, I won’t hesitate to cripple this hand of yours.”

Leandro’s face drained of color. He wrenched himself free, his voice breaking into a furious roar.

“Alina, don’t forget—the divorce certificate isn’t in your hands yet. You’re still my wife!”

I looked at his twisted expression and let out a weary sigh.

“Leandro, you look truly pathetic like this.”

With that, I turned toward the elevator. Nikolai followed close behind, his tall frame standing like a silent shield between me and Leandro.

As the elevator doors closed, I still felt the burning weight of Leandro’s eyes drilling into me.

But what did that matter to me? Why should he, the one who chose divorce, now act as though love consumed him?

By the time the banquet ended, night had already deepened.

As Nikolai went to get the car, a voice I knew all too well sounded behind me, freezing me in place.

“Alina, let me take you back to the villa.”

Leandro stood at the steps, his tone calm, tinged with a quiet plea. “Enough of this nonsense, alright?”

I noticed the curious glances of nearby guests. Since this was Uncle Winston’s birthday banquet, I had no desire to cause a scene.

“Let’s go,” I replied flatly.

Leandro’s eyes lit up at once. He rushed forward, reaching as though to steady me, but I avoided his hand and walked directly to his car.

He hurried to open the door, his voice ingratiating. “Alina, let’s talk properly.”

The nightscape outside the window blurred past. I leaned back against the seat, closing my eyes in fatigue.

“Leandro, what is it you want to say?”

Under the pale glow of the moon, Leandro’s hands tightened around the steering wheel, his lips pressed into a thin line, as though wrestling with where to begin.

“Alina, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

I gave no reply, my eyes still on the blur of trees sweeping by outside.

He inhaled deeply, as though steeling himself.

“I want to hold a recognition ceremony for Kieran.”

My body stiffened. Slowly, I turned to him, disbelief flooding my eyes.

His own gaze faltered for a moment, but he quickly masked it, his tone softening into something almost pleading.

“Kieran is, after all, of our blood. He can’t be left without a name, without a place.”

I looked at him, then let out a sudden laugh.

“A recognition ceremony for Kieran? And you’re bringing this up to me?”

“Yes.” Seeing that I didn’t immediately refuse, his eyes lit faintly, his tone growing more eager.

“It doesn’t need to be grand, just invite some close relatives and friends, make it a formality. After all…”

He paused, as though weighing his words. “After all, we’re not officially divorced yet, and in name, you’re still his mother.”

I almost laughed aloud. So this was his plan: using the Windsor family’s name to grant Kieran legitimacy, to create the illusion that the family had accepted him, paving the way forward.

Leandro truly was calculating. Even with divorce looming, he was still scheming how to use the Windsor family and me.

But then I recalled the paternity test results I had received earlier today: Kieran and Leandro shared no blood at all.

I slowly leaned back against the seat, my fingertips tapping lightly against the windowpane, my voice calm.

“Alright. The child is innocent.”

He turned suddenly, eyes alight with disbelief and joy. “You’re agreeing?”

“Hmm.” I allowed a faint smile. “But there’s one condition: if it’s to be done, it must be grand. This event cannot bring shame to either the Rousseau family or the Windsor family.”

“Excellent!” His voice cracked with excitement, his hands nearly slipping from the wheel. “Alina, I knew you were the sensible one.”

“The day after tomorrow, at the Windsor family’s old residence, banquet hall. Media, relatives, friends, invite them all, not a single one missing.”

His expression brimmed with elation, his fingers tapping the steering wheel in restless delight.

“Good, good, I’ll make the arrangements immediately!”

When the car rolled to a stop at the villa, he didn’t even give me time to step out thoroughly before yanking out his phone. Dialing hurriedly, he kept repeating in gratitude. “Alina, you’ve always understood me best. I’ll inform Azalea and Kieran right away!”

I stood in the night breeze, watching in silence as Leandro’s car faded into the distance. Only when it vanished completely did all my strength slip away, my legs weakening beneath me.

At that moment, a pair of steady hands caught me. Nikolai appeared silently behind me, lifting me into his arms and carrying me toward the villa.

In that instant, I felt a rush of gratitude. After everything I had endured, Nikolai was still, as always, by my side.

The doorbell rang just as I was finishing up some tidying.

On the monitor, Azalea appeared, dressed, with a thermos bucket in her hand. I hadn’t imagined she would dare show up here.

“Alina!” she called warmly the moment she entered. “I made soup especially for you, to thank you for agreeing to Alina’s recognition ceremony.”

Without hesitation, she strode into the kitchen as though she knew it by heart, placing the thermos on the dining table. Her movements carried such ease that it was as if she were the true mistress of the villa.

“Leandro mentioned your health hasn’t been the best.” Her eyes deliberately drifted to my abdomen. “IVF really wears the body down, especially for someone like you who has undergone it several times. Unlike me, natural pregnancy is still so effortless.”

Her hand brushed over her stomach, her lips curving into a proud smile. “Actually, I’m pregnant again. I haven’t even told Leandro yet. Alina, do you think he’ll be happy?”

Leaning against the doorframe, I watched her quietly, a faint smile tugging at my lips. “Congratulations to you both.”

She looked taken aback by my calmness, stunned for a moment before lifting her chin. “Leandro has always wanted a daughter. Maybe this time his wish will come true, to have both a son and a daughter.”

“Having both a son and a daughter is indeed a blessing. But tell me, are you certain the child is Leandro’s?”

Her smile faltered in an instant. “What do you mean by that?”

I set my cup down, pulled a stack of photos from the drawer, and slid them toward her.

“Your college boyfriend, his name is Soren Vasquez, isn’t it?”

I tapped the photo where his arm was draped around her. “The two of you even met at a hotel last month.”

Her face turned pale, her fingers twisting tightly around the hem of her dress. “You…you’re lying!”

I let out a low chuckle. “Do you need me to pull up the hotel surveillance? Or should we just wait until the child is born and settle it with a paternity test?”

Azalea hadn’t expected those words. Panic clouded her eyes before she grabbed her bag in haste and bolted, even leaving behind the thermos.

“Oh, right,” I called after her lazily, “don’t forget to show up on time for the recognition ceremony.”

She stumbled, but didn’t dare look back, fleeing in a panic.

Such clumsy acting, only Leandro would believe it. He must have been desperate for a child.

Before the ceremony even began, a new post lit up in Leandro’s Instagram feed.

A picture of him and Azalea with Kieran in his arms, the banquet hall of the Windsor residence gleaming in the background.

The caption read, [Today is a big day for the family, thank you for everyone’s blessings.]

“A big day?” I murmured under my breath. “Very well then, I’ll give you a blessing worth remembering.”

I looked at the test report and the USB drive lying on the nightstand.

With a cold smile, I tapped a like on his post, then typed slowly, word by word, in the comments, [Congratulations, may the three of you get what you wish for.]

Send. Power off.

At the airport terminal, Nikolai leaned casually against the railing, waiting for me.

I glanced at the plane ticket in my hand and finally wore the most relaxed smile I had shown in a long time.

“Let’s go,” I said softly to Nikolai. “Their grand show is about to begin.”