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.”