Chapter 12 Provocation
Nina carefully turned the doorknob.
"Ma'am? Are you alright?" She didn't even wait for a reply before blurting out, "Sir walked out just now, still looking cold, but not nearly as angry. Miss Nolan tried to stop him, but he waved her off without even a glance."
Lilah closed her laptop, took the water Nina brought, and gave her a faint smile. "You don't like Verity, do you?"
Nina froze a little, realizing Verity was supposed to be the lady's friend. She looked a bit flustered. "No, ma'am, I just..."
"Relax," Lilah said gently, her tone soothing. "Because I don't like her either. Say whatever's on your mind."
Hearing that, Nina exhaled a breath and stopped holding back her words.
"Ma'am, I really think you should watch out for her. She keeps trying to get close to Mr. Wallace. Feels like she's got some shady intentions. If it weren't for the fact that sir clearly has no interest in other women, I wouldn't even wanna imagine..."
Realizing she might've overstepped, Nina trailed off nervously. "Sorry, ma'am, I shouldn't have said that."
She was still just a young girl—sometimes couldn't help speaking her mind.
Lilah let out a soft sigh. "Anything you see or hear, unless I say otherwise, stays between us. Got it?"
"Of course, ma'am. I'm here for you and only you—I'd never do anything that could hurt you!" Nina stood up straighter, attitude firm.
"Good. Then just help me keep an eye out."
Setting her teacup down, Lilah gestured for Nina to leave.
Not long after, the door opened again.
Verity walked in, wearing a forced smile on her face.
"Lilah, you're still up?" Her voice was unusually sweet and soft.
"Something you need?" Lilah didn't even bother to get up, just calmly looked at her.
According to Nina, Verity had stormed off all worked up after seeing Gabriel come out of her room—and clearly upset that he'd snubbed her.
Now, no doubt, she couldn't wait to figure out what Gabriel was doing in here.
Verity stiffened briefly at the cool expression on Lilah's face, that fake smile twitching at the corners of her lips.
She stepped forward and dropped a file folder on Lilah's table with a muted "thud," a barely noticeable flicker of irritation in her motion.
"Nothing big," Verity said breezily, pushing back a loose strand of hair. "It's just about Aiden—his meal plans and portions. It's all written down."
Lilah glanced at it. It was the updated list she'd asked for—a new menu she'd organized herself. Aiden liked it so much she'd even added a dessert he loved.
"Lilah, we've known each other a long time, and I get how you are. But emotionally, you're still kinda unstable. Kids are sensitive, and bad moods from adults really can affect them," Verity said with a soft, concerned look.
Lilah stared at her without a word. Verity just kept going, pretending not to notice.
"Back in college, the three of us—you, me, and Gabriel—we were all there. I worked so hard to get into that program, and then you just waltzed in. Then you guys left the country not long after meeting... came back already engaged. Sometimes I wonder, maybe I just didn't try hard enough... What do you think, Lilah?"
"Some things just aren't meant to be. Why do you act like the world owes you something?" Lilah said coolly. "And really, save the pity act. No one here is buying it."
Sure, the marriage had ties to their families' business interests. But Lilah remembered clearly—she and Gabriel had feelings for each other before things got formal. Verity butting in only ever stirred up trouble.
And now, hiding behind paperwork just to sneak in another jab? Classic move.Unfortunately for Verity, Lilah wasn't the overly sensitive pushover the old her might've been.
She'd battled her way through the business world, dealt with way worse provocations—this? Child's play. Her composure and patience could easily outmatch most people's.
"Well done, Lilah. Forcing your way back into a spot that never truly belonged to you. But you ever think maybe that's not great for a kid? Keep pretending all you want, but how long can you fake it?"
Verity's fake smile cracked, revealing something a little uglier beneath.
Lilah's stare was razor-sharp, like it could slice clean through the act. "That's rich. You reminding me of how you clawed your way up here? All while posing as my bestie just to sneak your way into the Wallace family? What was it? Working your way up from glorified nanny?"
"You—!" Verity's face went stark white.
"You're all fuming right now 'cause Gabriel swung by my room earlier, huh?" Lilah stayed calm, even gave a faint smile. "Too bad whatever you're thinking, it doesn't change the fact that I, Lilah, am Aiden's one and only mother—and Gabriel's legally wedded wife. That's never gonna change just 'cause you exist."
Verity looked like she'd implode, lips trembling, unable to get a word out.
"You think you'll keep sitting pretty on this throne forever? Mental institutions are where women like you end up. I'm waiting for the day they drag you off. Gabriel's never falling for a lunatic!"
Spitting out her bitter curse, Verity stormed off.
No matter what Lilah was like now, she couldn't shake her past—crazy would always cling to her like a label. Neither Gabriel nor the Wallaces would ever truly accept a ticking time bomb.
Only someone like Verity deserved to stand beside Gabriel.
The room now felt big and quiet with just Lilah left standing.
"Crazy woman?"
That was a first—hearing it straight from one of the people who'd driven the old her mad. The irony was just too much.
...
Aiden had his weekly early education class, a prep for kindergarten. Usually, the chores were left to the help, but today, Gabriel had brought him home himself.
Lilah was sitting in the garden and looked up just in time to see Gabriel step out with Aiden in his arms. The contrast of that soft, chubby little face against the dark blazer made Aiden look even more adorable.
Following close behind was Lance, juggling another armful of documents.
"Hi, Aiden," Lilah waved with a smile.
His head swiveled in every direction before locking on her. Eyes lit up, grin blooming instantly.
"Mommy!"
Aiden wriggled till Gabriel put him down, then his tiny feet carried him as fast as they could toward her.
Lilah stood and stepped forward, catching him mid-run.
Gabriel followed with long strides, eventually standing beside her.
He always carried that crisp, cold scent—just like the man himself. It got to her every time, pulling her into a haze she didn't like admitting.
Gabriel's dark eyes watched as the scene unfolded, his face calm and unreadable.
"Mom, my teacher said I was really smart today..." Aiden said it just above a whisper, cheeks slightly pink.
He'd been saving that line the whole way home.
Gabriel shot him a quick glance—hard to say if it was pride or something heavier.
"You little star," Lilah grinned, ruffling his hair and giving him a big thumbs-up.
Aiden beamed, lifting his own little thumb in return.
Gabriel and Lance stood to the side, almost invisible in the moment.
Lance blinked, surprised, and slowed his pace for a second.
A sharp look from Gabriel made him snap back to form, quickly heading back toward the villa.
Wow, never figured the boss and Mrs. Wallace would get along this well. Lilah didn't seem off the rails like the rumors said.
Guess the saying's true—women are full of surprises.