As soon as she sent the text message, Florine slipped her phone back into her purse with a satisfied smile.

She stepped out of her car and walked toward the school entrance just as the afternoon dismissal bell rang.

A stream of students poured through the gates.

Among them was Leo.

The moment she spotted him, Florine adjusted her expression into one of warm friendliness and approached him.

"So, you must be Leo."

The boy stopped mid-step and looked at the unfamiliar woman standing in front of him.

His driver, who had been waiting nearby, instinctively moved a little closer.

Florine offered a practiced smile.

"Hello, Leo. My name is Florine." She paused deliberately before adding, "I’m Ivy’s mother."

The driver’s brows twitched in surprise, and he glanced at Leo to gauge his reaction.

Leo simply blinked.

He studied Florine from head to toe without saying a word.

After a few seconds, he replied politely, "I’m sorry, but I don’t know who you are."

The smile on Florine’s face stiffened.

Inside, irritation flared.

What kind of child says that to an elder?

Still, she maintained her pleasant expression.

"That’s understandable. We haven’t met before. Your mother and I have had our differences, but family is family."

Leo remained unconvinced.

"My mom never mentioned you."

Florine laughed softly. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Oh, adults keep secrets from children all the time."

Leo tilted his head.

"My mom doesn’t."

For a moment, Florine didn’t know how to respond.

She quickly changed tactics.

"Why don’t we get some ice cream together? You can ask me anything you want."

Leo took a small step backward.

"Thank you, but my dad says I shouldn’t go anywhere with strangers."

"I’m not a stranger."

"You are to me."

The nearby driver struggled to hide a smile.

Florine noticed and shot him a brief glare before turning back to Leo.

"What if I showed you old family photos later?"

Leo thought about it for a second.

"I can ask my mom when I get home."

"You don’t have to wait. I can tell you everything now."

Leo shook his head with surprising firmness.

"My mom says I should always check with her first."

Florine’s patience was beginning to wear thin.

She crouched to meet his eye level and softened her voice.

"I’m only trying to be nice."

Leo smiled politely.

"And I’m trying to be careful."

For several seconds, neither of them spoke.

Then, from across the driveway, a familiar voice called out.

"Leo."

The boy’s face lit up instantly.

He looked past Florine and waved.

"Mom!"

Florine turned.

Ivy was striding toward them with calm, measured steps, but the coldness in her eyes made it clear she had already assessed the situation.

Without hesitation, Leo walked around Florine and went straight to Ivy’s side.

She rested a protective hand on his shoulder before meeting Florine’s gaze.

"What are you doing here?" Ivy asked evenly.

Florine rose to her feet and forced another smile.

"I was only introducing myself."

Ivy glanced down at Leo.

"Did she make you uncomfortable?"

Leo nodded honestly.

"A little. She kept saying she knew you and wanted me to go with her."

Ivy’s expression didn’t change, but the air around her seemed to turn noticeably colder.

She drew Leo a little closer.

"He made the right choice," she said. "He knows not to leave with anyone he doesn’t know."

Then, looking directly at Florine, she added in a calm but unmistakably firm tone,

"And I suggest you stop approaching my son without my permission."

The smile on Florine’s face finally disappeared.

Ivy held Florine’s gaze for a few seconds before looking down at Leo.

"Leo, could you wait for me in the car?" she said gently. "I need to speak with her for a moment."

Leo looked from Ivy to Florine and then back again. Sensing the seriousness in his mother’s voice, he nodded obediently.

"Okay, Mom."

Ivy exchanged a subtle glance with the driver, who immediately understood. He stepped forward and escorted Leo to the waiting car, making sure the boy was safely seated inside before remaining by the vehicle.

Only then did Ivy turn back to Florine.

"What do you want from me?" she asked, her tone calm but firm.

Florine folded her arms, barely concealing the irritation in her expression.

"Not here, Ivy. I need to speak with you in private."

"No."

The answer came without hesitation.

"Whatever you have to say, you can say it here."

Florine’s jaw tightened.

"You really think this is the appropriate place for a family discussion?"

"I think this is the safest place for one."

The blunt response only fueled Florine’s frustration.

"You’ve become impossible."

"And you’ve become predictable."

For a brief moment, Florine looked as though she might lose her temper. She took a step closer, but Ivy didn’t move an inch.

Instead, she met her with an icy stare.

"Don’t even think about trying to force me into anything, Florine."

Her voice remained low enough that only the two of them could hear.

"If you don’t want Xander finding out about everything you’ve done to me, I’d suggest you stay exactly where you are."

Florine froze.

The confidence in Ivy’s eyes left no room for doubt.

Almost instinctively, Florine’s gaze shifted toward the driver standing beside the car. Though he appeared occupied with Leo, it was obvious he was paying close attention to the situation.

Ivy noticed the glance.

She knew perfectly well that she could handle Florine on her own if it came to that. But invoking Xander’s name served a different purpose.

Florine feared losing his trust far more than she feared Ivy herself.

After a tense silence, Florine’s expression softened into a forced smile.

"I didn’t come here to argue," she said through clenched teeth. "I only wanted to talk."

"Then talk."

Florine inhaled slowly, struggling to maintain her composure.

"Convince Aaron to marry Nora."

The moment those words left Florine’s mouth, Ivy let out a quiet, amused laugh.

Florine frowned, clearly offended.

"Why are you laughing?"

Ivy took a moment to compose herself before meeting Florine’s gaze.

"I was just wondering how someone can be so unbelievably greedy."

Her tone was calm, but every word landed with precision.

"Let me make one thing clear, Florine. This is not something I can help you with."

She folded her arms.

"Whether Aaron chooses to marry Nora or not is entirely his decision. And judging by the look on your face, I’m guessing he’s already turned her down."

For a split second, surprise flashed across Florine’s features.

"How did you—"

She stopped herself, realizing she had almost confirmed Ivy’s suspicion.

Ivy took a slow step forward, forcing Florine to instinctively step back.

"Here’s a piece of advice," Ivy said quietly. "Whatever scheme you’re planning by trying to marry Nora into the Emerson family, abandon it now."

Florine’s expression hardened.

"You have no idea what you’re talking about."

"Maybe I don’t know every detail," Ivy replied. "But I know enough to see that this isn’t about Nora’s happiness. It’s about what you stand to gain."

The accusation struck home.

Florine looked away for the briefest moment before regaining her composure.

"You’re making assumptions."

"No," Ivy corrected. "I’m recognizing a pattern."

She held Florine’s gaze without blinking.

"If the Emersons discover that you’re trying to manipulate them for your own benefit, forget about the comfortable future you’re hoping to secure through these arrangements."

Ivy’s voice grew colder.

"They won’t just refuse you—they’ll make sure you never get another opportunity."

For the first time in the conversation, Florine seemed genuinely unsettled.

She searched Ivy’s face, looking for hesitation, but found none.

Ivy continued, her tone unwavering.

"So stop using people as bargaining chips. Aaron isn’t yours to persuade, Nora isn’t yours to trade, and Leo is certainly not someone you can use to pressure me."

The mention of Leo made Florine stiffen.

"I never intended to hurt the child."

"Intentions don’t matter nearly as much as actions."

A tense silence settled between them.

Finally, Ivy took a step back and glanced toward the waiting car, where Leo sat patiently inside.

"Our conversation is over."

She turned to leave but paused long enough to add one last sentence.

"And if you ever approach my son again without my permission, I won’t be nearly this polite."

Without waiting for a response, Ivy walked away.

Florine remained where she was, her fists clenched at her sides, watching as Ivy got into the car with Leo and drove off.

For the first time, she realized that the woman she once thought she could manipulate had become someone she could no longer control.