The heat was brutal, the kind that made the air itself feel like it could scorch skin.

Lena Quinn drew in a deep breath. The second she looked up, her eyes landed on the huge gold characters above her—Longxi Grand Hotel—flashy, bold, impossible to ignore.

"Hello, ma'am. Please show your invitation."

Invitation?

Lena’s face darkened on the spot. "I’m family of the couple getting engaged today. I left the invitation at home."

"Sorry."

The doorman lifted an arm and blocked her without a hint of warmth, his expression stiff and totally unmoved.

Lena was so irritated she felt like she could explode on the spot. She even thought about forcing her way in, but one look at the tall, broad-shouldered doorman and she knew she had zero chance.

And then, in the very next second—

Everything flipped.

Out of absolutely nowhere, a tiny little boy with a fluffy head of messy hair came charging over. He launched himself at Lena like a mini octopus and clung tightly to her leg, then shamelessly buried his face against her as if taking a big satisfied breath. His cool, serious little face instantly cracked into a bright, dazzling smile.

"Mommy!"

"...Huh?"

"Mommy, Xiaobao finally found you... This time, I’m not leaving you again!"

Lena was completely stunned.

What was this now?

Her boyfriend had literally run off with someone else, and now a kid this big had popped out of nowhere calling her Mom? Was the universe messing with her?

She cleared her throat. "Hey, kiddo, you’ve got the wrong person. Auntie isn’t your mommy."

"No, no..."

"Mommy, bad people are trying to catch Xiaobao. I just escaped..." He lifted his sweaty little face and tugged pitifully at her clothes. "Mommy, I’ll be good, okay? Can you please not leave me behind..."

The doorman’s mouth twitched on reflex, but he didn’t dare make a move.

Lena Quinn lowered her eyes and looked at the boy. Those pitch-black eyes of his were weirdly magnetic. Or maybe, in that split second, something in her chest really did skip a beat.

She thought of everything that had happened to her. The shock sitting in her heart had already drowned out that soft wave of sympathy. "Be good, okay? Auntie has something to take care of first. When I’m done, I’ll take you home."

The tiny boy nodded obediently. He tipped up his rosy little face, looking soft and harmless, with the kind of expression that practically screamed please pinch me.

Lena almost laughed.

Looking at that little face, she blanked out for a second.

"Hey! Are you the ones stopping my mommy from going in?"

The little brat glared at the doorman like a tiny gangster. His face was fierce enough that it looked like if they dared say no again, he might actually jump up and bite someone.

"Yes! I mean—she can go in, absolutely! Miss, please, this way."

The doorman’s attitude flipped so fast it was unreal. One second he was blocking the way, the next he was bending at the waist and acting all respectful. Lena was so caught off guard she almost thought he’d lost his mind.

She walked in first, one hand holding the poor pitiful little bean who had suddenly turned docile again...

The doorman stared at the scene so hard his eyes nearly popped out.

"Holy crap! Holy crap! Is this seriously our little prince?"

"And did he just say mom— Mom?! Since when does the boss have a wife?"

The second he finished, he hurriedly dialed an internal line.

"Boss, tell Boss this right now—the young master’s been found! Yeah! And he even brought back a tagalong!"

...

After Lena went inside, she was just about to thank the little troublemaker, but the kid had already vanished without a trace.

Thinking back to how ridiculously respectful the hotel staff had been toward him, she figured he was probably some rich family’s spoiled little heir messing around. She didn’t dwell on it.

Standing outside the banquet hall, Lena’s face turned cold.

On the main stage, Adrian Yates had Sandra Quinn in his arms, kissing her like the world had disappeared around them. They clung to each other, completely wrapped up in the moment, his eyes overflowing with unmistakable love.

Camera flashes went crazy, firing nonstop.

"What a perfect couple. The more you look at them, the better they match. Honestly, Adrian marrying Sandra is his blessing too."

Mr. Quinn was smiling so wide he looked smug with it. He clinked glasses with the Yates family and said, "Come on, you're too kind. Adrian is young and capable. Sandra marrying him means we parents can finally stop worrying. Really, it's nothing but peace of mind for us."

"Oh, listen to you two being all polite... Old Quinn, you really did raise an amazing daughter."

"Exactly! Sandra's a well-known designer in the industry. Her future's only going up from here."

Mr. Quinn kept smiling as he sipped his drink, but deep down, he wasn't nearly that calm. There was a trace of guilt sitting under that cheerful face.

He turned his gaze casually, lifted his eyes—

and saw his younger daughter standing outside the door, staring straight at him like she wanted to burn a hole through him.

His heart skipped hard.

All at once, a bad feeling crashed over him. Something was very, very wrong.