As Lilah and Hadley approached the table, they were taken aback by the array of delicate dishes laid out before them.

"See, I remembered everything. Hadley loves orange juice, fried chicken, hamburgers, and spaghetti. And Mom prefers macaroni, fried shrimp, and mushroom soup," Jerrold recited with pride, arranging each dish as he listed them, mimicking an adult's careful presentation.

Hadley, touched by his thoughtfulness, scooped Jerrold into her arms and planted a warm kiss on his cheek.

"Thank you, Jerrold. I love you so much." Though tempted by the spread, Hadley restrained herself, nibbling just a bit from each dish to maintain her figure.

"Come on, Hadley, you're an athlete. You train hard every day,"

Jerrold chided gently as he offered her the hamburger. "You need to eat well."

Hadley couldn't help but beam with joy, feeling utterly content.

Lilah watched the tender scene unfold, her heart lightening.

With the Fearless League's new branch up and running, and the initial phase of her work winding down, she found herself with a moment to breathe and to plan ahead.

She pondered her next steps—digging into Miranda's past to discover potential enemies was crucial. It was essential to anticipate any trouble before it erupted again, to avoid the chaos of their last ordeal.

"How's your day going?" Gerard inquired, his smile infectious.

"Not bad at all." Lilah skewered a chunk of mango with a toothpick and extended it toward Gerard. He paused to study her expression before accepting the fruit.

"What's with that look?" Lilah inquired, her smile tinged with unease.

Gerard mustered a strained smile. "I have a business trip tomorrow. It could last from ten days to two weeks."

Lilah's heart sank, the mango in her hand suddenly less appealing.

She pressed on. "Where to? And why so long?"

Gerard didn't withhold details. "Remember Darian? After we dealt with him, I sent him off, but there was trouble along the way, and now the Martel family is on our case. Our subsidiary has reached out for support, and I can't just ignore them."

Lilah's face twisted into a frown. How could it be that bastard again? Her anger toward him was boiling over.

"He should have been punished more severely," she muttered bitterly. "And what exactly did you do to him?"

A sharp glint passed through Gerard's eyes. "Darian has always been overly fond of women, so I confined him in Starvale, a place teeming with temptations, for over ten days. He was utterly spent."

Lilah chuckled despite herself.

Gerard never ran out of cunning plans.

"Do you need me to come along?" she offered.

Gerard gently stroked her smooth, soft hair, his eyes filled with reluctance. "No need, I'll be back soon. You're busy lately, and you're safer here."