"Okay." Gerard sounded noticeably happier. With a smile, he inquired, "Are you heading to bed soon? Shall I join you?"

Lilah, unable to contain her amusement at his endearing manner, laughed softly to herself.

“Okay," she whispered in agreement.

The sound of a knock on the door came, and upon opening it, Lilah was enveloped in a tight hug from Gerard. In that moment, she felt an overwhelming sense of tenderness.

They eventually drifted off to sleep, wrapped in each other's embrace.

Come morning, Jerrold emerged from his room, rubbing his sleepy eyes, to find the living room deserted. The absence of his parents was not unfamiliar to him.

Unfazed, he diligently brushed his teeth and washed his face. Upon exiting the bathroom, he was greeted by his parents returning from outside.

“Mommy! Jerrold ran toward Lilah and leaped into her arms.

“Good morning. You're up early today, Jerrold," she observed.

“Yes. Mommy, where were you and Dad?" Jerrold asked, his large eyes brimming with curiosity as he cast a disgruntled look at Gerard, feeling a bit displeased by his father's monopolization of Lilah's attention.

Lilah responded softly, "Something came up last night. We ended up sleeping in my room."

“I see." Jerrold's face fell slightly in disappointment.

Seeking to comfort him, Lilah reassured, “It was very late, or I would have invited you too."

“It's alright, Mommy. As long as I'm with you, the time doesn't matter," Jerrold said earnestly.

Stroking his soft hair, Lilah smiled warmly. "Okay. I'll remember that."

After breakfast, the family of three busied themselves with their respective tasks.

Emma had been waiting to speak with Lilah since the early hours.

“What's wrong? Did something happen?" Lilah asked.

"Miss Phillips, did you catch the news online? The live broadcast of your singing contest with Krista was all over the news," Emma explained. She handed Lilah an iPad. "Krista is playing dirty. She's more focused on creating drama than on her singing. She's painting you as the villain, and now we're facing backlash from the public."

Lilah skimmed through the news without any sign of surprise. She had suspected Krista's intentions the night before.

“It's fine. Let her make a scene. It might even work in our favor," she said calmly.

Emma looked at her, relief replacing worry.

She realized that working for Lilah was a stark contrast to working for Matthew. Lilah handled problems swiftly and effectively, unlike Matthew, who often lost his temper and struggled to find solutions.

This difference was evident in how their skincare product brand fared after Krista's allergic reaction. Years had passed, but its reputation still hadn't recovered.