The Next Day
Early that morning, Santino had already left for work after saying goodbye to Leon.
Upstairs, Cassandra stood in the walk-in closet, deciding what to wear for the day.
Downstairs, Leon sat in the living room, quietly coloring in a picture book.
Ding dong.
The doorbell echoed through the mansion.
Leon hopped off the sofa and hurried to answer it.
He opened the front door.
Standing outside was a beautifully dressed woman wearing expensive sunglasses and a designer handbag.
It was Evelyn.
Without waiting for an invitation, she brushed past Leon and walked into the mansion.
Evelyn: "Where's your father?"
Leon frowned at her rude entrance.
Leon: "Good morning to you too."
Evelyn stopped and looked down at him coldly.
Her expression hardened.
Without warning, she grabbed Leon's arm tightly.
Evelyn: "Listen carefully."
Leon winced.
Leon: "You're hurting me..."
Evelyn: "The only reason I've tolerated you is because of Santino."
Her grip tightened.
Evelyn: "Otherwise, you would've ended up in an orphanage by now."
Leon tried to pull his arm free.
"Ouch..."
At that exact moment—
Cassandra: "Leon?"
She had just reached the bottom of the staircase.
The moment she saw Evelyn gripping Leon's arm, her expression turned icy.
She rushed over.
Cassandra: "Let him go!"
She forcefully pushed Evelyn away before immediately pulling Leon behind her.
Kneeling slightly, she checked his arm.
"Are you okay?"
Leon nodded, rubbing the spot where Evelyn had grabbed him.
Only then did Cassandra stand and glare at Evelyn.
Cassandra: "Who the hell are you?"
Her voice was sharp.
"And who do you think you are to hurt a child?"
Evelyn ignored the question entirely.
Instead, she pointed at Cassandra.
Evelyn: "I should be the one asking you that!"
She stepped forward.
Evelyn: "Who the heck are you?"
Before Cassandra could answer—
Leon spoke proudly from behind her.
Leon: "She's Mommy."
Evelyn froze.
"What...?"
She stared at Leon, then at Cassandra.
"That's impossible."
Her voice shook.
"Santino told me his wife was dead."
Cassandra frowned.
"I'm not his late wife."
She lifted her chin confidently.
"I'm his new wife."
She held up her left hand, the diamond wedding ring sparkling under the sunlight.
"We got married."
Evelyn's face drained of color.
"No..."
She shook her head repeatedly.
"No, that's impossible!"
Her expression quickly twisted into anger.
"I'm Santino's girlfriend!"
She pointed accusingly at Cassandra.
"You're just a slut... or some prostitute trying to steal him from me!"
Instead of getting angry, Cassandra laughed.
She slowly raised her left hand again, deliberately showing off the wedding ring.
Cassandra: "A prostitute..."
She smiled sweetly.
"...with an official wedding ring."
Evelyn's mouth opened...
But no words came out.
She stood there, completely speechless.
Cassandra's smile disappeared as she looked toward the entrance.
Cassandra: "Guards."
Within seconds, two bodyguards entered the living room.
They stood at attention.
Bodyguards: "Yes, Mrs. Rodriguez."
Cassandra pointed toward Evelyn.
Cassandra: "Escort her out."
The bodyguards immediately walked toward Evelyn.
Evelyn: "Don't touch me! I came here to see Santino!"
Cassandra: "He's at work."
She folded her arms.
"And until he says otherwise, you're not welcome in this house."
The bodyguards each took one of Evelyn's arms despite her protests and escorted her toward the front door.
Evelyn: "This isn't over!"
Her voice echoed through the mansion as the front door closed behind her.
Silence returned.
Cassandra looked down at Leon.
She gently examined his arm once more.
Cassandra: "Did she hurt you badly?"
Leon shook his head, then smiled.
"I'm okay... because Mommy protected me."
Cassandra smiled softly before pulling him into a comforting hug.