It was strange to watch the father and son exchange sharp glares over sothing as simple as food.
They didn’t say much, but the silent battle between them was impossible to miss.
Tonight’s dinner had been ant to be special. Ivy had cooked it herself, and for a mont, everyone had expected a warm, heartfelt evening.
Instead, it ended with a strange tension lingering in the air, one that only faded after everyone quietly retreated.
"Ah... that was terrifying," one of the maids whispered as she cleaned the table. "I felt like I was going to freeze between those cold stares."
"I never thought the young master could be just as intimidating as his father," another muttered.
They all knew Leo resembled Xander.
But never, not even once, had they seen him stand his ground like that.
To them, he had always been the sweet, innocent child they adored and pampered.
And yet tonight, they had caught a glimpse of sothing else.
Sothing far too similar to Xander.
Butler Rupert, who had been quietly listening, let out a soft sigh.
Before he could say anything, Chef Jas stepped forward.
"Butler Rupert, I apologize for letting Madam into the kitchen," he said, lowering his head slightly. "She insisted on cooking for the young master."
At first, Jas had misunderstood Ivy’s intentions.
But after watching her work, the way she handled the knife, the precision, the confidence, even he had been impressed.
Rupert looked at him thoughtfully.
This was not sothing he had expected from the future lady of the house.
And yet, when he recalled the sight of Leo’s happiness, and even the rare satisfaction on Xander’s face, he could not help but reconsider.
Perhaps she really had done it just for Leo.
"It’s alright, Jas," Rupert said gently. "You don’t need to apologize. I’m sure the Master won’t be upset with you."
Relief washed over Jas’s face instantly.
With a small bow, he turned and walked away, his job thankfully still secure.
Rupert remained where he was, his gaze drifting toward the now empty dining table.
For the first ti in a long while, the house had felt different, and the feeling brought a quiet smile to his face.
***
Ti passed, and Xander found himself once again in his study, contemplating Taylor’s update about Morris Hardley’s death. The news was unexpected, yet it lingered heavily on his mind.
Leaning back in his chair, he wondered who could have killed Morris, and more importantly, where that woman, Raven Young, had disappeared to.
His gaze dropped to the folder Hunter had handed to Taylor before leaving headquarters.
When Xander first stepped into the role of Phantom’s leader, he had known his life would be deeply affected by it.
Unlike the other organizations that thrived on illegal operations, Xander and his grandfather chose to run legitimate businesses. In a way, that decision had earned them the resentnt of the rest.
He had believed that by doing so, he would be spared the burden of curses and bloodshed. He had been wrong. That very decision had created countless enemies, one of the most dangerous among them being DarkKnight.
Now, as Xander reflected on the past, he questioned what part of his actions had provoked Morris Hardley enough to want him dead.
Closing his eyes, he took a slow, steady breath, trying to calm the tension coiling within him. His life as a mafia leader and as the president of Globe International existed on two entirely different planes. He had always kept them separate, but that did not make either life simple.
When he had taken over Globe International, he had already known he would offend many. Still, with his grandfather’s support and trust, he had moved forward without hesitation.
Sitting there, he tried to clear his mind. But when clarity finally ca, only one face appeared before him.
Ivy’s.
Today had turned out to be one of the most peaceful days he had experienced in a long ti. Watching Ivy cook for them, or rather for Leo, stirred sothing unfamiliar within him. A faint trace of jealousy settled in his chest.
Xander had never cared much for emotions. He had always considered himself immune to them. Even after all these years, he had never once been moved by the presence of a woman.
And yet, tonight was different.
The way Ivy cared for Leo, the quiet warmth in her actions—it unsettled him more than he cared to admit. It made him feel sothing dangerously close to insecurity.
A quiet, almost disbelieving chuckle escaped his lips as he straightened in his chair, silently mocking his own immaturity.
But as the thought lingered, sothing stirred within him again, a subtle, persistent nudge he could not quite ignore.
"Maybe I was too quick to judge her," he muttered, slipping back into deep thought about her unexpected arrival. Despite having every right to turn her away, he had still allowed her into his life and Leo’s.
Xander had yet to fully trust Ivy, but sowhere deep down, he wanted to see where this would lead. And for that, he was willing to give himself a chance before making any decision, especially for his son.
"You are quite an interesting lady, Ivy. But it’s this mysterious side of you that keeps hooked."
The corner of his lips curled slightly as he finally decided to retreat to his room and call it a day, but not before sending a text.
***
The next morning, Ivy joined the father and son once again, fully dressed and in an unusually good mood as she munched on her breakfast with pure delight.
While Xander and Leo didn’t mind and even enjoyed her presence, Teddy and the rest of the guards standing nearby were far less relaxed.
They stood stiffly, exchanging subtle glances, already bracing themselves for the day ahead.
Because if Ivy was this cheerful in the morning, it could only an one thing.
Trouble.
Teddy swallowed hard, his posture snapping even straighter as if preparing for battle.
At this point, they were no longer just guards. They were survivors. And the real question of the day was not if sothing would happen, but what kind of adventure Madam Ivy was about to drag them into.
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