The following evening.

Desmond was about to leave his office after working overtime when Liam arrived.

"I don't know why Lucy is back." He stated straight to the point, knowing that the latter was tired. He had seen her leaving the company building earlier. At the time, he merely suspected the identity of the woman but when he saw Zaria run after her and call the former her mother, he knew that his suspicion was right. The woman was Lucy Roatta, and Zaria really was her daughter.

"Does it bother you?" Came Desmond's indifferent question as though he could not be bothered with whatever was happening.

"Of course it would. She is up to something, I just don't know what it is." Liam didn't think he was being paranoid over nothing. First, he found out that Zaria might be investigating him and Desmond, and now her mother returns?

"You don't have a past with her." Desmond packed up, not knowing why Liam would have anything against Lucy for any reason other than her being Zaria's mother.

"I don't but you do. And that is something." He was referring to the fact that Lucy tried to hurt Desmond before. Not to mention, everything about her was strange.

Desmond shrugged, not wanting to indulge in talk that he thought would do nothing to make the current situation easier. Lucy was back, and there was a high chance that what she was seeking this time was different from what had made her befriend Marchal and Alyssa in the past. Otherwise, she would have continued looking for it for all those years. Of course, there was a possibility that she was still looking for the papers from decades ago, but also had something else that she wanted from the Fort family.

The only way to know how to deal with Lucy in case she wanted something impossible was to know what she wanted.

___

When Zaria left work, she found that everything was ready for them to move to their new home. They had bought a villa in a regal district in the west part of the city, which was not too far from the Sparks' residence. Of course, their villa was smaller since it was just the two of them and a few servants.

She checked to ensure that nothing had been forgotten, before carrying Des. "Des, say goodbye to our old home. Will you miss it?"

"Will you?" Came Theodore's voice behind her.

She had to admit, yes. She had grown up here after all. It was this very house where she, Ximena and Ryan had played for the most part of her childhood. She still remembered her favorite hiding spots where the latter two would not catch her whenever they played hide-and-seek. She had once hidden for so long that the duo forgot about the game and moved on to a different game before she eventually snuck out of her hiding spot.

Not to mention, it was also the place that had seen all their struggles. When they worked their butt off and burned the midnight oil night after night just to get F&P Media on track, they had unknowingly grown attached to it.

She smiled as she thought about it. If it wasn't for Jaime's ambush, she would never have thought of moving out. However, it was unsafe for them now. Jaime might be in jail, but he was not the only one out for their blood.

They entered the car when everything had been moved, and she drove while Theodore held Des who was too scared of his travelling seat.

…

"Do you like our new house?" Theodore asked when they arrived in the unfamiliar villa that was now their home. The furniture was of the finest quality and Des couldn't help jumping on the couches to play. He noted that everything must have cost a dime, and hoped that Zaria didn't spend all her money on it.

"I do." It was, after all, the first thing she had bought since she started working for Preston and Fort Group. Of course she would love it. Not to mention, she had always hoped for this.

He sat on the couch beside her. "But you are restless, princess."

"I'm alright." She insisted, even though she didn't look alright in the slightest. "I just need some rest."

He knew that it must be about Lucy but he remained silent, for her to calm down on her own. How he hoped that she would soon forget about that woman.

___

When Desmond arrived home, he had mixed feelings when he saw his mother once again waiting for him in the living room like she owned the place. She looked like the kind of mother who wanted to control her child and just wouldn't let him rest. But then again, he wanted to talk to her so he didn't call her out for stalking him.

"Mother, I need to have a talk with you." He sat opposite her.

"Hello to you too." She reprimanded him for not even offering a simple welcome and instead mentioning that they had to talk. However, she also knew that her son might just give her an insane answer so she ignored it. "What is it?"

He was glad to drop the meaningless chatter. "Twenty seven years ago, Lucy wanted something from father. Do you know what it was?"

"Desmond, that's so long ago. Why would I remember?" He frowned deeply, wondering why her son would suddenly bring it up.

"It was something important." Said Desmond, observing her face to detect any lie she might tell to try and hide the truth.

She shook her head indifferently. "I don't know. There are too many secrets that Marchal kept from me. You would get tired if you tried to count them, so forget about the document you are talking about which seems to be some top secret."

He nodded in understanding. If you remember later, it would be safe to tell me because she is back."

"What did you say?" Alyssa was shocked, and Desmond smiled.

"So you do know about her. Tell me about it."

She frowned in disapproval at the audacity of her son. How dare he try to trick her? "Look, Lucy was not who she claimed she was but I don't know what she wanted, okay? End of story."

He smiled even though he had not gotten hold of any information—aside from the fact that whatever document his father had must have been of extreme privacy and importance. He had wanted to torture Jaime into telling him whether he had the papers but thinking about it, it was impossible.

Even so, he did not give up. Lucy's assistant would be sent over the following day. It was only a matter of knowing the truth now or knowing it later.

…

Just as expected, a middle-aged woman with a bob haircut made her way to Preston and Fort Group the following day.

"I am here on behalf of Miss Roatta." She announced to Zaria and Desmond who were sitting on the opposite side of the table. Desmond had just asked for her identity even though he already knew who she was.

"I did expect such a thing." He smirked. "What does she want?"

The woman, Elena, had her gaze focused on Zaria. Wasn't this the woman who everyone was saying to be careful of—the one who dared to go against the Fort family?

She merely glanced at her once since she was here to pass a message. "Miss Roatta would like to make a deal with you. She will give you all the information you want but in exchange, she wants to buy your family business. That includes all the companies."

Demsond guffawed at the deal that had just been proposed as though there was anyone who would agree to such unfair terms." Isn't she greedy?"

What she wanted must have something to do with the companies that were owned by the Fort family, but what exactly is it? Surely, one couldn't buy out an entire company just to look for something so little, right? They could hire someone from the inside to do it for them.

But thinking about it, the former option wasn't impossible if the person was Lucy Roatta, who had immeasurable wealth and nothing to spend it on.

"Tell Miss Roatta that I'm not interested in her deal." He concluded.

"Miss Roatta already anticipated that you would say that, so she told me to tell you this. She prefers buying the business out peacefully, especially because you were adorable as a child. Otherwise, if she snatches it using her own effort, she will snatch Preston and Fort Group while at it." Elena smiled through her words that could make anyone kick her out of their company without caring that she was merely a messenger.

What the heck was wrong with her?

"She can go ahead and try." Desmond challenged, and Zaria finally spoke up.

"While at it, please tell her to go to hell. Make sure you say it to her without sugar-coating."