Five years later. S. City International Airport.
The private jet from Silicon Valley had just landed.
The VIP arrivals hall was packed with reporters waiting for celebrities, but suddenly, silence fell over the room.
The sharp, rhythmic click of stiletto heels echoed across the marble floor.
A stunning woman walked with the grace of a queen. She wore a blood-red overcoat, designer sunglasses, and lips painted with flawless lipstick.
There was no trace left of the frightened, frail girl from five years ago.
This was Serena Vance. Or rather, to the tech underworld, she was "S"—the world's most lethal and sought-after hacker and software engineer.
"Mom, this country's cybersecurity is still garbage," a cold, childish voice sounded beside her.
A four-year-old boy walked with steady steps beside her. He wore a tailored black suit, and his tiny fingers flew across the screen of a super-powerful tablet.
His face was chiseled like ice, exuding an aura of arrogance and intelligence far beyond his years. This was Leo.
"Little brother, don't be so mean on our first day!" A sweet, melodious laugh came from the other side of Serena.
Mia, Leo's twin sister, looked like an angel straight out of a painting. She wore a pink dress full of ruffles and held a giant lollipop. Her big brown eyes sparkled with a cunning that would fool anyone.
"Look at this," Mia whispered, pointing to the men in suits all around them. "So many rich uncles. I bet I could sell my smile for a thousand dollars each."
Serena laughed, taking off her sunglasses to reveal sharp, confident eyes.
"Behave yourselves, my little monsters," Serena stroked both of their hair. "We're back to collect old debts, not to rob the airport."
Isabella and the cruel stepmother thought she had died abroad. They were about to have the worst nightmare of their lives.
Meanwhile, in the VIP lounge upstairs...
The room temperature was near freezing. The air felt heavy enough to crush bones.
Julian Blackwood sat in a dark leather armchair, slowly twirling a silver ring bearing a lotus crest between his fingers.
Five years.
For five long years, he had searched for the woman who had used him and fled in the dead of night. He had scoured the country, dismantled spy rings, but she had vanished into thin air.
With each passing day, his obsession and his fury only grew.
"Boss," Luke, the assistant, entered the room, trembling slightly. "We've received confirmation. The head of the cybersecurity team, Ms. 'S,' has just landed. She's agreed to sign the contract with Blackwood Corporation."
"Excellent," Julian slipped the ring into his suit pocket, his eyes gleaming with a predatory coldness. "Get the car ready. I'll oversee the system at our new data hub myself."
Julian stood up, his imposing six-foot-three frame exuding an oppressive presence. He walked toward the double doors.
Downstairs, Serena paused to take an important call from her business partner.
"Leo, hold your sister's hand. Don't wander off," she ordered quickly, turning her back for a second.
But Mia had already spotted a luxurious artisanal candy shop across the VIP corridor.
"Swiss chocolate! I'll be right back," Mia whispered, breaking free from her brother and running off on her short little legs.
"Mia, come back here!" Leo frowned, tucking his tablet into his pocket and running after his twin.
Neither of them noticed the entourage of elite security guards dressed in black rounding the corner at that very moment.
BAM.
Mia crashed headfirst into something as solid as a stone wall.
She fell and landed sitting on the ground, sending the lollipop flying from her hand. "Ouch! My head!" she whined, rubbing her forehead.
The security guards around her held their breath, horrified.
The child had just collided directly with the legs of the ruthless Julian Blackwood. The man was known for hating physical contact and having an absolute aversion to noisy children.
"Get her out of here," Julian ordered coldly, without even looking down, adjusting the hem of his ruined suit.
But before a guard could approach, a small hand grabbed the hem of Julian's pants.
"You broke my lollipop, Mr. Giant," the childish yet authoritative voice sounded.
Julian stopped. A deep irritation flashed across his eyes. He finally looked down, ready to destroy whoever the irresponsible parents of that creature were.
But when his dark eyes met Mia's little face, Julian's world stopped.
The eyes. The shape of her face. That faint but unmistakable scent of vanilla and jasmine that seemed to emanate from the child's jacket.
Her heart pounded violently in her chest. The lotus ring in her pocket felt like it was burning through the fabric.
Before Julian could open his mouth, a second small figure stepped in front of Mia, spreading his arms in a protective gesture.
"Stay away from my sister," a cold, calculating voice growled.
Julian looked at the boy.
All the air drained from the billionaire CEO's lungs.
Luke, the assistant, dropped the documents he was holding onto the floor with a loud thud. The security guards' eyes widened, too shocked to move.
There, standing in front of the most powerful man in the country, was a four-year-old boy.
And that boy's face… was a miniature, exact, and frighteningly perfect replica of Julian Blackwood himself.