"I'm awake!" Lillian announced.

"Me too!" Kevin chimed in.

Stacey smiled, pinching their cheeks. "Let's get washed up for breakfast." She patiently guided them through their morning routine, taking her time until they were clean.

The next few days were a whirlwind. Stacey had vacation backlog to tackle at Carter's Jewel, personally reviewing design drafts. She needed to keep a close eye on things; otherwise, the designers might slack. During this review, she discovered a serious problem: plagiarism. One designer had copied a competitor's work. Luckily, it hadn't been finalized.

Stacey immediately called a meeting. The offending designer, Nancy Dawson, was let go. Nancy glared furiously as she settled her wages. Even after work, Stacey felt the chill of Nancy's animosity. Plagiarism couldn't be tolerated; Carter's Jewel's reputation was paramount.

Two weeks flew by. Jeremy's discharge coincided with the approach of Christmas. Even better, he was coming directly to Hivalis to see Stacey, Hayden reported he'd been counting down the days. Stacey cleared her schedule to pick him up.

They hadn't seen each other in weeks. At the airport, Jeremy rushed into her arms. Lillian and Kevin, equally thrilled, joined the hug, creating a happy pile. Gwen and Marie arrived to disentangle the children. Hayden appeared, suitcase in hand, grinning.

"How's Jeremy's recovery?" Stacey asked, smiling.

Hayden nodded toward Jeremy. "Excellent."

Stacey's face lit up. "Will he learn to speak?"

Hayden nodded. "Yes."

"Oh my god!" Stacey exclaimed, squatting down, eyes sparkling. "Jeremy, say my name!"

Jeremy remained silent. Hayden chuckled. "We'll practice later. He's not ready yet."

Stacey nodded. "Okay." They headed to Carter Villa.

Meanwhile, Queenie, after a month, still refused to give up on Elden. She waited all day outside his house, only to find nothing. Exhausted and disheartened, she was about to leave when she saw her cousin, Edith, in her car.

Edith's contempt was palpable. "Queenie, how shameless! He doesn't want you, yet you cling to him. The Leavey family will be the laughingstock of high society!"

Queenie's gaze hardened. "Get lost!"

Edith sneered. "Your anger is pathetic. You don't deserve the Leavey inheritance. If you inherited, the family would be ruined." She sped off.

Queenie's anger burned. Returning home, utterly drained, she grabbed a beer, collapsing onto the couch. Memories of Elden flooded her mind—sweet moments from high school and university. But his infidelity overshadowed everything. Why? Why had she fallen for him?

Rage consumed her. She hurled the beer bottle, shattering it. Stepping on the broken glass, she cried out in pain. The sharp clarity of the moment brought a chilling realization: she couldn't give up. She would remarry Hayden, making Elden regret his actions.