A few days had passed, and I made several adjustments to my daily routine. I now wake up early to arrive at the office on time. To gain a better understanding of the company, I was assigned to the financial department. I also sought to understand my colleagues' perspectives, gauging their opinions on the business and their loyalty. They perceived me as an ordinary employee, unaware of my impending promotion to CEO.

During this time, I noticed a change in Noah's behavior. When I questioned him, he replied, "I don't like that uncle," referring to Adrian. His comment, and the strange look in his eyes, surprised me, but I decided not to press him further. Aria, on the other hand, expressed her fondness for Adrian during a meeting, prompting me to assure her he was a stranger and they would never meet again.

My children's reactions broke my heart. They didn't know Adrian was their father, and the secret weighed heavily on me. However, my mother reassured me that Adrian was far away and I didn't need to worry.

It was noon. Seated at my desk, working on some files, I heard a knock. "Please, come in," I said. Damia Robson, a young employee in her early twenties, peeked in. "Miss Natalia, it's lunchtime," she announced. Despite her youth, she was remarkably skilled.

"I'm coming," I replied. Noticing she remained standing, I closed my file, stood, and left my office with her.

"I knew you'd be busy, so Beta Eric asked me to get you," she said, surprising me. I frowned. She chuckled and whispered, "I know who you are."

"Oh," I mumbled. Eric must have confided in her because of her trustworthiness.

"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone," she reassured me, though I knew everyone would learn the truth soon. I smiled and nodded.

We had lunch in the company restaurant. The young women seemed affluent, a testament to the company's generous salaries, while the men appeared shrewd and hardworking.

Returning to my office with Damia, I stopped in the rest area. A cello sat in the middle of the room, captivating my attention. Damia asked, "Miss, do you know how to play cello?" I nodded slightly. "Do you want to play it?" she asked.

I smiled sadly. "Unfortunately, I injured my right hand years ago and can't play anymore." Damia looked surprised. The memory of burning my hand saving someone flooded back, the pain acutely present once more. But that was in the past. Even loving the wrong person didn't bring regrets.

"Miss, are you okay?" Damia asked, concerned.

"Yes, I'm fine," I replied. After checking my hand, she asked, "Is your hand okay?" I simply replied, "Hmm."

Back in my office, I tried to focus on work, but my thoughts drifted back to the past, memories almost forgotten since marrying Adrian. Then my phone rang—Adrian. How did he get my number? My stepfather, I assumed. I didn't answer, immediately blocking his number.

Moments later, Eric arrived, looking annoyed. "What happened?" I asked, standing.

He showed me his phone. "Your ex-husband is calling me. Should I answer?"

This was unexpected. Adrian had never contacted Eric before, not since their hotel room altercation. The possibilities raced through my mind: Had he learned Aria and Noah were his children? I bit my lip anxiously. Eric disliked Adrian intensely. He waited for my response. I took a deep breath and said, "Answer the call."