It was a vast improvement indeed. Will paused, his small hand holding the tongs, quietly noting Theo's poor cooking skills. Then he said, "As long as you remember the techniques and timing, it's easy!" Maeve affectionately ruffled his hair. "That's my son—clever!"

Will's cheeks flushed, feeling motivated enough to fry a hundred more croquettes. However, Maeve didn't need that many; she had other dishes to prepare. Concerned about hot oil splattering and getting him in trouble, she gently ushered him out of the kitchen.

"Why don't you go to the balcony and water the vegetables? Monty forgot to turn on the irrigation system today."

"Okay," Will replied obediently, squatting before a flowerpot with a small watering can.

There was also a small vegetable garden on Byron's estate. It grew only onions, cabbages, and radishes, in limited quantities. However, a dedicated gardener cared for it daily, tending to it more than the precious flowers.

Will had once thought these were rare plant species, only to realize later they were ordinary vegetables. He wondered why Byron treasured them so much.

"Alright, sweetie, it's time to eat!" Maeve called from the dining room.

Lost in thought, Will was jolted back to reality by her voice. He immediately set down the watering can and rushed to wash his hands, the delicious aromas urging him to hurry. "Such a feast!" he exclaimed, settling into Theo's seat. His eyes widened at the various dishes, and a smile spread across his face. "Mommy, you've worked so hard!"

Maeve glanced at him, a teasing smile on her lips. "What's gotten into you today? Did you recruit another little follower at kindergarten and get caught by the teacher again?"

Will felt slightly embarrassed. So that's how things are with Theo at kindergarten? he thought.

"Not at all; I just feel sorry for you, Mommy," Will said seriously. "When I grow up, I won't be afraid of getting splashed with oil anymore." Then he could help Maeve.

Maeve found his obedient demeanor endearing and pinched his soft cheeks. "Mommy," Will suddenly grabbed her hand, his face serious. "What's wrong?" Maeve asked, noticing the shift in his demeanor.

"Can I have a few more croquettes today?" Will asked, reaching for the back of her collar, pushing aside her hair to retrieve something.

It was a miniature listening device. Maeve initially wanted to ask what it was but followed Will's request. "You can only have two at most, or you'll get a stomachache," she said.

"Okay. I'll just have two," Will said, setting the device aside. He grabbed paper and a pen to write a note: [This is a listening device, and it's still active. Mommy, let's pretend we don't know about it.]

A listening device? Maeve was startled. She couldn't fathom how it got there. The only people she'd seen today were Byron and Neville, leading her to wonder if one of them had planted it. They had kept their distance, and she hadn't noticed any unusual behavior. Yet, they were the most likely suspects.

"Mommy, this dish is a bit spicy. Could you please get me some milk?" Will asked, writing: [I need the toolbox.]

Maeve immediately got up. "Okay. Mommy will get that for you." She quickly returned with the milk and toolbox, gently placing them on the table.

While pretending to eat, Will used a tool knife to dismantle the listening device carefully, ensuring its operation wasn't disrupted. He continued writing: [Mommy, I still need a computer.] Maeve brought the computer over and watched as he worked. Will's hands were surprisingly nimble and steady, displaying a level of composure unusual for a child his age. He was familiar with the components, moving quickly and instinctively.

Before long, Will discovered the transmitter and used the computer to track its location. He wrote: [Number three Maple Lake, owner: Neville McDaniel. Do you know him, Mommy?] (Please remove the promotional sentence here.)

Seeing Will's words, Maeve furrowed her brows and nodded. She hadn't expected Neville to be so cunning, using the opportunity to plant a listening device. She had never truly believed Neville wanted to help her, let alone assist Gilbert.

She always felt he was scheming, willing to go to any lengths to achieve his goals. That's why he'd pretended to cooperate, trying to gauge her intentions. However, it was clear he was much more cautious than she had anticipated.

"Mommy, this person has bad intentions toward you; he's not a good guy," Will said, his brows furrowed. "This listening device is equipped with GPS tracking, which means it can monitor your location in real-time." Maeve's eyes widened. "Sweetie, we can speak now?"

"Yeah, I wrote and installed a code in the listening device. The other party will think we're just chatting," Will said.

Maeve felt relieved and hugged Will tightly. "My little one is truly amazing! Mommy feels so safe!"

Will's face turned bright red, and he bit his lip, embarrassed.

After dinner, Will returned to his room to contact Theo. "Mommy had a listening device planted on her!" Theo exclaimed. "Which jerk did that? I'll make sure he regrets it!"

"I know that name. He was part of the McDaniel family, but not anymore," Will said.

"Then is he a relative of the McDaniel family?" Theo asked.

"No, I'm not very sure about the specifics either," Will replied.

Theo muttered, "This is outrageous. Besides that nice grandpa from the McDaniel family who treats Mommy well, there isn't a single good person in that family!"

Will replied, "Don't broaden the attack range."

"Alright, except for you," Theo said with a giggle. "But how did you know how to modify the listening device? Did you learn it specifically?"

"I used to get bored and would take apart and reassemble all the machines around the house as a game. I learned it while playing," Will replied honestly.

"Does that mean your hands-on skills are quite impressive? Have you ever taken apart a pistol?" Theo asked.

"I once secretly took apart Daddy's Desert Eagle," Will replied.

Theo thought, Wow, he was quite the little troublemaker back then! Daring to take apart a Desert Eagle, huh? Isn't he afraid the Great Demon King would give him a spanking for that?

Just as they were chatting, there was a knock at the door. Byron's deep voice came from outside. "Will, are you asleep?"

Theo immediately asked Will, "What do we do? Your daddy is here!"

Will rolled his eyes slightly and replied, "Well, he's your daddy too. You don't need to be scared. Daddy looks serious and cold, but he's nice."

Theo was skeptical, thinking anyone who bullied Maeve couldn't be a good person.

Theo quickly ended the call and dashed to his bed, pulling the covers over himself just before Byron entered the room. A hint of confusion crossed Byron's face as he noticed Theo's chubby little legs sticking out from under the blanket. He thought, Is Will getting a bit chubby? Byron sat on the edge of the bed and lifted the covers, inspecting him. His gaze landed on Theo's slight belly. Well, definitely plump and adorable.