As the day continued, Aiden and his cousin Jerome won various events, while Ron triumphed in the drawing competition. Daniel managed to arrive in the evening, but by then, Ron and Jerome had finished their competitions. His scalp tingles under his wife's intense glare.

He smiled sheepishly and said, "I made it here," trying to ease the tension.

Amber gave him a dry look. "You better return to your office now."

Ruth chuckled and said, "Officer Smith, your timing was always a bit off."

Daniel narrowed his eyes at him, wondering why this man's words always seemed to carry hidden insinuations.

Ignoring Ruth, he continued to appease his wife. "Come on, babe, there's still little Aiden's performance."

"Hmph," Amber turned away and walked off.

"Hmph," Ron mimicked his mother and ran to catch up with her.

Jerome crossed his arms, shook his head in disappointment at his father, and followed his mother.

Daniel's lips twitched at the three of them.

"Are you still busy with that case?" Conan asked Daniel.

"I am. This case has many more twists and turns than I expected," he sighed.

Conan patted his shoulder and advised, "Work is important, but family is more important," and walked away.

Daniel watched the old man retreat, his eyes flickering with inexplicable emotion.

Family is important, he thought.

As evening fell, the stage performances began, with students from various schools showcasing their talents in dance, singing, and dramas. Being an inter-school carnival, the Imperial Academy's vast auditorium was cleaned and arranged with chairs and a large stage for performances.

As the largest investor in the Imperial Academy, Conan and his family were seated in the front row. Alex eagerly awaited his grandson's turn on stage, his enthusiasm evident. Conan, sitting next to him, couldn't help but pity Alex's eagerness.

“Don’t regret,” Conan said calmly while Alex scoffed in response.

When the time finally arrived, Aiden climbed up on stage. Alex and Sam couldn't contain their excitement. They immediately held up boards with Aiden's name on them, cheering him on. Siren also waited eagerly to hear his song.

Aiden grinned at his family and stood at the center of the stage. He tapped the microphone to check the connection, which squealed in response, then he started singing.

“Yodel-oh-ee-dee…yodel odel deeee…yodel odel deeee…yodel…diddly…oh.oh.deeee…..” As Aiden sang, his voice echoed in the vast hall.

Alex and Sam’s smiles turned strained, their initial excitement replaced with awkwardness. They exchanged glances, unsure of how to react. Sam silently lowered the banner in his hand and placed it on Ruth's lap. 

Ruth couldn’t help but chuckle at his boyfriend. He patted his shoulder and comforted him, meanwhile, Sam lifted his hoodie, hid his head, and zipped it to his neck.

Ron scratched his head and asked Amber, “Mother, what is he singing?”

Amber replied awkwardly, “I think he is yodeling.”

Jerome couldn’t control his laughter and clutched his stomach, “Yodeling? Mom, he is howling.”

Amber hushed her son and continued to watch the performance.

“I pity aunty. She must be disappointed,” Jerome said between laughs. As if to watch Siren’s reaction, three heads simultaneously turned to look in her direction.

Siren sat there with a straight face, keenly watching Aiden’s performance without blinking and recording it on her phone, giving others the feeling that she was mesmerized.

The three heads were stunned and stiffly turned their faces back to the stage.

The audience struggled to maintain their composure. Stifled giggles and suppressed laughter were evident, but no one dared to laugh out loud, given Conan's presence. His stern demeanor and reputation kept everyone in check.

Even Alex, known for his boisterous laughter, sat rigidly, biting his lip to prevent any sound from escaping. He looked anywhere but at the stage. Aiden, blissfully unaware of the strained atmosphere, continued singing with gusto. The more he sang, the more the audience squirmed in their seats.

"Ulallo ulae ulae ulae..."

At this note, a few people in the back couldn't help but let out snorts of laughter, quickly covering their mouths. Conan turned back with narrowed eyes, and the laughter abruptly stopped. He then glanced at the man seated next to him.

Alex's face was red, and his eyes were wide. However, his trembling belly betrayed him, his body shaking uncontrollably from restrained laughter. When Aiden finally stopped singing, there was a moment of stunned silence before the audience broke into polite, relieved applause.

Aiden bowed deeply, beaming with pride.

Conan, maintaining his stoic expression, led a standing ovation, and the rest of the audience quickly followed suit.

"Bravo! That was such a good song for a funeral," Daniel commented, earning an elbow jab from his wife.

Back at their seats, Siren patted Aiden's head and ruffled his hair. "That was... quite a performance, Addy."

Aiden beamed and kissed her cheek. Proudly, he turned to look at the others. Alex and the rest stiffened, smiling awkwardly as they praised him. Satisfied, Aiden puffed out his chest and sat in Ruth's lap, continuing to watch the other performances.

As the event ended, the family had dinner at a nearby famous restaurant. After enrolling their sons in the academy, Daniel bought a separate villa close to the school and moved there with his family. After dinner, he drove his family home, while the drunken Alex was taken to Conan’s mansion.

Ruth dropped Siren and Aiden at the Grey mansion before leaving for his place with Sam, who was also drunk. Aiden, who was fast asleep in the car, was carried inside by Alfred, as Siren's wound was still healing.

As Alfred carried Aiden, Siren helped him open the master bedroom door. When she opened it, her breath caught in her throat, and her heart skipped a beat. There stood Raven in his boxer shorts, his hair wet from the shower, dripping water onto the floor.

His eyes immediately locked onto her blue ones. Though it had only been two days, it felt like months to Siren. Without breaking eye contact, Raven ordered the butler, "Take him to his room."

Alfred bowed and carried the young master to his own room. Siren remained standing at the door, hesitant to enter. Raven's lips quirked up as he strolled towards her. He caught her hand and gently tugged her forward, closing the door behind her.

In a flash, he pressed her against the door and began peppering kisses on the column of her neck. Feeling the warmth of his body after two days, Siren couldn't help but wrap her arms around his neck.

“Missed me?” Raven's voice was hoarse, filled with an intensity that sent shivers down Siren's spine.

In those two days apart, Raven felt something gnawing at the corner of his heart, a restless feeling that had consumed him. But the moment his eyes fell on her, that feeling vanished, as if the burning fire within him had been freezed to frozen land.

She didn’t stir his heart with the tender warmth of love, but rather with a deep, unsettling stillness.

As these thoughts raced through his mind, his kisses grew more urgent, more demanding. He sucked on her neck, his lips and teeth leaving red marks on her fair skin. His hands slid up her waist, lifting her top to touch her bare skin, the contact sending electric waves through Siren.

Siren shivered, her eyes closed and lost in the raw intensity of the moment. She gripped his shoulders tightly, trying to steady herself as her body melted under his touch. Raven bent down, his face level with her belly, and looked up at her.

Siren slowly opened her eyes and lowered her head to meet his gaze. His mesmerizing green orbs held her captive. She understood his unsaid words. He was always like that, never crossing the line, always ensuring she was comfortable. 

Her mind drifted back to the last time his tongue had rolled around her belly, and the tip of her ears immediately reddened at the thought.

Seeing her thoughts drifting somewhere, Raven squeezed her hips, gaining her attention.

 "May I?" he asked, his voice low and filled with a mix of desire and restraint.