Mom took her car, and I hailed a cab, instructing the driver to follow her discreetly. I needed to know what was really going on behind my back. After a short while, her car stopped in front of a hotel. She got out, adjusting her sunglasses and looking around cautiously before heading inside.

My heart raced as I watched her enter the hotel. A thousand questions ran through my mind.

Is she meeting Dad?

But if it’s Dad, why is she being so secretive about it?

Determined to find out, I quickly got out of the cab and told the driver to wait for me. I followed in her footsteps, entering the hotel. Through the glass doors, I saw her speaking with the receptionist before she disappeared into an elevator. I hesitated for a moment, gathering my nerves, then approached the front desk.

With a confident smile, I said, “Hi, I’m here to meet Mr. Robert. Can you tell me which room he’s in?”

I was taking a gamble. If it was Dad, I’d find out soon enough. If not, I’d be exposed. The receptionist typed something into her computer, then looked up at me.

“Yes, ma’am. He’s in room 1003, on the 10th floor.”

I nodded, thanking her as I made my way to the elevator. I pressed the button for the 10th floor.

The elevator doors opened, and I stepped out, glancing around before walking down the hallway in search of room 1003. When I found it, the door was closed. I felt a mix of curiosity and dread. What was going on inside? I was almost certain that Mom had come to meet Dad, but why had she been so secretive?

Just then, a room service cart approached with food and champagne. The attendant knocked on the door, and I quickly stepped behind a nearby wall to avoid being seen. A moment later, the door opened, and to my surprise, it was Dad who answered. I watched as he accepted the delivery, my mind racing with questions.

Mom did come to see Dad… but why was she so hesitant to tell Ezekiel about it?

I left the hotel, my thoughts tangled in confusion. There was no point in overthinking it now—I’d have to wait until tonight to get some answers. As I walked away, my phone buzzed in my pocket. It was Ezekiel calling. I stared at the screen, unsure of what to do. I couldn't bring myself to answer, too caught up in the whirlwind of my thoughts.

I got into a cab and headed home. Ezekiel called several more times, but I ignored each one, unable to deal with him right now. When I finally arrived, I was surprised to find him already there, waiting for me. His worried expression softened as soon as he saw me.

"Isabella, where have you been?" he asked, his tone laced with concern. "Why didn’t you pick up my calls?"

I forced a faint smile, he looked great even in his upset situation.

"Umm... sorry," I replied softly, avoiding his gaze. "My phone was on silent, so I didn’t hear it."

The anger I’d felt on the first day had slowly dissipated, replaced by something softer, something I wasn’t ready to acknowledge. I couldn’t muster the firmness in my voice that I once had.

"Where were you?" Ezekiel asked, his tone gentle but insistent. "Why did you go off alone? I was waiting for you."

I bit my lip, searching for a plausible excuse. "Sorry, I should have informed you. I made some friends at school, and they wanted to show me around. I couldn’t say no."

Ezekiel’s face relaxed into a smile, a hint of relief in his eyes. "Wow, that’s great. I’m glad you’ve made friends so quickly."

I nodded, trying to match his enthusiasm, though my mind was still tangled with thoughts of Mom and Dad. Ezekiel took a deep breath, his expression growing serious again.

"I called your mom several times, but she didn’t pick up. I don’t know where she is."

I pressed my lips together, trying to keep my voice steady. "Maybe she’s in a meeting."

"Maybe," he agreed, though his tone suggested he wasn’t entirely convinced. "I think I should go and pick her up."

My heart skipped a beat. If he went to the hotel, he wouldn’t find her there—or worse, he might find out something he wasn’t supposed to. I had to stop him.

"You’re leaving?" I asked, raising my brows in feigned surprise.

"That means I’m going to stay here alone. Did you forget that Mom told you to take care of me?"

Ezekiel chuckled, raising his voice slightly as he responded, "Oh yes, she did." He paused, then added more softly, "I’m sorry."

I rolled my eyes, trying to lighten the mood. "It’s okay. And don’t be so tense—she’ll be back soon."

Ezekiel sighed, nodding as if trying to convince himself of the same. I started to head towards the stairs, then paused, throwing out a question that had been gnawing at me. "Or do you think Mom is cheating on you?"

I wanted to gauge his reaction, to see if there was any doubt in his mind. I turned back, watching his face as I stepped onto the first stair.

Ezekiel smiled lightly, his confidence unwavering. "Your mom wouldn’t do that."

I didn’t press him further, lowering my gaze as I continued up the stairs. He trusts her, I thought. Let’s see how far that trust goes.

Ezekiel and I spent the afternoon together, sharing snacks and walking through a nearby park. As evening fell, we decided to watch a movie together. It was just the two of us in the mansion, and while the movie played, our conversation flowed easily.

Suddenly, I asked, "Hey, do you stay in my mom's mansion all the time?"

Ezekiel laughed loudly, his eyebrows raised in amusement. "Yes, my lady, your mom is my sugar mom."

I arched my brows in surprise. Mom had told me that Ezekiel owned numerous properties and was the only son of an industrial magnate. How could he joke about something like that?

"Like seriously?" I asked, trying to understand.

Ezekiel gave me a warm smile and explained, "Actually, no. We switch it up. One month we stay in your mom's apartment, and the next month we shift to mine."

"Oh," I replied, curious. "Then why didn’t you take me to your house?"

He looked at me with an intense gaze, one that sent a small shiver down my spine. "Do you want to see everything in a day?" he asked, his tone playful. "Take your time; you’ll enjoy it more."

I didn’t say anything, just rolled my eyes and focused back on the screen.

As we continued watching the movie, I couldn’t help but notice that although Ezekiel was with me, he kept checking his phone, obviously waiting for a call from my mom. He was clearly worried, or at least curious, about where she was and why she hadn’t contacted him.

I sighed quietly. I really couldn’t understand what my mom was doing. Was she cheating on Ezekiel? If she wasn’t, why hadn’t she told him that she went to meet my dad?

At least she could clear herself by telling him the truth.