"I didn't know the mayor was getting married. And soon at that. " Zaria was surprised to hear about it. Such news usually threatened to blow up the tabloids because it was often what remained on people's tongues for weeks, but she had not heard a word of it. All she had ever heard was that the mayor had a secret girlfriend who he planned to get married to, and that she was Shera Qin's mother.

"He didn't tell the public about it and only invited his close family and friends." Lucy explained the lack of news.

"That makes sense." Zaria nodded. Louis Fort was indeed the kind of man to keep his personal matters secret, and they would never be revealed to the public unless a paparazzi accidentally uncovered it. "But he invited you. You and him and friends?"

Lucy smiled at the term which was alien to her. There was no such thing as friends in this world. "Just long term acquaintances."

"I see. Is Desmond going too?" She asked curiously, recalling that Desmond was supposed to be a nemesis of the mayor's son, considering that the latter was interested in Natalie. Perhaps he would invite Desmond as a way to see his crush? She frowned at the thought.

"That depends on whether he is close to Louis or Amanda. Is something wrong?" Lucy noticed her daughter's expression.

"No, it's nothing." Zaria smiled the thought away. If Desmond were to be invited to the banquet, his date would automatically be Natalie. It was uncertain how Devonte had been able to keep himself together because she was about to shatter from jealousy. However, she knew that Desmond and Natalie had zero interest in each other so she brushed it off with a random question. "The bride's name is Amanda?"

"Yes." Lucy checked through the gowns and didn't see any other dress that interested her. "Come on, if you don't like the dresses in this store, we can go to another one. It's too late to order custom-made ones."

"It's alright. I like this one." She touched a peach gown and felt its texture. "Wait. Do you know what color Mrs. Fort will be wearing?"

"Are you worried that you will accidentally steal her limelight?" Lucy laughed humoredly and tousled her daughter's hair. "Don't worry, you will do so no matter what you wear. You are, after all, so beautiful."

"Thank you very much. I feel better." Zaria jokingly huffed, then disappeared into the dressing cubicle with the peach gown.

"Tell me if you need help." Lucy said through her laughter. Had her daughter always been this cute?

"I can do it just fine." Zaria responded from the dressing chamber as she slid into the gown. It was not a complex gown so she could wear it on her own, and she soon exited the dressing cubicle.

Lucy was waiting for the door to open and when it did, she looked up. Her eyes widened in pleasant surprise when she saw Zaria who was standing before her. "You look so beautiful, honey."

"But you look sad." Zaria closed in on her. Lucy looked like she was about to cry.

The older woman shook her head. "It's just… unbelievable. When you were a little girl, I liked dressing you up and styling your hair. You would always brag about it to your friends."

Zaria felt her eyes sting. She had previously thought that Lucy had forgotten all about her childhood. "I can't brag about it anymore but you can style my hair whenever you want."

Lucy pulled her into a hug and quickly pulled away when she remembered that they were still at a store. It might be normal to briefly hug her assistant but an emotional hug was suspicious.

"The banquet is tomorrow in the evening. Is that too short of a notice?" She asked.

"It's alright. I can prepare for it." At least she had been told about it a day before. The banquet was probably not supposed to be a secret, since the public would find out about the mayor's marriage sooner or later.

"Mother, can you do me a favor?" She asked before she could stop herself.

"What is it?" Lucy looked at her curiously.

Zaria realized that it would not be a good idea so she shook her head. "It's nothing."

Lucy nodded and patted her shoulder. "Zaria, you have to know that you can tell me anything. You don't need to be scared of me."

"Yes, I know." Zaria averted her gaze. If it was about her, she might have gone ahead and asked for the favor. However, she had wanted to ask for Lucy to help Theodore attend the banquet as a reporter. It would boost the reputation of F&P Media. However, her father might not like it if he found out that he had been given a hand by his ex wife.

She looked at her mother and wondered whether it was too late to change her mind. What if it created an opportunity for sparks to fly between them?

In the end, she dropped the thought with a smile. Lucy would probably kill her if she knew what her daughter was thinking. "I should rush home."

Lucy checked the time and found that it was getting late.

"I'll drop you off." She offered.

"Thanks but I need to get my car from the company." Zaria wanted to bite her tongue immediately after rejecting the ride. That would have been yet another chance for the two to naturally meet! Was it too late to change her mind?

"I'll drop you off at the company." Lucy led the way. She had driven on her own because she didn't want her bodyguard to ask millions of questions about her closeness to Zaria.

The ride was shorter than Lucy hoped for it to be. She wanted to spend more time with Zaria. What a bummer that the latter had to rush home. On the bright side, they would be at the banquet together the following day.

"I will have the shoes and accessories sent over to your house later." She promised as they approached Preston and Fort Group.

"Thank you." Zaria said in a low tone.

"Goodbye mum." She bit out when they arrived at the company parking lot. She would have loved to hug her but someone might see them, so she left the car and went up to check on Desmond.

"Did Desmond leave already?" She asked Jessica, who she bumped into in the hallway.

"The CEO does not belong to you, Miss Williams." Jessica huffed, making Zaria face-palm.

"Is there something wrong with your language comprehension skills? I'm pretty sure I asked whether Desmond left, not whether or not the CEO belongs to me." She wondered whether Jessica was crazy.

What happened to Zeus anyway? She had instructed him to report to work today. They would have gotten rid of Jessica already. If that man did not want to come to work, he should simply say so.

…

"Master, there is a problem." The young bodyguard reported to Lucy soon after Zaria left.

"What is it?" Lucy felt her head hurt. What was up this time?

"Alyssa's lover is planning something. I was unable to get hold of his exact plan but he will execute it tomorrow." The young man reported.

It must have something to do with Zaria, Lucy guessed. She dismissed her bodyguard, took her phone and made a call. "Lock The Web. Make sure Zeus is home when you do it and he must not suspect a thing until you lock him in his room."

Lucy hung up and held her phone to her chest. Zeus would probably hate her this time, but it was for his own good. She knew that he would probably go crazy if he found out that Zaria might be in danger, and whatever he would do in his craze might put him in danger too. He was too irrational.

…

Zaria arrived home to find Theodore playing around, probably teaching Des how to dance. It was quite adorable but didn't he know that he couldn't strain himself? She gave her handbag to a maid before scolding him. "Dad, you are supposed to rest more."

"I'm alright now." He ran to hug her, as a way to prove that he no longer needed to stay in bed and on the couch like a lazy potato.

"Of course you are." She gave up talking sense into him. As long as he didn't do anything overboard. She hugged him before picking up Des.

"You…" Theodore looked confused as he stared at her in disbelief.

"What is it dad?" She chuckled as she patted the puppy. He looked as though he had seen a ghost.

"I missed you." He came up with some random excuse and hugged her again. He shook the insane thought out of his mind. How could he even think that he felt Lucy's scent on Zaria a moment ago?