Chapter 3 Once Was Enough

• Whitney was completely stunned.
• How could this man be so shameless?
• She quickly pulled her hand away, snatching back her luggage. Then, she retorted, "You're overthinking it. Once was enough—any more would just get boring."
• With that, she shot Shaun a fierce glare. She said a quick goodbye to Caden and left with the kids.
• Shaun remained in place, his face dark and stormy.
• Boring? Once was enough? Oh, you're quite something, Whitney!
• After her jab at Shaun, Whitney made a swift exit.
• The two little boys by her side seemed somewhat disappointed.
• It was too bad the occasion didn't allow them to deal with the jerk ex-husband.
• As they were leaving, on a small set of steps not too far away, a tiny figure stood quietly, eagerly watching them as they left.
• In the sunlight, her skin was fair, flawless, and delicate—not even a trace of fuzz.
• Her features were exquisite and beautiful. The little girl wore two small pigtails and looked as beautiful as a doll.
• No one knew when she had arrived there.
• At this time, she stared with wide, round eyes as Whitney and her children disappeared into the distance.
• She was so focused that she didn't notice her footing slip. Suddenly, she tumbled to the ground.
• The little girl let out a soft cry.
• Although the sound was faint, Shaun instantly sensed something and turned his head.
• When he saw the little girl, his previously cold and indifferent expression softened at once.
• His ice-cold face showed worry and concern.
• In a few quick steps, he strode over and scooped his daughter into his arms. Shaun asked, "Bianca, are you hurt? Does it hurt?"
• The little girl didn't speak; she just shook her head.
• Her pigtails swayed with the movement. Her adorableness was beyond words.
• Shaun checked her over and sighed in relief. "Good, you're okay."
• However, Bianca's focus wasn't on herself; it was clearly elsewhere.
• She hesitated for a few seconds, then opened her mouth and said, "Brother! Lady!"
• Shaun froze for a moment. He was shocked.
• His daughter actually spoke?
• Because of her health issues, Bianca's speech development had been slower than most children her age.
• Coupled with her introverted nature, she rarely ever spoke.
• Only on rare occasions did she let out a brief, soft sound.
• But now she was speaking voluntarily?
• Shaun was still reeling from shock when Bianca asked, "Who were they?"
• Shaun stared at her, dumbfounded.
• ...
• Meanwhile, at Southward House.
• Bianca and her children, along with Draven, who had driven them, arrived.
• The place was rich with traditional charm; its environment was peaceful and serene.
• The yard had a pond, rock formations, and a gazebo. In the back, a bamboo grove added an elegant, secluded touch, making the place feel ideal for living.
• The kids liked it instantly and began exploring the moment they arrived.
• Bianca also liked the place, so she gave Draven instructions. "Update the security system in this villa. Also, arrange for some guards to be posted here. I don't want any uninvited guests barging in."
• Staying with the Marshalls might bring some unwanted visitors, so it was best to be prepared.
• "Understood, Ms. Jones," Draven responded respectfully.
• The two little boys, who had been eavesdropping from a distance, immediately raised their hands upon hearing the words 'security system'.
• "Mommy, we can help! We recently upgraded the SW security system, and we can even set up some traps!" they chimed in eagerly.
• Bianca couldn't help but smile at their eagerness.
• "Alright, then. Go with Draven. Mommy's tired and needs to rest."
• She covered her lips and yawned as she spoke.
• Whitney had been working in the lab non-stop for over ten days while abroad.
• As soon as she left, she rushed back to the country without getting a proper rest.
• The boys felt sympathetic toward her. They pushed her toward the stairs. "Go on, Mommy, get some sleep."
• As soon as she went upstairs, the kids exchanged mischievous glances and started scheming.
• While sitting cross-legged on the couch with laptops on their knees, their fingers danced across the keyboards, typing code so fast that their hands blurred.
• In just a few minutes, they had hacked into the estate's security surveillance system.
• "Done!"
• Skylar snapped his fingers without even looking, instinctively high-fiving Andy.
• Andy, with a lollipop in his mouth, was wide-eyed with excitement, muttering under his breath.
• "This estate's wiring is easy to figure out, and it wasn't that complicated."
• "Yeah, pretty average," Skylar agreed, though their focused expressions showed how seriously they were taking it.
• After all, they were doing this to get revenge for their mother.
• They needed to fully understand their scummy ex-stepdad's house before they could figure out how to teach him a lesson.
• Draven was watching from the side. He couldn't help but twitch his mouth in disbelief.
• It looks like I'm out of a job when it comes to the security system.
• With a resigned sigh, he poured juice for the kids before stepping away to make a call and arrange for additional security personnel.
• ...
• Shaun, on the other hand, didn't know what to feel about Whitney's return.
• A mess of conflicting emotions left him irritable and restless.
• He briefly played with his daughter before a work call interrupted him.
• Bianca obediently saw him off at the door, watching as his car drove away. As soon as he was out of sight, the plan she had been quietly forming began to take shape.
• Making sure no one was around, Bianca slipped away, hugging the walls as she headed straight for Southward House.
• When she arrived, she heard cheerful laughter coming from the yard.
• Curious, she tiptoed over to the white fence, peeking through the gaps.
• She saw two boys playing soccer in the yard, passing the ball back and forth with ease.
• The bright sunshine and their joyous smiles were really infectious.
• She was so mesmerized that she didn't notice a small cat sneaking up beside her until it startled her.
• Bianca let out a small yelp as she fell backward, making quite the noise.
• "What was that?"
• Skylar stopped the ball. Andy had just kicked and looked in the direction of the sound.
• Andy heard it too and rushed to the gate.
• The two boys hurried outside and found a beautiful little girl sitting on the ground. She was a bit of a mess.
• A nearby plant had scratched her hand, leaving a red mark that stood out sharply against her fair skin.
• "Little one, are you alright?"
• They squatted down and asked with concern.
• Bianca shook her head, but her eyes were red.
• After all, she had been pampered and raised in privilege—how could it not hurt?
• Andy had sharp eyes and noticed the cut. He quickly said, "Looks like you're bleeding a bit. Hey! We need to tend to these injuries."
• Skylar's face grew serious, and he said, "Let's go inside. We'll get you patched up, okay?"
• Bianca hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
• Earlier, when she saw the boys at the main house, she had felt a strange urge to get to know them.
• After interacting with them, she wanted to be closer with the boys.
• So, she obediently let them take her hand and lead her inside.