"Wow... Primo, that’s a lot!" Ashley’s eyes sparkled as she looked at everything Primo was dragging behind him—things Liza and Tommy had bought for him.

There were clothes, toys, games, and a few other things she couldn’t quite figure out.

Most of them, however, were games.

Ashley smiled as her gaze slowly lifted, landing on a pickup truck parked a few meters away.

Mounted in its bed was a vintage arcade cabinet.

She smiled knowingly before looking back at Primo.

Primo caught the look on his mother’s face and hurriedly explained.

[Grandpapa insisted we buy it so we can play together.]

"Don’t scold him," Liza chimed in. "We liked it, so we bought it. And don’t even think about returning it, alright? It’s not for you. It’s for Primo."

Ashley pursed her lips. Despite being warned—and lightly scolded—she couldn’t help feeling happy.

Meanwhile, Lucian stood quietly beside them.

Unlike Ashley, however, his attention wasn’t on the mountain of gifts.

Instead, he was staring across the street.

A few houses away, Tommy appeared to be restrained by several men who looked like ordinary pedestrians.

"Is Sir Tommy alright?" Lucian asked.

The men were practically hugging Tommy to stop him from charging over. Tommy was yelling something from afar, but the distance made it impossible to hear.

"Ah." Liza nodded after glancing over her shoulder.

She immediately spotted her fuming husband, whose eyes had begun blazing the moment he’d seen Lucian earlier.

Fortunately... she had expected this.

After being married to Tommy for decades, she knew him far too well.

He might eventually calm down, but he wasn’t someone who forgot things easily. Especially when strong emotions were involved.

"Come here, boy!" Tommy bellowed, clenching his fist. "I won’t do anything! I just want to have a very gentle conversation!"

"Sir, please get yourself together!" one of his bodyguards pleaded through gritted teeth while holding him back. "Remember Madam’s words!"

"Sir, I don’t think you’re capable of being gentle today!"

"Think happy thoughts, sir! Don’t let your temper win!"

Unfortunately, the more they tried calming him down, the more Tommy struggled.

Soon, several hidden bodyguards had to join in just to restrain him.

Even at his age, Tommy had been forged by a lifetime in the underground. His age felt like nothing more than a number.

Meanwhile, Liza simply looked away.

"Don’t mind him," she told Ashley and Lucian with a smile. "I’m just stopping him from coming over because he’s... rather dramatic and emotional sometimes."

Ashley and Lucian nodded in understanding. Their eyes instinctively drifted toward Tommy again. Only to witness several more men tackling him.

Concern flickered across Ashley’s face. Lucian, however, narrowed his eyes.

Something felt... off.

I feel like there’s an assassin somewhere in that direction.

A chill crept down his spine.

The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that Liza was putting things very lightly.

Somehow, he felt like he was the one in danger.

He just couldn’t figure out why.

"Anyway," Liza said, drawing both Ashley’s and Lucian’s attention back to her, "thank you for letting Primo stay with us."

Her eyes softened.

"He was... such a lovely boy." She gently brushed Primo’s cheek with her knuckles. "Having him with us made our entire day extra special."

She looked at the couple warmly. "It’s a memory we’ll treasure."

Ashley and Lucian smiled.

Deep down, they felt they should be the ones thanking Liza and Tommy.

After all, thanks to them... they had enjoyed quite the uninterrupted romantic getaway.

"No, thank you, Auntie," Ashley said softly as she stepped forward and held Liza’s arm.

Liza rested her hand over Ashley’s.

At the same moment, Primo hurried over and wrapped both arms around Liza’s waist.

Her brows lifted in surprise. Looking down, she saw the boy hugging her even tighter.

A mixture of emotions flickered across his face.

"Oh, dear." Liza covered her lips. "It’s not like we’re never seeing each other again, but you’re making me cry."

She crouched in front of him.

Before she could say another word, Primo threw himself into her arms. His little arms wrapped tightly around her neck as he buried his face against her shoulder.

"Aww..." Touched, Liza gently rubbed his back.

She looked at Ashley and Lucian, who smiled knowingly.

"He really likes you," Lucian remarked.

Primo usually only clung to Ashley this way.

Even with Lucian, his son rarely acted so openly affectionate.

Not because he was distant, but simply because Primo was oddly prideful whenever it came to his father.

"Sweetheart," Liza cooed, "don’t be sad."

She gently pulled back to look him in the eyes.

"We’re not leaving the country yet. We’ll see each other again." She squeezed both of his hands. "You just have school tomorrow."

"Be a good boy at school, okay?" she hummed.

"When you’re free, you can always come visit us." She smiled. "Besides, we’ll still be here next weekend."

She glanced at Ashley and Lucian.

Before she could even ask, both of them nodded enthusiastically.

Liza couldn’t help laughing at their eagerness.

"Then how about we pick you up on Friday?" She smiled at Primo. "You can stay with us all weekend. What do you think?"

Primo’s eyes immediately lit up. He nodded so enthusiastically that everyone laughed.

Ashley and Lucian exchanged smiles. Neither of them had any objections.

Most importantly, Primo looked genuinely happy.

After sharing several more hugs with Primo and Ashley, Lucian invited the old couple to stay for dinner.

Liza politely declined.

Soon afterward, she climbed into the car beside Tommy. Or rather... into the car Tommy had been gently forced into.

Tommy leaned heavily against the seat, his chest rising and falling dramatically.

"Dear," he complained, "that was cruel."

He looked at Liza with genuine grievance. "How could you not even let me properly say goodbye to my boy?"

Liza glanced back at him.

"I was saving our special weekend with Primo." She smiled knowingly. "Besides, you really should let this go. Ashley and Lucian are married, dear."

"No matter how angelic Ashley may be..." she paused. "She’s still a woman."

Tommy’s expression soured.

"Tch." He clicked his tongue. "It’s not like I don’t know that."

He sighed.

"But I can’t help it." His brows knitted together. "Ashley feels like a daughter to me. I just can’t picture Lucian tainting such a saint."

"Ashley is in love. I told you, she’s the one who asked me how to make him happier." Liza laughed softly. "She said she always feels like she’s the one receiving more."

"The receiving end?" Tommy frowned even deeper. "How is she on the receiving end?"

Then, he started listing down what he knew about what Ashley had been doing for Dominion.

"She’s running Dominion, Black Dragon Corporation, and her own company. Her plate is already overflowing."

"I’m not blaming Lucian. I know Ashley chose all of this herself."

"But to say she’s the one receiving more..." He sighed heavily. "That is unfair."

Liza simply smiled.

She actually agreed with him.

At the same time, she understood Ashley’s perspective.

Ashley simply felt so deeply loved that she believed whatever she did would never be enough.

"Anyway..." Just as Liza was about to change the subject, the driver suddenly spoke.

"Sir."

Both Tommy and Liza turned toward him.

The driver extended his phone.

Tommy furrowed his brows, but still accepted it.

The call had already been connected.

He placed it against his ear.

"Sir," a stern voice greeted from the other end.

Tommy listened quietly. One second later, his expression darkened.

Disdain.

Displeasure.

Cold anger.

All surfaced at once.

"Interesting." He nodded slowly.

The warmth from moments ago vanished completely.

"Send a warning to the Di Carpios." His voice was calm. "This city is too small for the both of us."

Liza’s breath caught while a dangerous glint flashed across Tommy’s eyes.

Then he added,

"Make sure they understand it’s an act of mercy."

"If they take it for granted..." He leaned back. "...send Scott and Marshal their heads."