California
The Leo family remained as prosperous and well-known as ever, their public image rising even higher when Michael's son, Joel, stepped into the modeling world. From a young age, the boy carried an effortless beauty that turned heads—soft features and striking charm that reminded everyone painfully of his mother.
Madam Leo began taking every opportunity she could to draw closer to him.
After Margaret went missing, her son had slowly withdrawn from her. He searched for Margaret at first—quietly, stubbornly—but deep down he knew she would never be happy returning to the life she had escaped. Eventually, he stopped the search before it consumed him completely, before it erased the last pieces of himself that still functioned as a father and business owner. In their world, even being seen too often in public could spark dangerous rumors. A single photograph, false gossip, or a wrong headline could trigger a scandal strong enough to destabilize everything the family had built.
So he buried himself in work.
Michael did everything he could to give his son a comfortable, protected life, even if business dominated most of his days. Lord Leo sometimes made time whenever he could, showing up unexpectedly just to sit on the floor and play with the boy like nothing else in the world mattered.
Madam Leo often watched from a distance.
Sometimes she longed to walk over, to join them, to hold the child freely. But hesitation always held her back. Prideful guilt had a way of making simple gestures feel complicated.
Still, she tried.
Because no matter what had happened, the boy was her grandson.
And more than that—
He was the heir to the Leo legacy.
"My love, I miss you already. I hope your plane lands soon."
"Grandma, it's only been four hours since takeoff," Joel replied with a soft laugh. "And I'm already bored out of my mind in here."
"Don't worry," Madam Leo whispered. "You'll be home before you know it."
"Yeah… but I still love Thailand, though. It's lively there. There's always something happening. It's hard to leave a place like that."
"I know, my dear," she answered, her voice warming with memory. "That's why I wanted to leave something meaningful behind before I left that environment."
"You told me about the college," Joel said eagerly. "And honestly, it's exactly like you described. I couldn't believe it when I saw it myself."
A soft chuckle escaped her lips. "I only wanted to build a place that would outlive me. I never imagined it would grow this big."
"Grandma, you're a genius," Joel said fondly. "We'll talk about it properly when I get back. I don't want to miss any part of the story."
She laughed, a rich, satisfied sound. "Joel, you've really grown. Listen to the way you talk now."
Their conversation flowed easily, filled with a warmth that distance could not thin.
Joel had barely settled into the plush seat of the VIP suite when exhaustion claimed him. Even here, in a space designed for comfort and privacy, he couldn't move about freely. Fame had a way of shrinking the world around him, turning open spaces into invisible cages.
He closed his eyes, just for a moment.
Sleep took him quickly.
"Sir…"
"Sir!"
Joel jerked awake, blinking hard as the world snapped back into place. He lifted his head, disoriented, eyes narrowing at the figure standing before him.
"What?" he muttered, voice rough with sleep.
"Sir, the plane landed a few minutes ago, but…" The bodyguard hesitated, clearly choosing his words carefully.
Joel frowned. "But what?"
"Your fans already know you're here, sir."
Joel stared at him, confused for a second before reality settled in. "Did you contact my manager?" he asked, rubbing his eyes.
"Sir… his line is unavailable."
Joel let out a slow breath and ran a hand through his hair. "Unbelievable. So how exactly am I supposed to leave this airport?"
The bodyguard stiffened, bracing himself for Joel's frustration.
Fortunately, airport security had anticipated the situation. By the time Joel stepped out, barriers had been set up, and officers lined the path. Even so, the noise was overwhelming. The moment he appeared, screams erupted from every direction. People who hadn't even known he was there began shouting his name just because others were.
Joel was used to attention, but this level of frenzy still unsettled him.
He had become an international model almost too quickly. From runway shows to brand endorsements, his face was everywhere. Then came the unexpected twist — a single collaboration with a popular artist that turned into a global hit. One song, and suddenly his name wasn't just in fashion headlines but on music charts too.
Influencers, directors, and producers had lined up, begging him to appear in music videos and commercials. But Joel had always been careful. The Leo name carried weight, reputation, and history. One wrong move in the entertainment world could stain what his family had built for generations.
So he walked carefully, smiling politely as he moved through the secured path, knowing very well that his life, no matter how glamorous it appeared, was never truly his alone.
Joel finally stepped into his family's private jet, the polished interior swallowing him in quiet luxury. Outside, beyond the tinted glass, the crowd was still roaring his name.
He paused by the window and gave a brief wave.
The reaction was immediate. The noise rose another level, screams blending into one chaotic sound that followed the aircraft even as the doors sealed shut.
He exhaled and turned away.
"Are your fans always this… crazy?" a lady seated nearby asked, trying to strike up a conversation. She was his cousin.
Joel glanced at her, irritation flickering across his face.
"My fans aren't crazy," he replied flatly. "You're the one saying that."
The woman fell silent immediately.
The rest of the flight passed in calm stillness, a sharp contrast to the madness outside. Joel leaned back into the seat, closing his eyes, letting the quiet wash over him. This was the only place he could breathe without being watched.
Not long after, the jet touched down.
Home.
The moment Joel stepped into the Leo mansion, he stopped.
A banquet had been prepared.
The long dining table shimmered under warm lights, covered in dishes he hadn't tasted in months. Flowers decorated every corner of the hall, and the scent of familiar meals wrapped around him like a memory he didn't know he had missed.
At the center of it all stood his grandmother, Madam Leo, smiling as though she had been waiting at that exact spot for hours.
"Ma'am, the young lord is back," a maid announced with a slight bow.
Madam Leo rose from her seat at once, joy lighting up her face.
Joel stepped into the hall, and the moment his eyes fell on his grandmother, his expression softened. Her smile was wide, warm, and filled with a kind of relief only family could understand.
"Mama…" he called gently as he walked toward her, opening his arms just as she did.
"Come here, my son," she said, pulling him into a firm embrace. She kissed his forehead before holding him close for a few extra seconds. "You seem to have become too comfortable in Thailand to remember you still have me here. Huun!"
Joel laughed as he pulled back slightly, though he still held her hands.
"I could never forget you, Mama," he said with a grin.
Lord Leo, who had been watching quietly, stepped forward and gestured toward the table.
"Sit, both of you," he said calmly.
As Joel turned, his grandfather reached out and patted his shoulder.
"You are welcome home, son."
The banquet was anything but fun. Laughter rose and fell across the long table, cutlery clinked against porcelain, and Madam Leo's smile never once faded. She watched Joel more than she ate, as though reassuring herself that he was truly home and not just a memory on a screen.
It was already late evening into the night when Michael Leo finally returned.
Fatigue clung to him, visible in the slight slump of his shoulders and the loosened tie at his collar, but the moment he stepped into the dining hall and saw the family gathered, something in his expression lifted. Good news had clearly followed him home.
He took his seat and joined the meal without ceremony.
"This is delicious…" Michael muttered after the first bite, almost to himself.
Joel looked at him across the table, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Dad, I really miss you being this happy."
Lord Leo dabbed his fingers with a handkerchief and leaned back slightly. "Tell us, son, did you close an international deal?"
Michael nodded. "Yes, Dad. I'll likely be traveling soon—Thailand, Vietnam, and China."
Joel let out a chuckle at that, lowering his gaze to his plate.
Madam Leo noticed. "Joel, have you decided where to further your education—"
Her words had barely formed when Michael's voice cut through smoothly.
"Will you continue here," he asked, eyes fixed on his son, "or would you prefer an international college?"
Joel's fingers tightened subtly around his fork.
He hated moments like this.
The way his father unintentionally silenced Madam Leo during family conversations. The way the room would shift into an invisible tension that no one dared to acknowledge. He was always left stranded between answering honestly and protecting the fragile peace at the table.
The chatter died down.
No one wanted to ruin Michael's rare good mood.
"Joel?" Lord Leo prompted gently.
Joel's fingers tightened around the edge of the table.
A thin sheen of sweat gathered along his hairline. His breathing turned shallow—too fast, too uneven. The fork slipped from his grip and clattered softly against the plate.
He pushed his chair back.
It scraped loudly across the floor.
Both his grandparents were already rising before he could fully stand.
They had seen this before.
Too many times.
This always happened when the air between Michael and Madam Leo grew tense. When unspoken resentment thickened the room. When voices sharpened, even slightly. Joel never understood the root of it, but his body always reacted as if it did.
As if it remembered something his mind could not.
"Joel?" Madam Leo called softly, fear already climbing into her voice.
Michael stood abruptly. "Joel?" His tone was firm, edged with irritation rather than concern. His gaze shifted instantly to his mother.
"You," he pointed, anger flashing. "You are the problem. I—"
His words vanished.
Joel's knees buckled.
His body dropped before anyone could reach him.
"Joel!"
Chairs crashed backward as everyone rushed forward in panic. Lord Leo caught him just before his head could strike the tiled floor.
"Call the doctor!" Madam Leo's voice broke as she knelt beside them, her hands trembling over Joel's face.
Michael stood frozen for half a second, shock draining the color from his face.
Lord Leo's expression changed.
Not to panic.
Controlled. Dangerous. Silent fury.
He pulled out his phone with rigid calm.
"This is the last time I will warn you both," his voice thundered through the hall as he dialed. "If I lose Joel because of this madness, then we are no longer a family."
No one dared speak.
No one dared move.
"Put your differences aside," he continued coldly, eyes lifting to both Michael and Madam Leo, "before I put them aside for you."
He turned away to speak to the family doctor while maids rushed in, unsure what to do, stepping over each other in confusion.
The entire hall fell into a suffocating silence.
Because no one wanted to be the one caught in Lord Leo's gaze when it burned like that.