Mission: From Divorcee to Millionaire

Since last week, Mateo had moved into Lakeside Mansion to live with Everett, diving into the heir training and occasionally tagging along to work with him. Every time Everett had a meeting, he'd set up a little chair for Mateo to sit and listen in. Even if Mateo didn't grasp everything, Everett believed that just being in that environment would help him soak it all up and grow quickly. It was the same approach Josh had taken with him back in the day.

Selena felt a twinge of guilt for her son, knowing this meant giving up parts of his childhood. But when she thought about Mateo possibly becoming as successful as Everett, it seemed like a worthwhile trade-off. Luckily, Mateo seemed to have inherited the Bennett family's knack for business; he wasn't against these experiences. In fact, he found them far more intriguing than hanging out in the park with other kids his age. The only childish indulgence he'd allow himself was Emily, who once broke open her piggy bank to buy him a plane ticket.

Mateo would only come back to Moon Bay on the weekends. Selena treasured these rare breaks, sitting on the living room carpet and drawing with Haley. Haley seemed to miss her brother, often drawing herself as a tiny figure being led by her much taller brother.

"I'll skip the driver. I'll take Haley with me to pick him up," Selena decided after a moment.

Ava looked a bit surprised but pleased, "Sure, sure, have dinner there before heading back. I could use a little break."

Selena saw right through Ava's matchmaking plans. If anyone had a tough exterior with a soft heart, it was her. Despite her criticisms of Everett, deep down, she hoped for their little family to be whole again.

Later, when the sun wasn't blazing and the heat had eased a bit, Selena styled her daughter's hair into a cute little princess look, dressed her in a pretty dress, and they set off for Lakeside Mansion. Everett was still at the office, but as soon as he heard Selena was coming to pick up the kids, he cleared his schedule and drove back as fast as he could.

When he got home, he found Mateo playing with Haley in the living room under Kate's watchful eye, but е Selena was nowhere to be seen. A shadow of concern crossed his face; had she left when she heard he was on his way?

He walked in and asked Kate, who smiled and said, "She's upstairs packing some clothes for Young Master in the children's room."

Everett nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He kissed his daughter before heading upstairs.

Meanwhile, Selena wasn't in thenoveldrama

children's room but in the study. She wasn't too familiar with Lakeside Mansion, but she knew Everett's style enough to guess where the safe would be. She took down an expensive painting from the wall to reveal the safe behind it. The safe had a complicated combination lock, and she knew entering the wrong code would likely set off an alarm. She wondered if Everett had changed the code... The old one was a mix of his lucky numbers.

Selena hesitated, then entered her birthday instead. With a soft beep, the safe unlocked. Her heart skipped a beat.

Everett reached the children's room, finding it empty. He frowned slightly and then made his way to the study.