For about few steps…

"Look who's here?" Ingrid stopped in her tracks when she heard a familiar voice. "...the woman who wanted to flaunt her status as VVIP."

She turned around to confirm her suspicion. The woman looked at Ingrid sternly while her arms are intertwined just below her chest. Ingrid brows rose while looking at her.

"Hi, Miss Reiley, it's been a while…" her voice trailed off when she noticed that Vanessa's gaze fell to her arm.

"Your arm… the cast… why is it removed?!" the woman showed a shock face as if that the cast removal is a miracle. Ingrid's eyes rolled at Vanessa idiocy.

"Of course, are you expecting my arm to be in cast forever? If I remember your neck needed the support of a brace, too, after you met an accident during the family day of my son's school. Don't you remember?" she comes back with a mocking reply.

Vanessa touched her neck unconsciously and then she harrumphed.

"But isn't it too early to be removed?" she commented in a bratty tone and her left brow rose.

"Oh… how about your neck brace? Why is it removed? I thought it's permanent?" before Vanessa could settle scores with her, Ingrid raises her right arm to prevent Vanessa from talking further.

"Please, let's not waste some precious time with such childish play, Miss Reiley. It's unbecoming of you as you portray to be a prim and proper lady in front others while you're so rude in front of me and it's getting boring really…"

"Why, you–!" Vanessa has been itching to slap her face ever since because she always get embarra.s.s everytime they meet.

"Ahh if you'll excuse me, Miss Reiley, I need some urgent matters to do."

Ingrid walk past her to evade her annoying presence and she haven't notice that Vanessa raises her hand to slap her on her back. But before it reaches Ingrid's, one strong arm directly grips her wrist tightly. To her utter shock, she saw two tall and brawny men are standing.

"You better think twice, miss, before we throw you out from this establishment." A stern-looking bodyguard warned her and then thrust her hand aside that caused her to stagger.

"Who the h.e.l.l are you?!!" but the body guards paid no attention to her and just walked briskly to go behind their young master's wife.

♥…♥…♥…

Clifford and Clark are in the living as they waited for Ingrid's arrival. They've played so many games already but then they would end up being quiet again and looked for some signs of Ingrid's arrival.

Out of boredom, Clifford tried to concentrate reading some doc.u.ments but still his thoughts are on Ingrid while Clark read his new book and pester his father with some questions every now and then.

Though the bodyguards would often a.s.sure Clifford of their safety and that the young madam was just in the spa, he could not help it but to worry and constantly glances over his phone for some updates from his wife. Unfortunately, there's no sign of her texts.

The bodyguards wouldn't even tell him where they are! If he calls her, he will be dismissed easily saying that she's having a time for herself. He felt cheated for not being informed of her itinerary and what annoys him more is that the bodyguards know where she is while he doesn't.

"Aarrgghh…" he grunted which made Clark shaken.

"Daddy, is something wrong?" the child asks blinking his eyes.

"The young madam is here!" the Butler happily announced and his eyes danced with amus.e.m.e.nt seeing his masters simultaneously stood up upon hearing his announcement.

Clifford and Clark tilted their heads but only the two bodyguards they saw first carrying tons of shopping bags. And when the men separated ways, Ingrid emerged.

The husband's mouth fell widely open at her new overall look.

Ingrid's real dark golden brown hair bounced as she walks. Brown highlights added on her hair that increases bubbly waves on her new hairstyle fantastically. The soft spiral curls enhance her charm and style plus the dainty wavy bob added her eye-catching look. Matched with an off shoulder pleated bodice midi dress and Christian Louboutin leather pump stilleto.

Ingrid walks self-a.s.suredly and elegantly to where Clifford and Clark stands and they seem bemused.

"Hi boys! How do I look?"

Looking up, Clark shouted. "Stunning mommy!"

Clifford on the other hand gulped harder like he never done it so. His mind swirled with so many things that he haven't notice Ingrid's arm.

"Love, why are you so… lovely today?" he could not find the right words to describe how Ingrid looked before his eyes.

"Is that all you notice? Look carefully." Clifford roam around all over her but still he could not get what she meant because he's so captivated by her gorgeousness until Clark declared.

"Oh mommy, you no longer have a cast on your arm!!" at once his eyes go back to Ingrid's arm.

"Why…" he pursed his lips for asking a silly question.

"To surprise you, of course…" she grinned.

Without delay Clifford went to her and then pulled her to his embrace and kissed her loudly on her lips.

"Eww! Daddy kissed mommy on the lips…" Clark protested which makes his parents chuckled.

"Daddy's just so happy, sweetling…" Clifford ruffled his son's hair and then moved back his gaze to Ingrid and he whispered. "I have a surprise for you later, too."

Ingrid t.i.tled her head. "Oh…" she blushed as she thought some other things.