Transmigrated: I Became My Nemesis's Woman

Xander had no idea how long he had been in the study. Time had slipped past him unnoticed, buried beneath files and thoughts he could not quite silence. When he finally decided to return, his steps were steady at first, but they slowed as he reached the hallway. His gaze drifted, almost against his will, toward Ivy’s room.

He paused.

Ever since the day she had walked into his office, she had unsettled something in him. It was not trust, and it was certainly not acceptance. If anything, it was suspicion sharpened by instinct. Yet the more he tried to understand her, the less certain he became. She did not fit into any pattern he knew, and that alone made her dangerous.

And intriguing.

Xander stood there for a moment longer, then, as if pulled by something he refused to name, he found himself walking toward her door.

He stopped outside, his hand hovering near the handle. For a brief second, he debated whether he should even enter. There was no sound from inside. No movement. No voices. The silence felt too complete, and he took it as reason enough.

Slowly, he pushed the door open.

His eyes immediately fell on the bed.

Leo was curled against Ivy, his small frame tucked securely into her arms. She held him close, almost protectively, as if shielding him even in sleep. The boy’s face was relaxed, free from the usual flickers of uncertainty that sometimes crossed it. In her embrace, he looked... safe.

The sight caught Xander off guard.

Something in his gaze softened, the usual cold edge dulling for a fleeting moment. Before he could stop himself, he stepped closer, drawn toward the quiet scene.

He stood beside the bed, looking down at them.

For all his doubts, he could not ignore what he saw. Leo did not cling to people easily. The boy had always been cautious, shaped by the unspoken distance in their world. Yet here he was, sleeping peacefully in her arms, as if he had found something he did not even know he was missing.

Xander’s jaw tightened.

"Are you here to stay forever, or is this your trap?" he murmured, his voice low, his eyes fixed on Ivy.

He did not fear being hurt himself. That part of him had been worn down long ago. Growing up surrounded by disdain had taught him how to endure without expecting anything in return. But Leo was different.

Leo was his responsibility. His weakness.

The thought of someone walking into his son’s life, only to leave or destroy that fragile trust, stirred something far more dangerous than anger. It stirred a quiet, controlled fury.

Letting Ivy get close to Leo was a risk. One he had not consciously chosen, yet it was already happening. And if she turned out to be another mistake, another betrayal, then he would not show mercy.

His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, searching for something he could not define.

Then he turned and walked away.

The soft sound of the door closing echoed in the room.

Thud.

Ivy’s eyes snapped open instantly, her gaze darting toward the door he had just exited through.

She had not been asleep.

She had only pretended, unable to come up with a convincing explanation earlier until Leo had grown tired and drifted off in her arms. She had remained still, listening, waiting.

And she had heard everything.

Now, lying there in the quiet aftermath, Xander’s words repeated in her mind. They settled deep within her, stirring something unfamiliar.

A strange feeling crept into her heart, slow and unsettling, as if something had shifted without her permission.

***

Morning came, and Ivy woke in an unusually good mood. For the first time since arriving, she felt a sense of ease. Xander had given her permission to step out of the house whenever she wished, and that small freedom felt larger than it should have.

She got dressed quickly, choosing something simple yet comfortable, and stepped out of her room. Her footsteps were light as she made her way downstairs.

"Mommy, are you heading somewhere?"

Leo’s voice stopped her.

He was already seated at the table, his eyes fixed on her with curiosity. Earlier that morning, he had seen her sleeping and had refused to wake her. Still, he had quietly stolen a soft kiss before slipping out of the room.

Now, seeing her fully dressed, he tilted his head, trying to understand.

Ivy’s smile widened at the sight of him.

She walked over without hesitation, pulled the chair beside him, and sat down, her attention fully on the little boy.

"Yes," she said gently. "I decided to drop Leo at school today."

For a second, Leo simply stared at her, as if making sure he had heard correctly. Then his face lit up.

"Really, Mommy? You’ll come with me?"

Ivy nodded, her expression warm.

The excitement on Leo’s face was instant and unfiltered. He turned quickly, looking toward the other end of the table.

"Dad, did you hear? Mommy is coming with us!"

The words echoed louder than it should have as the smile on Ivy’s face faltered.

"I heard her," Xander said in his usual cold tone, not even bothering to look up as he continued eating his breakfast.

Ivy watched him, a faint, unreadable emotion flickering in her eyes.

Isn’t he supposed to be heading to work? Then why is he coming with us?

The thought unsettled her more than she expected. The last time, Leo had gone to school alone while Xander left for work separately. That had been simple. Predictable.

This was not.

If Xander was coming along, then leaving afterward would not be as easy as she had planned. The idea of having to find a way to slip away from him made her chest tighten slightly.

Soon, Butler Rupert stepped forward and instructed a servant to serve Ivy her breakfast before the trio prepared to head out.

***

[Outside]

"Wait... why does this look like a presidential convoy? Are we dropping Leo at school or negotiating world peace?"

Ivy froze for a moment, clearly taken aback by the sight in front of her. Several men in sharp suits stood nearby, each of them slipping on dark sunglasses with practiced precision. The atmosphere felt less like a simple school drop and more like a high-level security operation.

Her brows furrowed as she slowly turned her head toward Xander.

"They’re going to follow us," he said casually, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

But his words hit Ivy differently.

A flicker of unease crossed her face, the weight of the situation sinking in almost instantly.

If they are going to follow us... does that mean I’ll be watched every single second?