Transmigrated: I Became My Nemesis's Woman

"Mommy, are you going to come with us today too?" Leo asked, unable to hide the hope in his voice.

Xander, who had been quietly sipping his juice, glanced at Ivy as if waiting for her answer.

He did not mind her coming along to drop Leo at school. Her presence had clearly made the boy happy. But today was different. Today, Xander did not want her there, especially not when he was going to meet the principal.

Leo waited eagerly, his eyes fixed on Ivy. But before she could even open her mouth, Xander spoke.

"She is busy today."

The moment those words left his lips, Leo’s smile faded, and the sparkle in his eyes dimmed.

Ivy had initially planned to decline anyway since she intended to meet Sal. But seeing how disheartened Leo looked when Xander answered on her behalf made her chest tighten.

This man really needs to learn how to be more empathetic toward his own son, she thought, silently fuming. Who responds in such a blunt tone?

Meanwhile, Xander remained completely nonchalant, as if his words had not affected anyone.

"I... might not be able to join you both today," Ivy said gently, her voice softening as she looked at Leo. "But I promise I will come and pick you up. How about we go to the park after that?"

Leo’s face lit up instantly.

"The park? Yes! Mommy, I can’t wait to go there with you!"

His mood shifted so quickly that even Xander was left momentarily speechless.

Xander watched the exchange in silence, his gaze lingering on Leo’s brightened face.

It was strange.

Just moments ago, the boy had looked utterly crushed. And now, with just a few soft words from Ivy, he was beaming again as if nothing had happened.

That kind of influence was not something Xander could ignore.

"You seem quite confident," he said finally, his tone calm but probing. "What makes you so sure you will be free later?"

Xander was already curious about what Ivy planned to do today, especially since she had not denied his earlier statement. He also knew that if she decided to step out, it would hardly be anything ordinary.

Ivy looked up at him, unfazed, a small smile playing on her lips. "Because I plan to be."

Though she was smiling, her eyes were practically shooting daggers at him.

She knew he sounded casual, but that did not mean he was not alert, not when he had nearly caught her yesterday when Teddy had called him.

Teddy, standing behind them, felt a chill run down his spine.

That did not sound reassuring at all.

Xander narrowed his eyes slightly, studying her. There it was again, that quiet confidence, that unpredictability that made it impossible to fully understand her intentions.

Leo, however, did not care about any of that.

"Mommy, don’t forget," he said quickly, as if afraid she might change her mind. "You promised."

"I won’t," Ivy assured him, her expression softening. "I always keep my promises."

Xander caught that.

Always?

And strangely, that brought him a sense of assurance.

Leo hopped down from his chair just as Butler Rupert stepped forward and adjusted the backpack on his shoulders.

"Okay, Mommy, see you later," Leo said before running out of the house.

Xander remained behind, standing next to Ivy.

"Don’t forget what you said," he said quietly.

Ivy paused. The moment she turned to look at him, the sudden closeness made her catch her breath.

For a few seconds, Xander’s gaze remained fixed on hers, unwavering and intense.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he adjusted his suit and walked away.

"...what was that?" Ivy muttered, blinking as she watched his retreating figure.

Ivy stood there for a moment longer, still trying to process what had just happened.

Why did that feel so... intense?

She shook her head lightly, as if to clear the lingering thought, then let out a small breath.

"Focus," she muttered to herself. "You have more important things to deal with."

And those "important things" were exactly why she could not afford to get distracted, especially not by a man like Xander.

Her expression shifted, the softness fading as her eyes sharpened with purpose.

"Madam, will you be needing the car?" Teddy’s cautious voice came from behind.

Ivy turned to look at him, her lips curving slightly. "Of course."

Teddy’s shoulders stiffened instantly. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Here it comes.

"Where are we going, Madam?" he asked carefully, already bracing himself.

Ivy picked up her phone, glancing at the screen before slipping it into her bag. "Just a small errand."

Teddy closed his eyes for half a second.

That phrase again.

Every single time she said "small errand," it turned into something that tested the limits of his job description.

"Understood," he replied, though his tone suggested he understood nothing at all.

A few minutes later, Ivy stepped out of the house, her stride confident and unhurried.

The guards followed immediately, falling into formation around her.

Teddy walked slightly ahead, scanning the surroundings out of habit, but his mind was elsewhere.

If Madam was this calm... then something was definitely wrong.

Ivy slid into the back seat of the car, crossing one leg over the other with effortless ease.

"Drive," she said simply.

"Yes, Madam."

As the car pulled out of the driveway, Ivy turned her gaze to the passing streets, her expression thoughtful.

Sal, here I come

Nico leaned back, staring at the car ahead like it was leading them to their doom. "Alright... whatever happens, we stay calm."

Benny nodded seriously. "Yes. No running. No screaming. We are professionals."

Percy took a deep breath. "Absolutely. Dignity first."

Silence fell between them, then Nico whispered, "If she jumps out of the car, I’m jumping too."

"I’m not chasing her again," Benny muttered. "Last time I lost my shoe and my will to live."

He mentally recalled yesterday’s incident.

Percy groaned. "Why do I feel like we’re about to do cardio?"

All three fell silent. Then, in unison, they sighed.

"Here we go again."