Chapter 627

Chapter 627

Sunlight streamed through the mall's massive glass dome, casting a golden glow on the high-end marble floor.

Zoey's slender fingers lightly brushed over a row of elegant children's smartwatches, her brow furrowed as she weighed which one would be best for her two soon-to-be four-year-old sons.

"How about this one?" Claire picked up a dark blue smartwatch with a tiny spaceship design on the face. "Travis has been all about astronauts lately, right?"

Zoey took the watch, a smile tugging at her lips. "He was bugging Henry last night to tell him stories about the International Space Station."

She placed the watch back on the display and picked up a red one next to it. "But Gabriel might like this one better. It's got a programming robot design, which he's been really into lately."

The children's luxury section on the third floor of the mall wasn't crowded. A few well-dressed mothers were leisurely pushing strollers, and occasionally, the sound of children's laughter drifted over from the play area.

Zoey was dressed in a simple beige trench coat, a white turtleneck sweater underneath, and black straight-leg pants that accentuated her long legs. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, revealing her delicate face.

"Are you going to tell them that Gabriel is 'Ghost'?" Claire lowered her voice, her eyes scanning the surroundings cautiously. "Even though Mr. Windsor has tried to keep it under wraps, with so many people at the company, there's no guarantee someone won't leak it."

Zoey's expression turned serious instantly. She put down the watch and turned to Claire. "I was just about to talk to you about that. I've arranged for some self-defense tools for Gabriel and Travis. They should arrive tonight."

"What kind of tools?" Claire's curiosity was piqued, her fingers twisting together unconsciously.

Zoey was about to answer when she caught sight of a familiar figure approaching them. Her body tensed, and her fingers tightened around the shopping bag handle.

It was Helena.

The forty-seven-year-old woman was dressed in a well-tailored dark red suit, her high heels clicking crisply on the marble floor.

Her well-maintained face showed hardly any signs of aging, and her resemblance to Ophelia always made Zoey uncomfortable.

"Zoey, what a coincidence." Helena approached, a forced smile on her lips, the fine lines around her eyes smoothing out.

She held a limited edition Hermès handbag, her nails painted the same dark red as her suit.

Zoey didn't respond, not even a glance in Helena's direction. She turned to Claire instead. "Let's go check out the LEGO section. Gabriel has been wanting that new programming robot set."

Claire, sensing the tension, nodded silently and prepared to follow Zoey.

Helena's smile froze. She quickly stepped forward to block their path. "Zoey, is this how you treat your elders?"

"Elders?" Zoey stopped, a cold smile on her face, her gaze sharp as a knife. "A few months ago, I didn't even know you existed as an 'elder.'"

She emphasized the word "elder," her tone dripping with sarcasm. "A woman who my late grandfather never acknowledged as his illegitimate daughter has no right to call herself my elder."

The mall's soft background music contrasted eerily with their conversation.

A nearby sales associate seemed to sense the tension and hesitated, unsure whether to intervene.

Helena's face turned pale, her meticulously groomed eyebrows furrowing. "What did you just say?"

"And let's not forget your little stunt in Marigoldia, trying to cozy up to my dad at Claire and Joseph's wedding." Zoey's voice was low but icy. "Helena, your shamelessness has truly redefined my understanding of the word."

Helena's heavily powdered face turned from white to red, her carefully maintained elegance cracking. She couldn't deny it, as Zoey had caught her in the act.

Zoey's voice had grown louder than usual, drawing curious glances from passing shoppers.

Helena's grip on her handbag tightened, her knuckles turning white. Even with her thick skin, she couldn't pretend to be calm.

"Zoey, don't get too cocky." Helena's voice dropped, a hint of malice in her eyes. "I know you're trying to sabotage my Honghe Film and Television Company. But let me tell you, it's not that easy! Soon, Honghe Film and Television Company will surpass your Radiant Vision Entertainment. Then we'll see who's laughing!"

Zoey laughed, with a breathtakingly beautiful yet chilling smile. "Helena, business is like war. It's about strength, not empty boasts."

She elegantly handed a credit card to the approaching sales associate. "My company currently has seven A-list artists and three top-tier celebrities. That's a fact. As for your Honghe Film and Television Company? I hear even your B-list artists are starting to break their contracts."

Helena's chest heaved, clearly hit where it hurt. Her carefully styled curls trembled with her agitated movements. "We'll see about that!"

"Say whatever you want." Zoey took back her card and the beautifully wrapped gift bag from the sales associate. She gave Helena one last cold glance before linking arms with Claire and walking away, leaving behind an elegant yet indifferent silhouette.

The elevator doors opened, and Zoey and Claire stepped inside.

As the elevator descended, Zoey watched the floor numbers change and suddenly remembered something. "We were talking about the self-defense tools for Gabriel and Travis."

"Right!" Claire's attention shifted immediately. "What kind of secret gadgets are we talking about?"

Zoey pulled out her phone and showed a few pictures. "Custom-made children's smartwatches. They look like regular watches but have built-in GPS tracking, emergency alarms, and a stun feature. Henry had his company's top tech team design them, and only he and I know the activation codes."

Claire stared at the seemingly ordinary yet cleverly designed watches in amazement. "That's incredible. But Gabriel is only four. Does he really need this?"

"Gabriel might not, but 'Ghost' does." Zoey's eyes grew deep. "Once the identity of the world's top hacker is exposed, the trouble it brings is unimaginable. I can't take any risks."

The elevator reached the first floor, and the doors slowly opened.

Zoey adjusted her expression, putting on a graceful and composed smile. "Let's go pick out an astronaut outfit for Travis. On their birthday party, I want my two little princes to be the happiest kids."

The two walked out of the mall, the afternoon sun casting a golden outline on Zoey.

She looked up at the clear blue sky, her gaze firm yet gentle.

No matter how many potential dangers lay ahead, she would protect everything she loved—her family, her career, and those two little lives that made her willing to face the world.