Six years later, at Emerald City International Airport.
Monica pushed a cart loaded with luggage out of the terminal.
She had long wavy hair that cascaded down her back, and her stunning face immediately caught everyone's eye.
But what really turned heads was the pair of boy-girl twins walking beside her.
The boy, dressed in a dark blue casual suit and carrying a small backpack, strolled behind Monica with a cool, laid-back vibe. He looked like a mini version of Alexander.
The girl had her hair in a ponytail, wore a matching T-shirt and skirt, and carried a backpack similar to the boy's but in a different color. She followed him with a bright smile.
The striking looks of the mom and her kids instantly grabbed everyone's attention, with many people pulling out their phones to snap pictures.
The boy glanced around, clearly uncomfortable with the attention. He then slipped on a pair of black sunglasses hanging around his neck, looking way more mature and sophisticated than his age.
The girl, on the other hand, lit up even more in front of the cameras and the crowd's cheers, waving like a pop star.
Monica couldn't handle their antics and called out, "William, Sophia, we're back home. Behave and stay close."
The twins turned their heads at the same time.
William Brown nodded calmly. "Got it, Mommy. We'll be careful."
Sophia Brown gave Monica a sweet, innocent smile. "Mommy, what did we do?"
"Don't play innocent with me." Monica knew her daughter too well. The brighter the smile, the more trouble she was brewing.
"Alright, I'll behave." Sophia shrugged, looking all obedient.
Monica shook her head and sighed, but her eyes were full of love.
She had thought she'd never cross paths with Alexander again, but then she found out she was pregnant from that night six years ago, with quadruplets.
Having grown up in the countryside solely with her grandmother, she had always yearned for a family.
The pregnancy felt like a gift from above, but during childbirth, two of the babies didn't make it, leaving only the eldest, William, and the youngest, Sophia.
Their high intelligence often left her feeling helpless and always reminded her of the two she lost.
If only they were here, how wonderful it would be.
Lost in thought, she suddenly spotted a familiar figure in the crowd.
He was standing sideways, talking on the phone.
She recognized Alexander by the glimpse of his back, exuding the same aloofness as before.
What rotten luck, running into Alexander on her first day back.
Sensing someone watching him, Alexander quickly turned his head and looked right at Monica.
Monica swiftly turned around, grabbed a mask from her bag, and put it on, her heart racing.
It wasn't that she was scared of Alexander, but she didn't want him to know about the kids, fearing he'd try to take them away.
She needed to get out of there fast.
She called softly, "William, Sophia, stay close."
The twins noticed their mom's sudden tension but didn't say anything, following her towards the exit.
However, there were some non-staff members guarding each exit.
Monica knew they were probably set up by Alexander.
She picked the exit with the least people, only to spot another familiar face—Joseph Miller.
Joseph had been Alexander's assistant for years and knew Monica well.
Monica quickly called her kids to a stop, pulled out two small masks from her bag, and put them on the kids. She whispered, "William, Sophia, go out through the front exit, turn right, and about 300 feet away, you'll see Evelyn's car, a white Audi. Go meet her first, and I'll catch up, okay?"
"Okay." The two nodded in unison.
Monica didn't waste any time and turned to leave.
But as soon as she left, Sophia dropped her obedient act and, with a mischievous grin, said to William, "I want to see what's going on too."
William had expected this and quickly grabbed her arm, frowning, "Mommy told us to meet up with Evelyn."
"Then you go first, I'll catch up later." Sophia broke free and ran off.
William, worried she'd get into trouble, hurried after her.
Meanwhile, Monica managed to avoid Alexander's attention and slipped into the parking lot through another exit, heading to meet her friend Evelyn Thomas. Suddenly, she heard a panicked shout nearby.
She looked over and saw a boy about the same age as William and Sophia running around the parking lot, calling out for someone.
Monica didn't want to get involved, but seeing a kid running around a parking lot was too dangerous. As a mother, she couldn't ignore it and walked towards him.
After searching for a while, the boy stood still and took out his phone to make a call.
As Monica got closer, she finally saw his face clearly, and her expression changed. She quickly walked over. "William, didn't I tell you to meet up with Evelyn first? Why are you here alone?"
The boy ignored her, dialing a number with his head down.
Monica just took his phone away.
The boy, already anxious about not finding his sister and now having his phone taken, snapped, "Who are you to take my phone?"
"I'm your mom!" Monica replied, frustrated.
She had been puzzled by her usually composed son's odd behavior, but seeing he was alone, she urgently asked, "Why are you alone? Where's your sister?"
The boy, still not fully understanding, replied, "She's lost."
His voice was filled with anxiety and guilt.
Seeing this, Monica took his hand and reassured him, "Mommy will help you find her."
The boy let her lead him.
Soon, they found the girl in a secluded corner of the parking lot, lying on the ground, motionless, her face pale and lips purple.
The boy rushed over.
Monica quickly picked the girl up, noticing she was still warm.
She bent down, pressing her ear to the girl's chest, hearing a wheezing sound and her breathing weakening—symptoms of asthma.
Monica was puzzled. Sophia had always been healthy and never had asthma.
But there was no time to think about it now. Monica had the girl sit up straight, gently rubbing her back to help her breathe.
The girl's symptoms gradually improved. She opened her eyes in Monica's arms and, looking at Monica's face, mumbled, "Mommy."