Brian’s sharp eyebrows suddenly furrowed. He crouched down to the child's height and gently wrapped his arms around Cyrus, continuously patting his back.
"Did your mother give you trouble again?"
Brian didn’t need Cyrus to speak; he could tell by the child's expression that Diana had been bullying him. It was truly pitiful.
The child looked up at him, and Brian soon noticed the red marks on his face. A storm of anger surged within him.
He gently touched Cyrus's cheek, his eyes showing a cold rage.
Brian could no longer restrain himself; he lightly grasped Cyrus's arm. The boy furrowed his brows in confusion and pulled his arm back.
Brian’s suspicion grew, and he quickly rolled up the child’s sleeve to reveal numerous dark bruises on both arms. His teeth clenched in anger as his eyes displayed a frantic expression. He couldn’t hold back and uttered, "Did she dare hit you?"
Cyrus lowered his head in fear, his eyes filling with tears. He nodded faintly, his lips trembling. "Every time you’re not around... she hits me. Dad, isn’t she not my real mother?"
The child’s innocent question tore at Brian’s heart. Cyrus was Diana's biological child. Brian remembered how Diana had used the child to blackmail him back then. Mia, on the other hand, had always loved this child deeply.
He hugged Cyrus tightly, feeling a deep sorrow. His gaze turned colder.
"Cyrus, my dear, if she ever bullies you again, remember to tell me... don’t worry about her anymore... She’s not your real mother."
Curiosity got the better of the child, and he asked, "Then who is my real mother?"
Brian felt numb, his mind tangled. Should he reveal Mia’s name, saying that she was Cyrus’s real mother? Was he being too selfish?
In the end, he sighed softly and spoke in a warm voice. "Your mother is away on business and will be back soon..."
With that, he gave a gentle smile, picked up the child, and set him down on the sofa. "Stay here for a bit. Tonight we’re going to your grandparents’ house, not staying here."
Cyrus nodded obediently. "Okay."
Brian offered a tender smile before turning away. Once his face was turned, his sharp eyebrows relaxed, but his eyes remained angry and cold.
Without saying another word, Brian headed straight to Diana’s room. When he entered, he saw her at the vanity, preparing to go out.
As the door closed, Diana looked up and was startled to see Brian.
He shot her a disgusted look, his tone icy like a block of ancient ice. "How dare you hit Cyrus?"
At first, Diana was frightened, but then she smirked and responded mockingly, "I’m his mother. Am I not allowed to discipline him?"
Before she could finish, Brian strode over quickly, his eyes bloodshot, and his lips clenched. His cold, fierce expression made Diana feel suffocated.
Without hesitation, Brian grabbed her by the neck, pressing his face close to hers as he growled, "Who gave you the right to hit my son? A filthy thing like you... how dare you lay a hand on him?"
Diana’s face turned pale, and she clutched Brian’s wrist, coughing uncontrollably.
Brian was determined to crush this cruel woman before him.
He exhaled sharply, his cold breath hitting her ear. "Do you think you're so special? One day, I’ll divorce you. Enjoy your last days of so-called happiness."
He released her, leaving a red mark on Diana’s neck. She rubbed her neck while coughing several times.
Diana looked at Brian in grievance. "Are you hitting me just because of that child?"
Before she could finish, Brian slapped her across the face. She stood there stunned.
Brian’s voice grew colder, filled with disdain. His lips curled into a sneer. "Who called Cyrus a bastard? He’s my son, the grandson of the city’s top businessman. A bastard? Are you talking about yourself? Filth... remember the warning I gave you today... Don’t say I didn’t warn you."
After leaving those threatening words, Brian stormed out of the room. Diana, infuriated, felt a strong urge to kill Cyrus. But she knew if Cyrus were gone, she would be next.
Brian returned to the living room, where he found Cyrus sitting with his legs drawn up, waiting for him. His heart ached.
He approached the sofa and gently picked up the child. "Let’s go, we’re going to your grandparents’ house."
Cyrus nodded obediently but then tilted his head, looking around. "Dad... when will I be able to see my mother?"
Brian’s steps faltered, but his heart felt frozen. He didn’t know when he could reunite with the love of his life, let alone answer Cyrus’s question.
Brian had searched for Mia for five years, seemingly combing through the entire city of X, but still found no trace of her.
"Dad..."
Seeing that his father did not answer, Cyrus called out again. 
"Hmm? Oh... your mother? Very soon. Don’t worry, I’ll find her quickly."
Brian said no more, his smile a mask for the deep emotional wound he had been unable to heal over the past five years.
Brian took Cyrus back to the Leonard house. That evening, when they returned, Mrs. Leonard did not mention that Mia had come back. She even instructed the servants not to mention it, fearing it might agitate Brian and scare Mia.
A few days later, Mia decided to stay in City X until her father’s health improved. She would not leave until then. Every day she cared for Mr. Garcia, and with Cara in tow, she worried about not having enough time for the child. Though Cara was well-behaved and didn’t cause trouble, a hospital environment was not suitable for a child over four years old. Mia needed to find a good preschool for Cara.
Mr. and Mrs. Garcia had no objections to this decision. They understood that the hospital environment was not ideal for a child and unsafe.
It wasn’t too difficult to find a suitable and safe daycare for Cara. Due to her busy schedule, Mia could only take Cara there to register around ten in the morning.
The daycare was large, with various areas, including play zones, reading corners, and classrooms for easy management.
As Mia entered with Cara, she was immediately satisfied. She took the child to the central office to complete the registration.
Since she was only registering, she couldn’t leave Cara there as it was almost closing time.
After completing the registration, she and Cara left.
Cara, held in Mia’s arms, looked around with interest. 
"Mom, why do I have to go to daycare?"