Her Little Protector

Rowan stood on his tiptoes, his small hands gently gripping his mother's wet shoulders, and pressed a warm kiss to her ice-cold cheek. "How could I be lonely? You need to worry about yourself catching a cold after getting caught in that freezing rain."

The tender scolding from her six-year-old son melted the lingering dread gripping Valerie's chest. Acting far beyond his tender years, the little boy took her pale hand and firmly led her down the hallway toward the bathroom.

"I already adjusted the water temperature and set out dry towels for you. Get in there and take a hot shower right now," Rowan instructed.

Valerie offered a soft, grateful smile. Her heart swelled with an overwhelming mixture of immense love and deep sorrow. She quickly slipped into the steamy bathroom to wash away the chill of the storm and the terrifying memory of her recent encounter.

In the hallway, Rowan smoothed down his messy hair. He marched straight to the kitchen, his small brow furrowed in deep concentration. He would have prepared the drink himself if he were tall enough to reach the high cabinets.

"Please prepare a strong ginger tea for my mother. Make sure to add extra brown sugar to it," Rowan ordered the housekeeper.

The housekeeper nodded and quickly set a kettle on the stove. Rowan stood by the marble counter, desperately hoping the sweet, spicy drink would lift Valerie's sunken spirits. He knew the exhausting ordeal of her grandfather's funeral still weighed heavily on her fragile shoulders. Even though Valerie tried her best to hide her sadness, he could see the dark shadows lingering in her beautiful eyes. His ultimate goal in life was simple: to work hard, earn plenty of money, and shield his mother from any more pain. He trusted that one day, she would open up to him about her hidden sorrows.

A short while later, the bathroom door clicked open. Valerie emerged, wrapped tightly in a fluffy white towel. The spicy, comforting aroma of ginger immediately filled the air around her.

Rowan carefully approached her, walking with steady steps as he carried a steaming ceramic cup. He paused in front of her, pouting his small lips thoughtfully as he blew a steady stream of air over the hot liquid.

"The temperature and the sweetness are just right. Drink it all so you do not get sick," Rowan stated, holding the cup out to her.

Tears pricked the corners of Valerie's eyes. She obediently took the warm cup with both hands and took a long, soothing sip. The sweet ginger burned pleasantly down her throat, chasing away the remaining shivers.

Just as she lowered the cup to thank him, a loud, embarrassing growl echoed from her empty stomach.

Rowan's soft, caring expression vanished in a flash. He crossed his small arms over his chest, his dark eyes turning incredibly serious as he stared up at her.

"Did you neglect your meals again?" Rowan demanded.

Valerie sheepishly submitted to the reprimand. She lowered her gaze, feeling a deep, piercing sense of guilt. In the past, she had worked multiple exhausting jobs to provide for them, often skipping meals until her health deteriorated. Under Rowan's strict daily supervision, she had finally adopted a healthier routine. Yet, the moment she was out of his sight, she had fallen back into her old habits.

"I am sorry, sweetheart. I got caught up with pressing work and forgot to eat," Valerie softly admitted.

She stared at the floor, unable to meet his intense gaze. Her heart ached with regret. She felt terrible for repeatedly breaking her strict promise to take better care of herself. When Rowan put on his stern adult face, his posture stiff and unyielding, he could be quite intimidating. She did not want to cause him any more worry, especially after everything they had already endured together.

Rowan stared at her, secretly directing his boiling frustration not at her, but at the engaged womanizer who had kept his mother out in the pouring rain. He clenched his small fists at his sides. If that arrogant jerk wanted to spend time with Valerie, the least he could do was ensure she ate a proper meal. It was unforgivable.

Despite his intense inner anger toward Gideon, Rowan flawlessly masked his feelings. He took a deep breath, smoothing out his expression, and pivoted toward the kitchen.

"Please bring out some hot snacks for my mother," Rowan politely asked the housekeeper.

Rowan grabbed a dry towel and stood on a stool to gently pat Valerie's damp hair dry. Once a plate of warm pastries was set on the table, Rowan waited for Valerie to change into comfortable clothes. He watched like a hawk as she sat down and took her first bite. Satisfied that she was finally eating, he reached into his small backpack and pulled out a professional-looking document.

He slid the crisp papers across the table and handed them to her.

"I have made the final decision about which entertainment company to sign with. They offer a very competitive salary and excellent benefits. You can look it over. If you do not like it, I will find another agency," Rowan declared boldly.

A fresh wave of guilt washed over Valerie as she looked at the thick contract. She set her pastry down, apologizing profusely.

"Sweetheart, I am so sorry. As your mother, I should be handling these complex negotiations for you. Instead, you have ended up shouldering all these heavy adult burdens by yourself," Valerie said.

Rowan responded with unwavering, touching care. He puffed out his small chest, standing tall beside the dining table.

"You are my mother, and I am your son. It does not matter who does the paperwork. As a man, I must help ease your load," Rowan stated.

Valerie felt a warm tear slide down her cheek. Their profound connection and unspoken understanding required no extra words. She picked up the contract and scanned the pages. Even though Rowan was only six, he possessed a brilliant, calculating mind. Sometimes she felt he was the one taking care of her. Trusting his usually mature and flawless judgment, she pulled a pen from her purse and signed her name on the dotted line without hesitation.

"The terms look fine. We will go to their office tomorrow to finalize this," Valerie agreed.

A triumphant spark lit up Rowan's dark eyes. Valerie handed the document back to him, blissfully unaware she was walking directly into a sophisticated trap carefully orchestrated by her own son.

The very next morning, the stormy weather had cleared, leaving behind a crisp, sunny sky that washed the city in bright light. The mother-son duo finished their breakfast, stepped out of a yellow taxi, and arrived at a towering, grand corporate office building in the center of the financial district. Valerie stood on the sidewalk and stared up at the massive glass structure that seemed to scrape the clouds. She smiled warmly, praising Rowan for picking such an impressive and prestigious establishment to launch his new contract.

Their perfectly coordinated matching outfits immediately turned heads in the bustling lobby. Valerie wore a tailored beige trench coat that highlighted her untouchable grace, while Rowan sported a miniature version that accentuated his charming, exquisite features. Whispers followed them as they walked toward the reception desk. Rowan had already built a formidable reputation in the child modeling industry, and his delicate face was instantly recognizable to the staff.

A polite secretary greeted them with a bright smile and escorted them to the VIP reception area on the upper floor to meet the senior executives. The lavish space featured plush leather seating, polished marble floors, and frosted glass walls that separated the meeting rooms.

Valerie took a seat on a soft sofa, admiring the elegant decor. She turned her head toward a frosted glass door, and her breath hitched in her throat. Her eyes widened in sheer shock.

Standing just beyond the glass was a towering, very familiar figure. It was Gideon Vance.

The imposing billionaire stepped out of the adjoining office, flanked by his trusted assistant, Darius. Gideon wore a sharp, custom-tailored charcoal suit that emphasized his broad shoulders and commanding presence.

When his dark eyes landed on Valerie, Gideon flawlessly masked his brief flicker of surprise with his usual icy aloofness. His sharp jaw tightened, but his expression remained unreadable. He slowly shifted his gaze downward, his dark eyes narrowing sharply as he scrutinized the child sitting beside her.

The boy sat with perfect posture, swinging his short legs slightly. His delicate, perfect features undeniably mirrored Valerie's face. They shared the same elegant slope of the nose and the same striking shape of their eyes. However, there was a familiar cold intensity in the boy's stare that Gideon could not quite place. Gideon realized with a jolt that Valerie was actually a mother to a six-year-old child.

An unexplained, sudden, and fierce irritation welled up deep within Gideon's chest, striking him like a physical blow. His hands curled into tight fists inside his tailored trouser pockets, his knuckles turning white. He found himself intensely wondering what unknown man had caused Valerie to risk her entire reputation to become a young, unwed mother, turning herself into the laughingstock of the city. The mere thought of some faceless, nameless man touching her, claiming her heart, and giving her a child sent a burning, toxic wave of dark jealousy rushing through his veins. It was a possessive rage he had no right to feel, yet he could not suppress it.

Meeting the formidable man's piercing, oppressive gaze, Rowan did not flinch. He casually tilted his youthful face upward, studying the billionaire with calm calculation.

"It is a pleasure to meet the owner of the company," Rowan calmly stated, offering a mature nod.

Gideon slowly returned the nod, his mind racing with conflicting thoughts. He maintained his stoic exterior, refusing to let his sudden burst of irrational anger show.

Valerie quickly recovered her composure, forcing her racing heart to slow down. She refused to let her personal history with Gideon ruin her son's career opportunity. She reached into her sleek leather tote bag, pulled out the signed document, and slid it forward across the smooth glass coffee table. She leveled her gaze at Gideon, keeping her voice strictly professional.

"Our terms are straightforward. We do not require a company photography team for this partnership, as I will serve as Rowan's exclusive photographer," Valerie stated firmly.

Without missing a single beat, Rowan boldly chimed in, leaning forward slightly to lock eyes with the towering CEO.

"Furthermore, the company must share half of all my earnings. My mother and I will retain the ultimate final say on which modeling jobs to accept, and we have the right to refuse any project," Rowan demanded.

A dead, suffocating hush immediately fell over the lavish reception room. The air grew incredibly thick. The surrounding staff members stopped breathing, terrified by the sheer audacity echoing through the space.

Standing right beside Gideon, Darius widened his eyes in paralyzed astonishment. His jaw practically unhinged as he stared down at the small, defiant six-year-old boy sitting on the sofa. Darius marveled at the sheer, suicidal fearlessness of a mere child blindly dictating such outrageous terms to the formidable Mr. Vance. This was a man whose mere name struck paralyzing terror into the global business world, a ruthless titan who crushed his rivals without a second thought, yet this little boy was negotiating with him as if they were equals on a playground.