Gina

Darren drove away without looking back, but if he had, he would have seen a creepy guy standing opposite his stadium, watching as his car left. This creepy guy was none other than George, who had tracked Darren's car to his location. Although George did not find anything significant, he was certain Darren was up to something. Picking up his phone again, George called whoever was on the other end and began making a report. From his tone and demeanor, the person on the other side of the call was clearly not thrilled by the lack of information. Even though he wasn't face-to-face with the person he was speaking to, George maintained a respectful and reverent stance throughout the conversation.

After ending the call, George left feeling dejected. He had initially been happy to take on the job of tailing Darren because they had been classmates. George had been an inconspicuous, bullied nerd, while Darren was a bright light he knew he could never compare to. That changed when George was approached by an organization to do some work for them—work that sent him abroad. At first, he wasn't enthusiastic about his prospects, but after being selected, he learned secrets about the organization and glimpsed a fraction of its power. It terrified him. The organization wasn't just decades ahead of the most technologically advanced civilization on the planet; they were hundreds, if not thousands, of years ahead. This revelation made George reevaluate his life, fostering an unshakable sense of loyalty to the organization.

George had always known the only reason he was selected was for his initial relationship with Willow. Even to the organization, it was clear how infatuated Darren was with the girl. For whatever reason, the organization had not dared to approach Willow, and George was not fearless enough to ask why. However, he was instructed to use the favor Willow owed him to get close to Darren.

Yet, for some inexplicable reason, George could not find Willow anywhere in the whole of Valley View—a fact that surprised both him and the organization. Adding to his confusion was Darren's ambiguous behavior toward other women, something he would never have done before. Still, George wasn't worried. To him, Darren was nothing but a rich idiot. Once he had Willow under his influence, he was certain he'd gain complete control over Darren's empire.

As these thoughts raced through his mind, George absentmindedly crossed the road. A sudden honking sound jolted him back to reality. He sprinted to the other side, clutching his chest in relief. Thank God I wasn't isekai'd, he thought, glaring at the driver who had nearly run him over. After checking his surroundings, George shook off the remnants of his daydream and hurried home.

Darren drove to a high-end neighborhood that, while not as prosperous as his own, was not drastically inferior. His reason for coming here was singular: to find Aunt Gina. Unlike the other women in Darren's life, Gina stood apart. She was a 42-year-old woman with whom Darren had once had a brief fling—a relationship she had abruptly ended. Darren, who harbored unresolved mommy issues, found himself uniquely affected by Gina's presence. While Rose, for instance, was a flirtatious and glamorous figure, Gina exuded a mature, motherly aura that had caused his liking for willow deepened because of her similarities his whitemoon light .

Though Darren's family was extraordinarily wealthy, he had never felt truly cared for by his parents. He had always sensed fear and a tinge of devotion in their demeanor unlike that of parents, though he could never fully decipher their true feelings. At the time, Gina had been married to a wealthy, impotent older man, a fact that drew quiet sympathy from others. Young Darren hadn't understood the situation then, but soon, things took a dark turn for Gina. After her husband's death, she was left vulnerable—a sheltered "kept canary" unequipped to fend off the scheming opportunists circling her inheritance. She was ousted from her husband's company, and soon after, those same vultures began encroaching on her home. It was during this period that she crossed paths with Darren, then nearly an adult, whose own parents had gone mysteriously missing . 

This unique circumstance had led them to view each other favorably. Darren helped her fight off the wolves, and in return, Gina gave him the love and care he'd been craving. However, their relationship soon turned physical as they began dating. Darren never fully understood what happened, but abruptly, Gina broke up with him, refusing to explain why. Shortly after, she moved away from the neighborhood.

Not long after her departure, Darren found Willow. Though she wasn't as grounding or nurturing as Gina, she became everything to him—so much so that he sometimes forgot she wasn't the "real deal."

Taking a deep breath, Darren drove up to the community gates, steeling himself for whatever lay ahead. Though he hadn't seen Gina in years, he'd discreetly sent people to watch over her, ensuring she remained unharmed. As he approached the gates, security personnel recognized him instantly and opened the entrance. After all, Darren owned the entire community; he'd purchased it from the original owner once he discovered Gina lived here.

Pulling up to the most luxurious villa, Darren parked and stepped out of his car. He adjusted his clothes to look impeccable, checked his teeth for any stray remnants, and combed his hair meticulously. Clutching a beautiful bouquet of flowers he'd bought on the way, Darren walked to the front door and knocked waiting there nervously.

In the room, a mature woman sat on a couch watching TV with a lazy posture. She wore a short nightgown that barely covered her thick thighs. she look Voluptuous, with well-defined curves that might convince even a non-religious man to believe in divine creation, she possessed an exquisite face rivaling any of Darren's past women.

When the knocking began, she frowned, puzzled. Visitors rarely disturbed her at this hour. Reaching into one of the pillows in her hall, she retrieved a handgun—a tool for self-defense—and tucked it behind her back before approaching the door.

As she opened it, her breath caught. Standing before her was a face she never thought she'd see again. The gun clattered to the floor behind her, forgotten. Then, a voice she'd secretly longed for—but never dared hope to hear—spoke:

"Hello, wife."