She Used Me for a Dare… Now I Own Her Mother Chapter 582: The Romance Subsidy

By the time they finally stepped out of Villa 6, nearly three hours had slipped by. What was supposed to be a brief breakfast had stretched straight into the early afternoon, largely because Nina had refused to let go of Victoria’s hand until she received three separate promises for another visit.

Settling into the passenger seat of the car, Victoria rested the cloth-wrapped container securely on her lap. Inside were the fresh, warm cinnamon rolls Linda had adamantly pressed into her hands before they left, refusing to let her walk out the door empty-handed.

There was no trace of the formidable, untouchable Madame Blackwood who usually commanded boardrooms with a single glance.

Her pinned hair had softened, a few loose strands framing her face, and her dark eyes carried a lively, radiant glow. A faint, lingering smile played on her lips, her entire posture relaxed in a way that seemed almost entirely new to her.

Alex closed the driver’s door and started the engine, the low hum of the car filling the quiet cabin. Glancing over at her, he couldn’t help but smile at the rare, vibrant energy radiating from her.

"So," Alex asked with an amused tilt of his head, "how was it? Did my family overwhelm you?"

"Not in the slightest," Victoria answered, her voice carrying an eagerness she rarely ever displayed. She turned toward him, her hands lightly tapping against the warm container.

"Honestly, Alex... I never imagined I would enjoy myself this much. When we were walking up the driveway this morning, I was genuinely anxious. I spent half the drive wondering what polite mask I should put on, or how I was supposed to act around them."

She let out a soft, self-deprecating laugh, shaking her head.

"I was so prepared for cold pleasantries and calculated words. But Linda... she didn’t care about any of that. Neither did David. And Nina just dragged me straight into her world without a second thought. For the first time in years, I didn’t feel like I was walking through a minefield. It was just... warm."

Alex watched the genuine happiness lighting up her features, a quiet satisfaction settling deep within him.

Without saying a word, he shifted into gear and eased the car down the paved private road.

When they reached the central fork that led up toward the secluded peak of Villa 1, Alex didn’t turn the wheel. Instead, he kept going straight, guiding the vehicle toward the estate’s main perimeter gate.

Victoria blinked, noticing the scenery shifting past the windows. She looked over at him, a brow slightly raised in surprise.

"Alex? Villa 1 is back up the hill. Where are we going?"

Alex kept one hand easily on the wheel, casting her a calm, roguish smirk.

"We’re not going back to the mansion yet," he replied smoothly. "The morning belonged to my family, but the rest of the day belongs to us. No business, no phones, and no estate matters. We have the entire day to ourselves, so tell me... what is something you’ve always wanted to do, but never had the chance to?"

For a fleeting second, a bright spark of longing flared in Victoria’s eyes. The thought of stepping out into the world with him, unburdened by obligations, sounded almost dangerously tempting.

Then, reality set in.

The bright warmth on her face softened into something quieter, shadowed by the familiar, guarded caution that had shielded her for decades. Her fingers tightened slightly over the warm cloth bundle on her lap, a quiet wistfulness slipping into her eyes before she shook her head.

?"Alex... as much as I want that, we both know it isn’t realistic," Victoria said gently, her voice dropping into a careful, measured tone.

?She turned to look at him, her expression a mix of genuine longing and hard-earned pragmatism.

?"I would love nothing more than to step out into the world with you like two ordinary people. But in this city, there is no such thing as blending in for me. Every district, boutique, and promenade is crawling with eyes that know Madame Blackwood. The moment we step out into the open, it will trigger an immediate uproar, draw unnecessary attention, and hand Richard the exact trail he has been clawing to find. I don’t want to drag the outside world into the peace we just found."

Alex eased his foot onto the brake, smoothly steering the car onto the gravel shoulder of the private tree-lined estate road. He shifted into park and cut the engine, letting a peaceful quiet settle over the cabin.

Turning his body toward her, he rested one arm over the steering wheel, his gaze lingering on her serious, guarded expression before a slow, amused smile broke across his face.

"That’s it?" Alex asked, tilting his head with an unrepentant smirk. "That’s the catastrophic obstacle keeping you from enjoying your day?"

Victoria blinked, caught off guard by his teasing tone.? "Alex, I’m being serious. We can’t afford to be reckless about this."

"Darling," Alex interrupted gently, his voice smooth and dripping with effortless charm.

"Have you already forgotten who you’re sitting next to?"

Before Victoria could reply, Alex reached across the console, his fingers lightly brushing against her cheek to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. His touch was warm and steady, lingering just long enough against her jawline to make the breath catch in her throat.

"You’ve spent years running the city from the shadows of the Blackwood estate, so you’re used to looking at the world like a chessboard where every move has a cost," Alex murmured, his eyes locking onto hers with quiet, absolute confidence. "You think about who is watching, what cameras are rolling, and who might report back to your elders. But out here with me? None of that matters. If you want an afternoon away from the noise, I can give you an entire city where nobody sees you, nobody bothers you, and nobody dares ask your name."

Victoria looked into his calm, striking eyes, her defenses softening under his steady warmth. A faint, helpless smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

"You make it sound so effortless," she whispered.

"Because for me, it is," Alex replied smoothly.

?Leaning back into his leather seat, Alex didn’t reach for a phone or a radio. Instead, his gaze unfocused slightly as a faint, shimmering resonance stirred in the air between them.

Having already been brought into the inner circle of his secrets, Victoria watched quietly, a spark of fascination in her eyes as she anticipated what was about to happen.

"Lilith," Alex called out, his voice carrying an easy, confident amusement. "Can you provide the best possible solution for our dear Victoria? Something that lets her walk through the city without a single soul recognizing her."

A soft, crystalline chime sounded between them, followed by a cool, familiar voice laced with dry amusement.

"Oh, so you finally remember I exist?" Lilith drawled lazily. "I was beginning to think you’d forgotten all about me, considering how glued you’ve been to your dear Victoria all morning."

Alex let out a quiet scoff, shaking his head with a grin.

Before he could fire back a retort, Lilith’s tone smoothed into something easy and cordial, addressing the woman in the passenger seat directly.

"Good afternoon, Victoria. It’s good to see you looking so relaxed for once. Don’t let this reckless man drag you into too much trouble today."

A genuine, amused smile touched Victoria’s lips. She dipped her head slightly, completely at ease with the entity’s casual familiarity. "Good afternoon, Lilith. I’ll do my best to keep him in line."

?"Cut the commentary and show me the catalog, Lilith," Alex said with an unbothered grin.

?"Fine, fine. Impatient as always."

?With a lazy gesture from Lilith, a sleek, translucent panel unfolded quietly in the air between the front seats, bathed in a soft violet luminescence visible to both Alex and Victoria.

?Victoria had seen Alex’s impossible abilities before, but watching the System catalogue roll out in front of her still left her fascinated.

Several distinct icons flickered into view:

[Option 1: Sovereign’s Phantom Core (Grade: Primordial)]

Effect: Permanently reconstructs facial bone structure, soul signature, and voice resonance at will.

Cost: ???

Alex arched a brow, tapping a finger against the wheel. "Lilith, what’s with the question marks on the first one?"

"That means you cannot afford it, Alex," Lilith answered with absolute bluntness. "The Sovereign’s Phantom Core costs roughly three hundred thousand System Points. Furthermore, it permanently alters the host’s physical marrow and meridians — which is entirely unnecessary unless you are planning to turn her into an undercover spectral assassin for the next century. Quite excessive for an afternoon date, wouldn’t you agree?"

Victoria couldn’t help but let out a soft, amused laugh, resting her chin on her hand as she watched the dynamic between Alex and his invisible aide. "I think I would prefer keeping my own face, thank you."

"A wise choice," Lilith chimed smoothly before highlighting another entry further down the list. "In that case, the optimal recommendation is this."

[Option 2: Mirage Silk Veil (Grade: Rare)]

Effect: Weaves an ethereal perception barrier around the wearer. Shifts facial recognition, dampens high-tier presence, and projects the appearance of an ordinary, unmemorable stranger to cameras and prying eyes and spiritual senses alike.

Usage: 3 charges (Duration: 12 hours per activation).

Cost: 10,000 System Points.