Chapter 2 Return

Five years had passed in the blink of an eye.

At a prestigious medical awards ceremony.

The audience consisted of elite individuals from various fields, and everywhere you looked, there were well-tailored suits and elegant gowns.

In this atmosphere of extreme luxury, a casually dressed woman standing in an inconspicuous corner stood out remarkably.

She wore simple casual clothes in muted tones, her silky hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, her face hidden behind an oversized medical mask.

She stood there calmly, seemingly unaffected by the surrounding atmosphere.

From his VIP seat, Charles's gaze had been fixed on her all evening.

Her elegant demeanor contrasted sharply with the surrounding scene, yet she seemed to fit into it perfectly.

More importantly, even though the woman was wearing a mask, she inexplicably gave him a sense of familiarity.

It was as if Diana had returned from the dead.

But Diana was dead, wasn't she?

He'd frantically searched for confirmation years ago, and all he'd found were her ashes.

On stage, the ceremony continued.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming Dr. Green! Despite her young age, she's achieved groundbreaking advances in medicine and developed specialized treatments for rare diseases. Her work has revolutionized our field and saved countless families from heartbreak!"

Following the host's enthusiastic introduction, the spotlight found the woman in the corner.

She walked to the stage with calm composure, accepting the trophy as her gentle voice carried clearly through the microphone.

"Thank you for this honor and recognition. I'm grateful for your support, and I promise to stay true to my mission of saving as many patients as possible."

The audience erupted in applause and excited murmurs.

"Is that the famous Dr. Green who's been making waves internationally? Why won't she remove her mask for the ceremony?"

"I heard it's a personal quirk of hers. Her surgery slots are so limited that you have to fight for them. But she's got the skills to back it up—there was this case with a 100% mortality rate, and she actually pulled off a miracle save!"

"So young, yet already so accomplished. She's got an incredible future ahead of her."

Charles listened to the chatter with a complicated expression.

His grandmother, Celeste Young, was dying.

Only Zoey Green could perform the surgery that might save her.

After accepting her award, Diana nodded graciously to the audience and left the stage.

Over the past five years, she'd collected more trophies than she could count.

Free from that disastrous marriage and the despair that had nearly consumed her, she'd found her rebirth.

Diana headed straight to the green room.

The moment she opened the door, two adorable children launched themselves into her arms.

"Mommy, Jason, and I saw you on TV getting your award!"

"Mommy, you're amazing! You're our hero!"

Diana set the trophy aside without a second glance, scooping up both children and settling onto the couch with one in each arm.

The kids were growing fast. Fortunately, she had kept up her fitness routine all these years; otherwise, she would hardly be able to carry them.

Back then, Lucas had pulled her from the wreckage just one minute before the explosion.

The accident of that day had forced Daisy Johnson and Jason Johnson into the world six months early.

These past years, apart from handling work, she had devoted all her remaining time to taking care of the kids, and finally raised them to be healthy and safe.

Only a mother could understand the struggles and sacrifices of that journey.

Daisy spoke up sweetly, "Mommy, you did surgery today and then the ceremony—you must be exhausted. Should Jason and I give you a shoulder massage?"

Before Diana could respond, Jason chimed in, "Mommy, when you were on stage tonight, did you see that man?"

Diana looked at Jason with confusion. "What man?"

Jason's voice turned indignant, "The bad man who hurt you before! Daisy and I both know about him; he's the one who made you sad! He's a terrible person!"

Diana felt a jolt of shock.

Were they talking about Charles?

But she'd never told the children anything about her past.

Unless...Diana unconsciously dug her nails into her palm.

Jason hopped down from the couch with his little legs and grabbed the remote, rewinding to today's ceremony footage.

During her acceptance speech, the camera had panned across the audience.

Jason suddenly hit pause, freezing the screen perfectly on Charles's face.

"Mommy, look. That's him."

Any hope Diana had been clinging to vanished instantly.

"Mommy, can Jason and I go get revenge on him for you?"

Daisy's voice was equally fierce.

"Mommy is the best person in the whole world, and Jason and I are going to protect you."

Looking at Jason and Daisy, whose features bore some resemblance to Charles, Diana pressed her lips together and asked carefully.

"Did someone tell you something? Don't let your imagination run wild. Your father died a long time ago."

That was what she'd always told them when they were little and asked about their father.

They'd believed it for years—why were they suddenly questioning it now?

Jason and Daisy exchanged a knowing look and replied, "Mommy, we're not three years old anymore."

Diana was left speechless.

Just then, her assistant, Layla Adams, knocked on the door.

"Zoey, I need you to come with me. Mr. Jones wants to see you about something."

"Of course."

Diana turned back to Jason and Daisy after agreeing.

"You two stay right here and behave. Don't go wandering off. I'll handle this business and be back soon."

The moment she left, Jason and Daisy both broke into mischievous grins.

"I have a plan!"

The children spoke in perfect unison.

"Let's do it!"

The two kids scampered out on their short legs, heading straight for the VIP lounge.