78

For once, Saturday morning felt normal. No phone calls from Brent. No press outside the gates. Just Lea and Liam — mother and son — doing something ordinary.

"Incognito day," Liam declared, adjusting his black hoodie and oversized sunglasses as if he were a celebrity in disguise. Lea chuckled, pulling a baseball cap low over her ponytail. "You look like a spy."

"You look like you're trying too hard," he countered, grinning.

"Excuse me," she teased, hands on her hips. "This is what effort looks like."

They laughed, heading into the car where Alex, their ever-patient head of security, waited behind the wheel.

"Ma'am, do we require the usual tail?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

"No," Lea said quickly. "We'll be fine, Alex. It's just a quick trip for Liam's school project. Art supplies, that's all."

Alex's expression was skeptical, but he nodded. "Understood, ma'am. I'll stay within the vicinity in case you call."

They arrived at SM Aura, blending in surprisingly well among the weekend crowd. Lea had always been a people-watcher — but this time, she relished the anonymity. Just a mom with her son.

They went through the aisles of National Bookstore, Liam debating between two sketchpads like it was a life-or-death decision.

"This one has thicker paper," Lea said, feeling the page between her fingers.

"But this one's cheaper," Liam countered.

Lea smiled. "Ah, the inner De Torre boardroom debate. Quality versus budget."

"I learned from Papa," Liam said proudly, grabbing both pads. "I'll take both. Diversify the portfolio."

She burst out laughing. "Oh God, you are your father."

They paid, still unnoticed — and even managed to sneak into a café for milk tea and a quick snack.

Liam was midway through slurping his drink when Lea noticed a group of teenagers at the other table whispering. One pointed discreetly. Another raised a phone.

Her stomach sank.

"Liam," she murmured, "finish your drink. Quietly."

He frowned. "Why? What's wrong?"

"Your disguise isn't as foolproof as we thought."

Before he could respond, a soft but excited voice cut through the air. "Excuse me... are you Lea Salonga?"

Lea froze, then plastered on her best polite smile. "I—uh—get that a lot."

The young woman grinned, holding up her phone. "You are! And this must be Liam De Torre! Can we get a photo?"

Around them, phones were already coming out — the unmistakable ripple of attention building.

Liam looked at her with wide eyes. "Mama..."

Lea took his hand. "Okay, we're leaving. Now."

They slipped out of the café, Lea's cap low, Liam clutching the shopping bag. But by the time they hit the mall corridor, cameras were flashing. People were following.

"Mama! They're chasing us!" Liam whispered, gripping her hand tighter.

Lea kept her calm, her smile frozen in place. "Walk faster, baby. Don't run."

Once they reached a quiet corner near the parking lot, she yanked her phone from her bag and called the only person who could fix this.

"Alex," she said, breathless. "We've been spotted. Lower ground parking near the bookstore. We need extraction."

His voice came through the earpiece, low and efficient. "Copy, ma'am. I'm coming in. Stay put."

Meanwhile, at the villa, Rafael was reading the Business Mirror in peace for the first time all week. His tea was hot, his schedule clear — and he had half a smile on his face when his phone buzzed.

Alex calling.

He frowned. "Alex?"

"Sir," came the immediate report, "Ma'am Lea and young master Liam have been recognized at SM Aura. They're in the lower ground parking area. I'm extracting them now."

Rafael's chair scraped back. "What? They went without a full detail?"

"Yes, sir," Alex said, sounding half-apologetic, half-amused. "Ma'am said she wanted to go incognito."

Rafael pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering, "Incognito, my foot."

By the time Alex reached them, a small crowd had gathered near the parking entrance — not malicious, but curious, phones ready for social media gold.

Liam looked mortified. Lea kept her arm around him, calm but visibly tense.

The SUV rolled up like a rescue ship in a sea of flashing cameras. "Ma'am, Sir Rafael's on the line," he said, handing her the phone.

Lea sighed and took it. "Before you say anything, it was supposed to be a quick trip."

Rafael's voice came through, deep and dry. "Define 'quick trip.'"

Liam leaned over. "Papa, it was for school!"

Rafael groaned. "You two are going to give me a heart attack before my next birthday."

Lea couldn't help but laugh, relief washing over her as the SUV doors closed and the tinted windows separated them from the chaos outside.

"Next time," Rafael said through the speaker, "Alex goes with you. Full team."

Lea smiled, leaning her head against Liam's. "Fine. But next time, we pick the disguise."

Rafael chuckled softly. "Just promise me one thing — no more milk tea missions."

Lea grinned. "No promises."

Liam giggled in her arms, the tension fading at last.

Outside, the mall's chaos continued. Inside the SUV, peace returned — brief, fragile, but theirs.

And when they got home later that afternoon, Rafael was waiting by the door, arms crossed, half-scolding and half-smiling.

Lea slipped her arm around Liam and smirked at her husband. "What?" she said. "You married a star. Comes with hazards."

Rafael chuckled, pulling both of them into a hug. "And I thought the boardroom was stressful."