After being betrayed by Desmond which Ivy had expected anyway and after putting up his wanted posters everywhere, Ivy decided to remain at her base, focusing entirely on its development and on taking care of the children with Darren’s help.

Three months had passed.

"It’s been three months now," Darren remarked with a satisfied smile as he harvested the sweet potatoes on the farm. Aria and Lila worked alongside him, happily helping him pull the ripe potatoes out of the rich, dark soil.

"Will you fry some sweet potatoes for us later, Mr. Darren?" Lila asked eagerly as she lifted one of the freshly harvested potatoes into the air with both hands. Her eyes widened in amazement. "It’s so big!"

"Of course I will," Darren replied with a light chuckle. "We’ll make some crispy sweet potato chips, and we’ll have fried chicken to go with them. How does that sound?"

"Yay!" Aria and Lila squealed excitedly before returning to their harvesting.

After gathering enough ripe sweet potatoes, Darren moved over to the vegetable patch. He carefully began plucking fresh spinach leaves before harvesting the ripe tomatoes and onions growing nearby.

"It’s been quite a while since we’ve gone to the villa," Darren said after a moment, raising an eyebrow as he turned toward Ivy. His tone became more thoughtful. "Don’t you think we should head there today? I mean, just as everything here has ripened, I’m sure it’s the same over there. The crops should be ready for harvest as well, and... I’m certain the people have missed you."

"We’ve missed Pearl too!" Aria and Lila chorused in perfect unison.

The two sisters hurried over and stood in front of Ivy with matching pleading expressions that were simply too adorable to ignore.

"Can we please go today, Mom?" Aria pleaded, clasping her hands together. "Lila and I already finished all the assignments you gave us over the past few days. Shouldn’t we go out and relax just for today?"

Ivy looked at the girls before a small chuckle escaped her lips.

"I was already thinking about that too, Darren," she finally admitted as she slowly rose to her feet.

She gently lifted Hope, who was now three months old, and carefully placed the sleeping baby into her cart after nursing her. Hope remained peacefully asleep, completely unaware of the conversation around her.

After making sure the baby was comfortable, Ivy walked toward the pig enclosure where the pigs they had brought back months ago were now much bigger and healthier.

"I also want to distribute some of these pigs to the people at the villa," Ivy continued thoughtfully as she watched the animals roam around.

She folded her arms before continuing.

"They’ll be able to raise them, breed them, grow their own livestock, and eventually have pork whenever they need it. It’ll become a sustainable source of food and income for them."

"They’ll all be so happy," Darren replied with a satisfied smile before turning toward Aria and Lila.

"You girls should hurry inside and wash all that dirt off yourselves. Look at you both." He laughed as he pointed at the soil covering their clothes and faces. "You’re both coming with your mom and me to the villa."

"Really?!" Aria and Lila exclaimed in unison.

The sisters jumped excitedly.

"Yay!!"

Without waiting for another word from either Darren or Ivy, they spun around and sprinted straight into the base as fast as their little legs could carry them.

"I never said they were coming with us," Ivy said in complete disbelief, placing both hands firmly on her waist as she stared after the girls.

She shook her head.

"Those two girls are unbelievably troublesome. They claimed they’d finished all their assignments, but one was still left unfinished. I checked this morning. They lied, and they should be punished instead."

She narrowed her eyes slightly.

"I might as well give them another assignment as punishment for lying."

"Oh, please, Captain," Darren said with an amused smile.

He gently grabbed Ivy’s arm just before she could follow the girls into the base.

"Just let them have fun today," he continued gently. "You can always give them more assignments when we return. Besides, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."

He smiled warmly.

"They’ve been working hard too. Let them spend the day playing with Pearl. They deserve a little break."

Ivy looked toward the entrance of the base where the girls had disappeared before letting out a long, defeated sigh.

After a brief moment of silence, she finally nodded.

"Fine," she muttered. "But the moment we get back, they’re completing every single assignment... and they’re getting extra ones."

Darren couldn’t help but laugh.

"I expected nothing less from you, Captain."

Soon, the two girls finished bathing and changed into fresh outfits. Ivy carefully styled both Aria’s and Lila’s hair before taking a few moments to neatly arrange her own as well.

She then checked on Hope once more. The little baby had already drifted back into a peaceful sleep after feeding.

Satisfied that everything was ready, Ivy carefully adjusted Hope’s blanket before stepping outside.

Just then, Darren emerged from his apartment, now dressed in a clean shirt and a pair of trousers.

He glanced around at everyone with a cheerful smile before clapping his hands together.

"Alright," he announced enthusiastically, "it’s time to go!"

The armored truck had never been recovered after Desmond stole it. Fortunately, Ivy had managed to acquire a small car, which was more than enough for traveling between her base and the villa whenever the need arose.

The children eagerly climbed into the back seats while Ivy settled into the passenger seat beside Darren, who took the driver’s seat behind the wheel.

Once everyone was seated comfortably, Darren started the engine.

"Everyone ready?" he asked with a smile.

"We’re ready!" Aria and Lila answered excitedly from the back.

With that, the car slowly rolled out of the compound before picking up speed as it headed toward the villa.