Chapter 253: Chapter 253: Living in Your Heart (17)

James listened to him and smiled brightly, "Okay, I’ll listen to you."

After hanging up the phone, James gathered all the staff in the store for a meeting.

"We’re planning to start renovating the store. During the New Year, everyone should go home to celebrate. In the new year, everyone should be happy. After the New Year, come back to help in the store. We’ll pay the base salary as usual. We’re hiring a great designer for this renovation. Moreover, Elijah Sheppard will also advertise for us once we open, so I’m really confident about our store’s future development."

"James, will there be a bonus for the New Year?"

"Of course, you all have worked hard for so long, you deserve it."

Everyone cheered together, with happy smiles on their faces.

Seeing them happy made James happy as well.

Yes, the New Year is coming soon.

This New Year, Lucy wasn’t by his side.

In the evening, he returned to the Trelliswood District, and after freshening up, he knocked on Watson’s door.

Watson opened the door to see him kneeling on one knee, holding a red box with sincerity and devotion, "Marry me."

The sudden surprise made Watson’s eyes moist with warmth.

She extended her hand, "Marry you, put it on me." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

James gently slipped the ring onto her finger, then stood up and embraced her, "Actually, there’s something I’ve always wanted to tell you but never said."

"What is it?"

"Thank you for always staying by my side, never leaving."

"I’m your fiancée, it’s what I’m supposed to do."

"Nothing is supposed, it’s only about wanting or not wanting to," he whispered, "I will treat you well, for my entire life."

Watson’s nose tingled slightly, "I trust you, and I know I haven’t chosen wrong."

The two of them planned to get married on March 9th, as stated on their engagement day.

After the New Year, the store renovation was halfway done when the neighboring store ceased operations.

James didn’t inquire too much, but the news still reached his ears.

Charles Sharp terminated the lease contract with Robert Langley, unusually without asking Jacob Green to bear it.

Even though Robert Langley and his wife received the compensation, their business ended there.

This street’s shops were prime locations; very few were rented out or sold.

They left the area, uncertain of where they went.

——

The days went by quickly.

On March 6th, James and Watson obtained their marriage certificate, and on March 9th, a wedding was held in Ainsworth Village.

Jacob Green gave him a big red envelope, saying it was for two people.

James opened it after the wedding and found a check for five hundred thousand inside.

There was also a note.

The handwriting was neat and elegant, and it said only four words: "Happy Wedding."

Seeing this handwriting, James couldn’t hold back and cried uncontrollably.

This note was the best wedding gift.

In mid-March, Mia Townsend gave birth to a son in Country M, named Thomas Green.

John Green came up with the name, straightforwardly utilizing Mia Townsend’s surname.

Flora Palmer took Jacob Green’s surname; she had a new identity in Country A as Rose Green.

On May 6th, she gave birth to a son, William Green, by cesarean at Sakora Hospital in Country A’s Capital City.

On the 16th of the same month, Lucy gave birth to a daughter at Northriver First People’s Hospital.

Elliot Gill wanted to name her, and Lucy looked at him, "Let’s call her Naomi."

Naomi...

Jane Hayes...

"Did you remember?"

"No, but I know that’s my daughter’s name."

Elliot Gill assumed the role of the child’s father, staying with the child every day. Jacob Green usually could only see her through the photos Lucy sent, meeting her only once at the full moon celebration.

When Elliot Gill was entertaining guests, Lucy specifically let him hold her.

Looking at the daughter with small nose, eyes, and mouth, Jacob Green held her like a treasured jewel, being extremely careful with her tiny size.

The father-daughter moment was brief, lasting no more than two or three minutes, and Jacob Green left after.

When he glanced back before leaving, it was full of longing.

Lucy felt he had become more mature and steady, and more patient.

She also felt uneasy, but there was no other way, they all had to wait.

Wait until her contractual relationship with Elliot Gill ended.

Days always have to be lived one after another.

As long as there is an end, the distance isn’t frightening.

Naomi started turning over at three months, sitting at six months, crawling at nine months, and walking at one year.

She began talking at a year and a half.

She was the kind of child who, when silent she was silent, but when she spoke, it was astonishing.

Before a year and a half, she didn’t call for her mom or dad, nor would she call anyone, merely pointing at what she wanted.

After a year and a half, the first word she said was ’Daddy.’

This delighted Elliot Gill so much that he ate two extra bowls of rice that evening.

In private, Lucy showed her a photo of Jacob Green, saying, "This is Daddy too."

She hoped when Naomi returned to Jacob Green, she wouldn’t be unfamiliar with him.

This daily pointing and teaching was deeply remembered by Naomi over time.

Naomi’s personality, it’s unclear who she inherited it from, was very lively and active even though she was a girl, she was as mischievous as a boy.

At the age of three, to avoid attending school, she pretended to faint at the kindergarten gate.

Upon realizing the fainting act was ineffective, she reluctantly agreed to go to school.

At over four years old, many parents collectively complained about Naomi, and only then did Lucy learn that in kindergarten, Naomi was unbeatable among her classmates.

Consequently, Naomi, who didn’t finish kindergarten, was advised to leave by the teacher.

Lucy didn’t find a new school for her in Northriver because she planned to send her daughter to Ningham to live with her biological father.

Today, it’s the 25th of the eighth lunar month.

The day five years ago when she and Elliot Gill agreed on a contract.

She packed both their luggage last night.

She couldn’t sleep all night.

The mix of excitement, eagerness, and other emotions intertwined.

"Mom, where are we going?"

"To find your dad, Jacob," Lucy said with a smile, as she dressed her in a pink tutu, "You will attend school there from now on."

"So won’t I get to see Dad Elliot anymore?"

"Your Dad Elliot has many matters to attend to, but he’ll visit when he has time," she said while brushing her daughter’s hair, "In a while, an uncle named Nathaniel Green will come to take you, and you’ll go with him first. Mom still has things to do and will join you soon."

"Mom, you better not make me wait too long."

"I won’t, go wash your face, Mom will be waiting in the living room."

Naomi ran towards the bathroom, and Lucy dragged the suitcase out of the bedroom.

Elliot Gill, dressed in a burgundy summer suit, had dark circles under his eyes; he also hadn’t slept.

"Nathaniel Green is waiting outside."

She nodded and pulled the suitcase towards the door.

Nathaniel Green was there with over a dozen people, only realizing today that Tia Bailey was actually Lucy, and her and Elliot Gill’s daughter was actually his own little miss.