"Have my children left?"

The teacher nodded. "They have. A man picked them up."

Nora Ainsworth’s heart leaped into her throat. "A man? Who?"

"Normally we wouldn’t have allowed it, but both of your kids kept calling him ’Daddy,’ so we let him take them."

Nora Ainsworth finally breathed a sigh of relief. ’It must be Leon Lynch.’

She smiled. "I just got off work and thought the kids were missing since they weren’t home. I’m sorry to have bothered you."

"It’s only natural. You should hurry home now. Be careful on your way."

Nora Ainsworth turned and started walking home. She pulled out her phone, only to see a slew of missed calls from Leon Lynch.

She quickened her pace. Just as she reached the bottom of her apartment building, she saw him with the two boys, about to enter the lobby.

"Why didn’t you answer? I called you so many times."

Nora Ainsworth explained, "I was filming, and my phone was on vibrate. What are you doing here all of a sudden?"

Leon Lynch laughed. "Our younger one called to tell me his mom had approved his birthday wish. And the older one wished for me to come, right?"

Nora Ainsworth pressed her lips together. "What are you guys about to do now?"

"Get something to eat."

"Then you guys go ahead. Just bring some back for me. I’m exhausted and want to go up and rest for a bit."

Leon Lynch looked at her frail figure and nodded. "Okay. Go on up and take a nice, hot bath to relax."

Nora Ainsworth turned and went upstairs.

Leon Lynch then led his two godsons out to grab a bite.

"Daddy, I want an Ultraman! Will you buy it for me?"

Leon Lynch replied, "Of course I will. Whatever you two want, just tell your godfather. I’ll get you anything."

Elmer Grant grabbed his hand. "I love being with you the most, Daddy."

Dylan Grant chimed in, "Me too."

Leon Lynch ruffled the boys’ hair. "I love being with you guys, too. Your godfather doesn’t have much, except for money. So if you want something, just say the word."

The two boys were ecstatic.

"It would be great if you could marry my mommy, Daddy." Elmer’s words filled Leon with a bittersweet mix of joy and sorrow.

"Why do you say that?"

"I just wish you were my daddy."

A warmth spread through Leon Lynch’s heart. "But I already am."

"But you’re not married to Mommy." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Leon Lynch suddenly stopped walking. He crouched down to look at them. "Your mommy isn’t willing. You two need to keep urging her."

Elmer Grant nodded thoughtfully. Dylan Grant remained silent.

He stood up. "Come on, let’s go get something to eat, and then I’ll buy you some toys."

The figures of one adult and two children gradually vanished under the dim yellow streetlights. Anyone who didn’t know better would have truly thought they were a family of three.

* * *

Chloe Marshall had suffered from a complete bout of insomnia last night, so she’d slept through the entire day.

When she opened her eyes, she was met with the darkness outside her window.

She slowly sat up and got out of bed.

Her phone suddenly began to ring incessantly. She didn’t need to look at the caller ID to know who it was.

She swiped to answer and put the phone to her ear. "Hello."

"Are you awake?"

"Yes."

"Come over for dinner. Dorothy is here too."

"Okay."

Tucking her phone into her clothes, she left the room.

The lights outside were dazzling. She wrapped her overcoat tightly around herself and walked slowly toward the dining hall.

With an attendant following behind her, she walked very slowly, her gaze naturally drifting to her surroundings.

But along the entire way, she never saw the pair of eyes that haunted her dreams.

She couldn’t help but feel a pang of anguish. She yearned to see him, yet she was also afraid to.

The feeling was exceptionally unbearable.

When she was just a few meters from the entrance to the dining hall, her feet felt as if they were glued to the ground, unable to move.

He was standing ramrod straight at the entrance, a rifle on his shoulder, his eyes fixed forward.

Chloe Marshall’s nose suddenly stung with the urge to cry.

’He must love me very much, Boss Ellsworth.’

Although he had never told her just how much he loved her.

But his actions were enough to explain everything, weren’t they?

’Getting into the Imperial Palace is as difficult as ascending to heaven, but he managed it. I can’t imagine how much he must have suffered.’

’And now he’s enduring all this just to be on duty here.’

’For a man of his noble standing, to go this far is truly remarkable.’

The wind quietly picked up, lashing against her face in gusts, making it sting with pain.

The attendant behind her reminded her, "Madam, My Lord is already waiting inside."

She nodded, hiding her emotions. "Yes, I know."

She started walking again, but her trembling hands betrayed her feelings.

She couldn’t remain calm.

Especially under the gaze of those eyes.

She desperately wanted to hug him and explain everything, but she couldn’t.

She reached the doorway, so close to him—only half a meter away.

Yet they didn’t dare, couldn’t, acknowledge each other.

She stepped inside. At the door, Ethan Ellsworth clenched his fists, struggling to control his impulses.

Fortunately, he and the other guard turned in unison, allowing them to see her inside.

Lillian Bancroft noticed her expression was off and asked gently, "What’s wrong?"

Chloe Marshall forced a smile. "It’s nothing. Come here, Dorothy, let Mommy give you a hug."

Dorothy, who was almost two and a half, was wearing cute clothes and an adorable hat. She immediately came closer. "Mommy, Daddy told Dorothy that Dorothy is going to school soon."

Chloe Marshall nodded. "Then when Dorothy goes to school, you have to study hard, okay? You must not curse or hit people, and you have to listen to your teacher."

Dorothy Bancroft nodded. "Don’t worry, Mommy! Dorothy will be very, very good. But, Mommy, Daddy says I’ll be the only kid at school. I want to go to a school outside, where there are lots of other kids."

Chloe Marshall thought that made sense. "Silly, I think this would be good for her physical and mental well-being. We should give her a happy childhood."

Lillian Bancroft thought for a moment and agreed it made sense. "Alright, I’ll allow it."

Hearing this, Dorothy Bancroft wiggled her little body and climbed onto Chloe Marshall’s lap. "Mommy, Daddy agreed! Does that mean I’m going to kindergarten tomorrow? I want you and Daddy to take me together."

"As long as your daddy agrees, anything is possible."

Lillian Bancroft was in a relatively good mood. "Agreed. Tomorrow is my daughter’s first day of school. Of course Daddy will take you."

Chloe Marshall smiled faintly, but her gaze drifted involuntarily toward the window by the door. Her smile vanished. In that moment, she saw so many questions in his eyes.

’He wants to know why.’

’And how I wish I could tell him why.’

Throughout the meal, Chloe Marshall ate distractedly. She felt uneasy all over, as if sitting on pins and needles.

She finally put down her chopsticks.

"Honey, eat a little more. You’ve lost a lot of weight recently."

Chloe Marshall said, "As the First Lady, I have to maintain my figure. I’m full."

He stood up, wrapped his arms around her from behind, and pressed his lips to her ear. "I want to sleep with you tonight," he said.

Chloe Marshall squirmed. "Let’s have Dorothy with us."

He gave her a peck on the cheek. "Alright."

Dinner ended.

He walked ahead, carrying Dorothy, while she followed behind.

As she crossed the threshold, she didn’t dare look at him again and quickly left.