bChapter /bb273 /b

    bAs /bbYosef /bcould not figure it out, he pulled Adam over and asked, “Did you notice your Mom seems ba /bbbit /bboff/bb?/bb” /b

    Adam nodded and said, “Yes, Mom seems a bit off today.”

    “You spend some more time with her, chat with her, and cheer her up,” Yosef suggested.

    Adam pouted and said, “Yeah, yeah, I know what to do. There’s no need to tell me this.”

    Yosef gently pinched Adam’s little nose and said, “Alright.” The three then set out for the beach together, just bas /bbthey /bbhad /bbnned/b.

    Skr slipped into her bikini and ran barefoot across the warm sand with Adam, the twoughing and ying on the beach.

    “Mom, the sand is so soft and nice!” Adam beamed, revealing his little white teeth. “Let’s build a sandcastle!”

    He happily pulled Skr closer to the sea, crouched down, and watched how others were building. He then imitated them bto /bcreate his own.

    Skr watched Adam from the side, asionally reaching over to lend a hand.

    Due to his hand injury, Yosef could not join them. He stayed nearby and had a beach vendor set up a beach umbre and a beach chair for

    him.

    Yosef reclined on the chair, his gaze fixed on Skr and Adam from behind his sunsses.

    They were having fun, and Yosef smiled as he watched them. Just then, an unfamiliar figure suddenly entered his line of sight.

    Skr had a great time ying with Adam, and the gloom in her heart eased quite a bit.

    ‘I’ve been too idle. All the random thoughts disappear when I’m busy‘ Skr thought to herself. She now felt less stifled and was in much

    better spirits.

    “Hi there,” a bashful–looking young man in his early twenties greeted her.

    Skr looked up, a little puzzled by the stranger’s sudden approach, but still responded politely, “Hi, do you need anything from me?”

    “Hi, Miss, you and your brother are building sandcastles here. It must be kinda boring. Wannae join us for some fun?”

    As he spoke, he gestured toward where his friends were. “We’re ying beach volleyball,” he said, a hint of eagerness in his voice.

    “No thanks,” Skr replied, shaking her head politely.

    ‘I’m not going to get involved with strangers,‘ she thought.

    The young man did not give up despite her refusal and tried inviting her again. “Miss, beach volleyball is super bfun /bband /bbnot /bbhard /bbat /bball/b. bCome /bonb, /bgive it a try!” he said.

    Skr patiently declined again, “Sorry, I’m not into volleyball.” She had made herself clear, and anyone bwith /bbmon /bbsens /b

    by now.

    The young man got the hint, scratched his head, and asked, “Well… Miss, can I have your contact infob?/bb” /b

    d back off

    He had been watching her from a distance for quite some time. However, he dared not approach her until bhis /bfriends bnoticed /bbhis /bbdistraction /bduring the game.

    08:30 bTue/b, 12 bAug /b

    bHis /bfriends told him to muster up some courage, toe over and ask for her contact information, and take the chance bto /binvite her to y volleyball.

    Skr was slow in her response and stammered, “Sorry, I…”

    “She bcan’t /bgive you her contact info,” Yosef said as he walked over, smoothly picking up where Skr left off.

    He wrapped his arm around Skr with a tender smile and said, “I take my eyes off you for just a momentb, /band someone’s already bhitting /bon you. My wifey sure attracts a lot of romantic attention, doesn’t she?”

    Adam had already noticed his father’s displeasure and knew he would step in, so he deliberately held back.

    Crouching in the sand, a mischievous grin spread across Adam’s face, his eyes sparkling

    Skr knew Yosef was helping her out of the situation. Despite her reluctance, she suppressed her unease and let him bact/b.

    The way Yosef casually called her “wifey” made Skr blush. She covered her mouth and coughed lightly. b“/bCan you be serious for onceb?/b” bshe /bsaid.

    Yosef’s use of the word “wifey”pletely shattered the young man. He did not expect the girl he had finally fallen for to be married.