Mnie finally couldn’t hold back. Her voice trembled with emotion. “From the moment you were born, I never got to hold you properly. I… missed out. I’m so sorry.”

    Mnie wanted to hug Gabrie, but hesitated. She wasn’t sure if Willow would mind or if Gabrie would feel shy around her.

    Before she could decide, Gabrie hopped down from her chair and wrapped her arms around Mnie in a warm, confident hug.

    Her voice was sweet and clear. “Hi, Grandma.”

    Mnie’s eyes instantly welled up. The guilt that had been buried deep inside for years rose sharply to the surface.

    She hugged Gabrie tightly.

    After a long pause, she looked up at Willow. “You’ve raised her so well. She’s beautiful, clever… and just so lovely.”

    Mnie had always been reserved, rarely expressive with her emotions, yet she couldn’t resist nting two firm kisses on Gabrie’s soft cheeks.

    Then, almost impulsively, she slipped off therge diamond bracelet on her wrist and pushed it into Gabrie’s hands.

    “My jewelry vault is packed with treasures. One of these days, you’lle over and pick out whatever you like. I’m going to turn you into the most dazzling little princess,” she said, her voice gentle but excited.

    Julian sipped his ck coffee and interjected gently “Gabrie’s only four.”

    Mnie gave him a look of pure annoyance.

    She had already decided she would pour all her love into Gabrie. It wasn’t just because Gabrie looked so much like Julian–it was also the quiet gult she carried toward Willow, the apology she could never quite voice, Showering Gabrie with affection felt like a way to make up for it.

    Willow’s voice was even. “He’s right. She’s just four”

    Though her tone was neutral, the chill behind the words was unmistakable. It was just enough to dim Mnie’s excitement.

    Mnie nced between Julian and Willow. She could tell Julian hadn’t told her the whole truth.

    Her anxiety grew, words teetering on the tip of her tongue–but she held them back.

    She had set up countless blind dates for Julian, but deep down, she knew that nothingpared to having the children’s real parents raise them. Especially when Julian was still so in love with

    Willow.

    After breakfast, they dropped Landon off at school and brought Gabrie along for her entrance evaluation.

    Gabrie tested near genius level for her age.

    The school staff weed her with open arms, thrilled to add her to their ss.

    They ced both kids in the same ss. Gabrie immediately dered that she would take care of Landon and even insisted on helping him nap during rest time.

    Raising children was always full of surprises, but Gabrie was the kind of surprise that felt like a gift.

    Everyone adored her.

    As they said their goodbyes, Gabrie stood at the ssroom door and waved at Willow and Julian with a proud little grin. “I’ll take good care of Landon!” 1

    Landon clung to her side, his face flushed, cheeks soft and pink.

    Julian felt a swell of pride as a father. Once they got back in the car, he turned to Willow, unable to hide the smile tugging at his lips. “Gabrie’s amazing. Our child really is something else.”

    But once the children were gone, Willow’s warmth faded noticeably.

    Julian felt it immediately and fell quiet. He told Benjamin to take her back to the Chapman residence.

    The car pulled away smoothly.

    Inside, the space felt cramped and dimly lit. Two people who had once shared a deep love now sat in silence, bound by the weight of old wounds and things left unsaid.

    In the quiet hum of the ride, their breathing grew more noticeable, their heartbeats louder. It was impossible not to think aboutst night’s kiss–wildb, /bdesperate, and unforgettable.

    The chaos of the moment had been so overwhelming that the small details were overlooked, like Julian’s frantic energy, a clear sign that he had been abstinent for years.

    What trapped her wasn’t just his body, but the unfulfilled hunger, the pent–up need.

    The atmosphere slowly shifted, bing charged with tension.

    Julian’s throat tightened as he could no longer resist. He reached out and gently took Willow’s hand

    in his.

    Willow recoiled, struggling to pull away, but Julian held on tightly.

    He turned to her, his gaze locking with hersb, /bhis eyes bloodshot with a certain intensity.

    Willow turned her face away, taking a moment to regain herposure before speaking coldly, ” Julian, I’m considering someone else. I won’t do what you did, trying to juggle two rtionships.

    “It’s unfair to the other person. I think you understand what I mean.

    Julian knew exactly who she was talking about–Patrick. She was considering him.

    He wondered why she seemed to be drawn to men with seven–letter first names, like Patrick and Jeffrey.

    It was almost as if there was some unspoken connection between them, a pattern he couldn’t shake off.

    Chapter b236 /b