CHAPTER 164: BACK WHERE IT BEGAN

Inside the apartment, the atmosphere quickly turned warm. Nicole and Arielle found themselves drawn to Claire almost right away.

Nicole asked with a smile. "So, Claire, how old are you now?"

Claire held up three fingers proudly. "Three years old... but almost four!"

"Oh, almost four? Such a big girl already," Nicole said warmly.

Arielle’s curiosity sparked. "Do you go to school yet?"

"Yes!" Claire nodded eagerly. "I go to preschool. I have so many friends there."

"That’s wonderful," Arielle replied, smiling at her. "I heard from your daddy you went to the zoo today. Did you like it?"

Claire’s eyes lit up. "Yes. I saw a giraffe... so tall! And a lion, he was sleeping. And a bird that talked like me!"

Both Nicole and Arielle laughed softly, their hearts melting at her excitement.

Claire, a little shy at first, soon grew more comfortable under their attention. Her big eyes lit up as she answered, sitting quietly beside Cassidy on the couch. Nicole and Arielle couldn’t help but smile at every little thing she said, completely charmed by her beauty and sweetness.

From time to time, Nicole or Arielle would turn to Cassidy, slipping in a polite question or sharing a comment. Cassidy answered with her usual calm smile, but it was clear that most of the spotlight stayed on Claire.

For Zeke, happiness settled deep in his chest as he watched. The people he loved most were here, gathered in the same room, his sister, his niece, Cassidy, and Claire— talking and laughing as if they had known each other for ages.

While Nicole was busy chatting with Claire, Cassidy suddenly remembered what Zeke had said earlier, that Arielle liked Cy. Noire, the fashion brand she owned.

"Arielle, I heard you like clothes from Cy. Noire?" Cassidy asked, wanting to confirm Zeke’s words.

Arielle turned to her, eyes beaming. "Yes, I do. I love their designs, and the fabrics are really nice," she explained. Then, with a little hopeful look, she asked, "Do you like Cy. Noire too, Aunty Cassidy?"

Cassidy smiled. "I like their designs," she answered, keeping the truth about her role to herself.

Noticing how Cassidy stayed modest, Zeke couldn’t hold back. He wanted Arielle and Nicole to know the truth and to be proud of her. "Your aunty doesn’t just like them," he said with a small smile. "Cy. Noire is her brand. She’s the one who designs the clothes you’ve been wearing and buying."

Arielle’s mouth fell open. "Are you serious, Uncle? Really, Aunty Cassidy?" she asked, her voice full of disbelief. The trendy pieces she adored and wore so proudly were all from her uncle’s ex-wife’s brand and not just that, Cassidy herself was the designer.

She could hardly believe it. A wave of envy rushed through her, envy toward her own uncle, of all people.

"Aunty, do you know how popular your clothes are among young people? Every time I wear one of your pieces, my friends get so jealous. They always ask how I managed to get them, because your collections are always sold out," Arielle gushed, admiration spilling from her tone.

Nicole, who had been focused on Claire, shifted her attention the moment she heard Cassidy mention Cy. Noire to Arielle. Like her daughter, she was surprised, pleasantly so, to learn that the brand Arielle had begged Zeke to get her for her birthday was actually Cassidy’s. It felt like such a delightful coincidence.

Zeke smirked, pride flashing across his face at Arielle’s praise. "You should thank me too, since I’m the one who bought you Cy. Noire pieces."

"Thanks, Uncle," Arielle replied quickly, before turning back to Cassidy with wide-eyed awe. "Aunty, if I want to buy your clothes, can I get them directly from you? They’re so hard to order. Most of them are sold out already, and the shipping comes from Switzerland. Don’t you have a store here in the States?" she asked, half complaining, half excited, her words tumbling out all at once.

Cassidy smiled warmly, touched by how much Arielle genuinely adored Cy. Noire. She then answered her question, "I’m planning to open a Cy. Noire store here in the States soon," she explained, mentioning the plan she and Zeke had just discussed yesterday.

"And if you want my pieces, you don’t need to buy them. Every time Cy. Noire releases a new collection, I’ll send some to you as a thank you for loving it so much."

Arielle gasped in delight, though doubt flickered in her eyes. "Are you serious, Aunty Cassidy? Won’t it be a loss for you if you keep sending them to me?" she asked, her voice careful, even as her heart leapt with excitement.

Cassidy chuckled at Arielle’s conflicted expression, joy brimming beneath her hesitation. "Of course not. You’re my niece, and I’ve never really given you anything before. This is the least I can do," she reassured gently.

"Thank you, Aunty Cassidy, you’re the best!" Arielle exclaimed, giving her a big thumbs-up before spinning toward Nicole. "Did you hear that, Mom? I’ll get the latest Cy. Noire pieces as soon as they’re out!" she said, practically glowing with happiness.

With a small laugh, Nicole said, "You don’t have to send Arielle every new Cy. Noire release. She’ll get spoiled." Her tone carried both a hint of humor and mild embarrassment.

Cassidy’s smile softened. "It’s no trouble. Besides, it’s free promotion. And from the way Arielle carries herself, I can tell she’s probably one of the popular girls at her campus," she teased gently, admiring Arielle’s stylishness.

Arielle’s cheeks warmed at the compliment, both bashful and pleased. But Nicole waved her hand and countered, "Popular girl? If she were as diligent in her studies as she is with her outfits, then I’d be at peace. All she does is go out with her friends, play around, and date."

"Mom..." Arielle groaned, pouting instantly. She hated Nicole airing her habits in front of Cassidy and especially Zeke, knowing her uncle’s strict views on education.

Sure enough, Zeke’s brow furrowed at once. "Arielle," he said in a firm, lecturing tone, "at your age, your priority should be studying, not wasting your time on dates."

Arielle dropped her gaze, her voice small but defensive. "I know, Uncle. I do study, I’m not just playing around."

Cassidy, sensing the shift in the air, let out a small laugh. "Come on, don’t be too hard on her," she said gently, glancing at Zeke before looking at Arielle. "She’s still young. College years are meant to be enjoyed too, as long as you keep things balanced. Besides, I think it’s nice that she has her own style and confidence."

Arielle’s pout faded into a shy smile, her eyes grateful toward Cassidy for taking her side. "Thank you, Aunty Cassidy," she murmured.

After chatting with Cassidy, Arielle instantly felt closer to her and formed a good impression of her uncle’s ex-wife—who, from the way things looked, might soon become his wife again. It made sense now why her uncle had never been able to forget Cassidy. She was kind, wise, gentle, and graceful, yet carried a quiet strength that matched perfectly with her uncle’s cold and strict personality.

Arielle also noticed the way her uncle treated Cassidy, the little details that revealed how much he loved her. It made Arielle genuinely happy to see them finding their way back to each other.

But what excited her most wasn’t just that Aunty Cassidy was the woman behind Cy. Noire, the brand she admired so much. It was the fact that she now had a cousin, a little sister figure in Claire.

Arielle had grown up as an only child. Her father was also an only child, so she had never known what it felt like to have cousins. Discovering she had one now, especially someone as sweet as Claire, filled her with joy.

After nearly three hours of talking and laughing together, Nicole and Arielle finally stood to leave.

"We should go," Nicole said with a warm smile. "It’s getting late. But I’m really glad we came. Meeting you, Cassidy, and Claire, has been wonderful."

Arielle nodded quickly, her eyes still bright with excitement. "Yes, Aunty Cassidy, I’m so happy we met today. And Claire... I really want to see you again soon."

Cassidy returned their smiles, her voice gentle. "I’d like that too. You’re both welcome anytime."

Claire, hugging Zeke’s arm shyly, whispered, "Bye, Big Sis Arielle. Bye, Aunty Nicole."

Nicole’s heart softened at the sweet goodbye. "Bye, sweetheart. We’ll see each other again."

Zeke walked them to the door, watching as his sister and niece left with smiles on their faces.

Zeke turned to Cassidy once the door closed. "How about we stay here tonight?"

Cassidy hesitated only for a moment, glancing around the familiar apartment that carried so many memories. "I don’t mind," she said softly, then looked down at Claire. "What about you, sweetheart? Do you want to sleep here?"

Claire’s eyes lit up. She nodded eagerly. "Yes, Mommy. I want to sleep here with you and Daddy."

A small smile tugged at Zeke’s lips. The idea of the three of them spending the night together in the apartment where everything had once fallen apart now felt strangely right, as if life was quietly giving them another chance.

***