LOGINFifteen minutes later, the kitchen was filled with the rich scent of butter and Grace’s excited giggles. Ivy poured the batter carefully while Grace stood on a chair, clutching a spatula far too big for her tiny hands.“Slowly, sweetheart,” Ivy said patiently. “If you rush, it’ll get messy.”Josh st
Ivy clicked her tongue and playfully smacked his arm. “That’s because you were the one who dragged me into that ridiculous plan to take back my house from Rico.”“And you agreed to it,” Josh shot back.“Because I thought you were just some crazy guy looking for entertainment,” Ivy said honestly.Jos
Ivy, who had been busy tossing salad at the dining table, could only laugh. “You two are like kids fighting over Grace’s attention.”Natasha chuckled softly. “She’s right, Ivy. At home, whenever Nathan sees a cute toy, the first thing he says isn’t about me—it’s always, ‘Grace would love this.’”Nat
FOUR YEARS LATER“Grace! Don’t run in the hallway!”Ivy’s voice echoed through the living room, which was now a battlefield of toys, stuffed animals, and a sticky spill of apple juice on the glass table.The little girl with golden-brown hair looked back for half a second before bursting into laught
Josh leaned back on the living room sofa, his gaze fixed on Alena, who was cradling the tiny baby in her arms with the gentlest smile he had ever seen. Grace looked utterly peaceful, occasionally letting out a small yawn and stretching like a kitten in her grandmother’s embrace.“Mom, it’s been almo
The first few days after Ivy came home from the hospital felt like the beginning of an entirely new chapter in their lives.The once-quiet house was now a world of baby cries, Ivy’s soft lullabies, and Josh’s panicked voice every time their little girl so much as twitched.“Josh, please… it’s only t
That day, Alena descended the stairs with calm, deliberate steps. She found Josh still sitting in the living room, staring down at the floor, his face heavy with guilt. Dylan and Danny hovered awkwardly near the kitchen, clearly unsure whether it was safer to breathe or not.“Joshua Miller,” Alena c
That afternoon, the sound of the doorbell broke the quiet. Dylan quickly went to open it, only to freeze for a second when he saw who was standing there.“Madam Alena!” he exclaimed, startled. “You didn’t say you were coming.”“Well, if I had, my son would’ve told me to wait until next week,” Alena
“I told you, you don’t have to go to the shop today.”Josh’s voice carried from the dining room, firm and steady, while Ivy busied herself arranging her small bag on the table.“I just want to check the monthly sales report. It’s not heavy work, Josh—just sitting down and—”“Sitting down is still wo
The next morning, sunlight slipped through the hospital curtains, painting the room in a soft golden hue. Ivy was already awake, sitting upright against the headboard, looking far better than she had the night before. Josh, however, still occupied the chair beside her bed—his hair a mess, his shirt







