LOGINThe air in the room seemed to tighten all at once. Valencia fell silent, her head bowing deeply, remorse written plainly across her face. “That was the biggest mistake of my life, Auri. I was so narrow-minded. I couldn’t see the truth until I had already hurt you.”
“You hurt my dignity as a wife,” Auri added, her gaze unwavering. “Every time I remember it, I feel like taking Junior far away from all of you… from the people who once doubted him
“Careful, Junior! Don’t run too fast!”Ethan Harrow’s voice came out edged with panic, but his feet stayed rooted to the spot. He stood at the edge of the wide stretch of green lawn, his gaze fixed on the small figure running ahead with unsteady steps. The fear that Junior might fall and hurt himself sent his heartbeat into a frantic rhythm, stirring a protective instinct he was only now beginning to recognize within himself. The day he had been waiting for all week had finally arrived, and now here he was, standing in the backyard of his ex-wife’s house, witnessing firsthand the little world he had only ever seen through photographs.“Just let him be, Ethan. He’s excited because he just put on his new shoes with the lights underneath,” Lucas said calmly. He sat back in a garden chair, a bottle of mineral water in hand, his relaxed posture almost deliberate, as if to make it clear that this yard was his domain. “If you keep stopping him, he won’t learn how to balance.
“Mr. Ethan, if we look at this chart, demand for rayon cotton fabric has risen sharply. We need to decide soon whether to increase production for next month’s stock or keep it at the current level,” one of the marketing managers said, his voice bright with enthusiasm.The bustle inside H&N Fashion that afternoon was unmistakable. In the main conference room, the air conditioning was working at full capacity, yet the atmosphere still felt stifling to Ethan Harrow. In front of him, several employees were presenting reports on the clothing lines that had become this month’s market favorites.Ethan gave a small nod, but his attention drifted elsewhere, settling on the slim object beside his laptop—his phone. Beneath the table, his fingers itched, almost restless, wanting to reach for it. As the manager moved on to the next slide, Ethan swiftly tapped the screen.A photo of Junior laughing brightly—taken secretly during his las
“What are you doing here?”The question slipped from Auri’s lips before Valencia could even take another step into the shop. Her voice wasn’t raised, but it carried a sharp edge that made Chloe and Sarah instinctively retreat a few steps. The soft chime of Nocture’s doorbell still lingered in the air, stretching the tension inside a space that was usually so warm.Valencia didn’t answer right away. She calmly slipped her sunglasses into the pocket of her ivory blouse, the fabric unmistakably expensive. Her gaze didn’t move to Auri at first. Instead, it settled on Junior, who stood frozen in place, clutching a thornless rose.“This shop has become even more beautiful since the last time I visited,” Valencia said at last, her tone composed, almost regal. “And it seems my grandson has grown beautifully here as well.”Auri stepped out quickly from behind the glass partition, closing the distanc
The air in the room seemed to tighten all at once. Valencia fell silent, her head bowing deeply, remorse written plainly across her face. “That was the biggest mistake of my life, Auri. I was so narrow-minded. I couldn’t see the truth until I had already hurt you.”“You hurt my dignity as a wife,” Auri added, her gaze unwavering. “Every time I remember it, I feel like taking Junior far away from all of you… from the people who once doubted him.”“I know… I know I don’t deserve to be forgiven so easily,” Valencia whispered. A tear slipped free, landing softly on the back of Junior’s hand. “But please, don’t punish me for too long. Junior deserves a complete family. I’ve waited so long for this grandson, Auri. Please, give me a chance to make things right. I want to be there for him, as a grandmother who loves him and will always be by his side.”Valencia let ou
“Wow, quite the fashion sense already,” Gia teased. Then her tone softened, touched with admiration. “But really, Auri, you’re doing amazing. Between running Nocture and taking care of your husband, Junior never lacks attention. You’ve managed your time so well.”Auri fell quiet for a moment, her gaze drifting down to the sketch of a flower arrangement in front of her. Her fingers rested lightly on the paper, but her thoughts seemed to move somewhere deeper. “I just want him to grow up with a stable life, Gia. I don’t want him to go through the kind of chaos that… well, you know what my past was like.”Gia nodded, understanding immediately. She didn’t press further, choosing instead to gently steer the conversation away. “Alright, back to work then. About the design for Lucas’s event, have you thought about the structure for the main table? I think using tall crystal vases could really add a dramatic touch.”Auri pulled a fresh sheet of paper toward her and bega
“Junior… oh my goodness, I missed you so much!”Gia’s bright, cheerful voice rang out the moment the glass door swung open. The fresh, unmistakable scent of flowers wrapped around Auri instantly, familiar and comforting. Gia quickly set her pruning shears down on the large worktable and hurried over to them.“Gia, take it easy. Junior fell asleep in the car earlier, he’s probably still a little dazed,” Auri said with a soft laugh as she lowered him gently from her arms.Two of Nocture’s staff, Chloe and Sarah, came over as well, their faces lighting up the second they saw him. They adored Junior. To them, the little boy was practically Nocture’s good-luck charm. Whenever he was around, the shop felt brighter, warmer, as if his presence alone could lift the entire atmosphere.“Hello there, little boss! Want to help me arrange some flowers today?” Sarah asked, crouching down so she was at ey







