Cecilia and Noah were escorted to a nearby cafe.
Mrs. Wilkinson sat by the window in elegant attire, worry lines etched between her brows.
Noah called out sweetly, “Grandma.”
Mrs. Wilkinson gave a vague murmur in response.
Cecilia asked a staffer for plain water before turning to Mrs. Wilkinson. “You wanted to see me?”
Mrs. Wilkinson slid a card across the table. “Ms. Zamora, this compensates Noah.”
Cecilia stared at the card without speaking.
Mrs. Wilkinson continued. “I know you plan to change Noah’s surname. I support that. This card also includes gratitude payment for you, Ms. Zamora.”
Cecilia understood: Mrs. Wilkinson came representing the Wilkinson family. They didn’t want Noah, and they didn’t even want him to bear the Wilkinson name.
Her face turned cold.
“Mrs. Wilkinson, no matter what Noah’s last name is, he carries half the Wilkinson blood.”
The Wilkinson family was truly heartless.
Mrs. Wilkinson’s eyes reddened.
“I know, but I can’t let this child ruin the rest of his life. He’s still young, and the Wilkinson family’s reputation needs him to uphold it.”
With Noah around, his mind would always be on the child.
Besides, if Luciano pursued a political career, this matter could be used against him.
That was why the Wilkinson family had ignored Noah for three years.
Seeing Cecilia’s face before her, Mrs. Wilkinson remembered another.
She once resented Priscilla for ruining her son. Now, the memory brought sadness.
Noah was so well–behaved; she loved this grandson.
But she had no choice.
Cecilia was about to speak when the cafe door chime jingled.
Luciano walked in. He picked up Noah.
Noah threw himself into his dad’s arms and kissed him. “Daddy, Noah missed you so much.”
Luciano ruffled Noah’s hair, his cold eyes fixed on Mrs. Wilkinson. “Mom, I told you, stay out of my business.”
Mrs. Wilkinson couldn’t stay seated. Tears streamed down,
‘Luciano, she’s been gone three years. You’ve done all you could for her.‘
Luciano’s expression tightened. He immediately led Cecilia and Noah
away.
Cecilia offered gently. “The doctor says Noah’s recovering well.‘
Luciano thanked her.
‘Appreciate your help.‘
Her eyes filled with warmth. ‘I should.‘
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After a long pause, she added, ‘Luciano… she only worries for you.‘
After all, he was still young, yet had no one who truly cared for him.
Perhaps more than his future, this weighed on Mrs. Wilkinson’s mind.
‘Cecilia,‘ he said quietly, ‘you could walk away from all this too.‘
She could choose a different life.
Without Noah. Without Wesley.
A life of freedom.
The atmosphere inside the car turned heavy with silence.
Luciano spoke slowly, his voice low. “See? We feel the same. So don’t try to talk me out of it.”
Though he’d lost those memories, his heart still resisted letting others in.
Cecilia couldn’t let go of Noah, bound by that old debt of gratitude.
Gazing at the sleeping child in her arms, her voice softened to a whisper. “You can’t move on… and neither can I.”
Luciano stayed quiet for a long moment, lost in thought
Only when the car stopped at a red light did he speak again. “I want to
stay in Baritel for a while.”
Maybe… something might come back to him there.
Mrs. Wilkinson’s words had sparked a thread of suspicion, making him desperate to reclaim his past.
“I’ll take good care of Noah,” Cecilia promised.
Luciano took them to the amusement park. Before leaving, he wanted one proper day with his son.
He didn’t know how long Baritel would hold him.
Maybe two weeks.
Maybe much longer.
Noah had been fragile since birth–a glass doll, perpetually unwell.
Now, finally stronger, he could handle the gentler rides.
Waking to see the amusement park, Noah nearly bounced with excitement.
Cecilia waited on a bench, her movements still careful.
They stayed until the last ride–the Ferris wheel.
Noah wanted both his parents with him.
Cecilia smiled and agreed.
The Ferris wheel stopped at its highest point, a brilliant sunset painting the sky, warm and beautiful.
Sitting between his parents, Noah felt he was the happiest child in the world at that moment.
Cecilia gently touched his face, leaning down to kiss the top of his head.
Luciano had the same thought, and their foreheads bumped together.
They immediately exchanged a knowing smile.
Wesley watched the scene from his car, finding it unbearably piercing.
Dim light masked the pain in his eyes.
Only his voice trembled slightly as he asked, “Got a smoke?”
The driver quickly handed over his own cigarettes. “They’re cheap—”
Before he finished, Wesley had already lit one.
The smoke swirled, revealing bloodshot eyes.
Elijah sent the driver a red envelope and dismissed him.
Wesley smoked three cigarettes, filling the car with the scent of cheap tobacco.
His gaze remained fixed on the Ferris wheel’s peak.

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