Chapter 1631:

🍙 🍙 🍙 🍙 🍙

His voice was slow and calming. Mollie listened closely, but only for a moment.

“You’re telling it wrong, Daddy,” she interrupted.

She had heard the story so often she knew every word.

Mollie began to tell it herself, her little voice animated and confident. Though some words were muddled, her version was charming. As she spoke, sleep gradually overtook her, her lids growing heavier with each sentence.

Zeke stayed beside her silently until her breathing evened out. Then he turned off the light and quietly left the room.

Romina was waiting just outside, leaning against the hallway wall. She hadn’t gone back to the master bedroom. He shut the door behind him and approached her.

“She’s only two, yet she never runs out of words.”

Most children at Mollie’s age didn’t talk that much.

Romina smiled, taking Zeke’s hand and walking with him toward the bedroom. “She wants to understand everything. Always asking questions. I think her mind is just developing quickly—maybe faster than normal. But honestly, I think it’s just how she is. She’s a lot like you—bright and sharp.”

There was a tender grin in Zeke’s eyes as he leaned in to kiss her softly. Once inside the room, he closed the door behind them and pressed Romina gently onto the bed.

The following morning, after they finished eating, Romina saw Zeke to the door. She handed him her car keys, adjusting the knot of his tie and straightening his collar.

“Your vehicle won’t be ready for another week. Use mine for now.”

She wasn’t working at the moment and didn’t go out often, so her car sat idle.

“Alright, I’ll get going,” he said.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝘁 gⲁⳑ𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⧽ⅽ𝗈𝗺

He hugged her tightly, kissed her, and then descended the steps to get into the car.

She watched as he drove away, turning to head inside—until she noticed a car parked near the curb. It was Carly’s.

There was someone inside.

Romina hesitated briefly, then walked toward the vehicle.

Seeing her approach, Carly scrambled to start the engine, clearly intending to leave.

Romina moved faster and tapped lightly on the window. “Good morning, Miss Curry.”

Caught off guard, Carly lowered the window and forced a smile. “Morning.”

“You’re right on time. How about joining me for some coffee?”

“You’re not planning to punch me, are you?”

Carly had already informed Romina’s family about her and Zeke’s relationship. The night before, she had tried to spend time with Jaime, only to be shut out. She hadn’t slept well and had gone out early to grab breakfast, eventually ending up here unconsciously.

She had been surprised to see Romina and Zeke so in love—it didn’t match what Jaime had told her. He claimed Romina was chasing after him. But the earlier scene told a different story.

Romina’s affection clearly belonged to the man who’d recently come home from prison.

“No fists will be flying. If you’re not in a rush to leave, come on inside. Let’s talk properly over coffee.”

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