Chapter 1712:

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If Rowland had ever been capable of letting go, wouldn’t he have done it long ago?

But he couldn’t. It had to be her—Mia. No one else could ever take her place.

So, he stayed by her side through every test, every scan, refusing to let her face any of it alone. When the results finally came back and showed nothing serious, he exhaled, tension easing from his shoulders.

Mia, ever the playful one, waved the test report in front of his face. “See? Now do you believe me? I told you I was fine! Maybe I just ate something bad.”

Rowland crossed his arms. “I wasn’t going to believe it until I saw proof.”

Mia giggled, then snuggled into his chest. “Alright, Rowan, you win. Now hurry back to work before they start panicking without you!”

Rowland sighed but nodded. “Fine. But be careful on the road, alright? And call me as soon as you and Nola arrive.”

Mia gave him a cheeky salute. “Yes, sir!”

Rowland shook his head in amusement, reaching out to ruffle her hair. “Good.”

No matter how many years passed, no matter how much she grew, Mia would always be his Mia—the mischievous girl who once trailed after him, causing trouble wherever she went.

Naomi was buried in work.

Organizing an art exhibition might seem straightforward to an outsider, and with a full studio of capable staff, delegation should have made things easier. But Naomi wasn’t one to leave things to chance. Striving for perfection, she preferred to handle key details herself—otherwise, she wouldn’t feel at ease.

“Naomi, where do you think this painting would look best?” one of her employees asked, glancing between her and the canvas in question. “Coyle and I have a few ideas. Want to hear them?”

Naomi nodded, listening attentively as they laid out their reasoning. She considered their points, then turned her gaze toward a quieter corner of the exhibition space.

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“Place it there,” she said, her voice thoughtful. “This piece conveys a sense of secrecy—if it’s displayed in too prominent a spot, that meaning could be lost.”

Each painting had to be carefully arranged. Their placement dictated how the audience would experience the exhibition, and Naomi wouldn’t settle for anything less than perfect.

“Understood!” her employee responded enthusiastically.

Naomi patted their shoulder with a smile. “You’ve all been working so hard. Once the exhibition is over, I’ll make sure you get a well-deserved bonus!”

The young employee beamed. “It’s really not hard at all! Naomi, you probably don’t realize how much I love this work. I could spend the entire day surrounded by these paintings and never get tired of it!”

Most of the people who worked at Naomi’s studio weren’t just employees—they were artists at heart. Painting wasn’t just a job to them; it was a passion, a way of life. And in this moment, as they moved through the space, curating each piece with care, they weren’t just working. They were creating something extraordinary together. For Naomi’s team, working overtime wasn’t a burden—it was a choice.

And with Naomi as their boss, work never felt oppressive. She was kind, easygoing, and never imposed unnecessary rules. The one thing she always emphasized? Happiness.

Everyone had their own sense of self-discipline. Naomi never forced anyone to overwork, nor did she make things difficult if personal matters arose.

Just then, a familiar voice rang out—loud and clear. “Nola!”

Naomi smiled even before she turned toward the sound.

Mia was always like this—her presence announced itself before she even stepped into view.

Naomi looked at her approaching friend and chuckled. “Mia, with that voice, you could totally be a soprano!”

Mia grinned. “No chance, I’m terrible at singing.” She reached for Naomi’s hand, squeezing it playfully. “Guess what? We’re heading to the neighboring city today, and your brother almost insisted on tagging along! The only reason he didn’t is because work won’t let him escape.”

Naomi raised an eyebrow. “Rowan? He’s still that worried about you? He won’t even let you go somewhere with me?”

Mia let out an exaggerated sigh. “He just wants to keep me within his line of sight at all times!”

Naomi laughed, but she knew the real reason behind Rowland’s protectiveness. It wasn’t just worry—it was Calvin. Her brother hadn’t forgotten how Calvin once tried to steal Mia away. And knowing Rowland, she was sure he would never let his guard down.

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