Chapter 980:

🍙 🍙 🍙 🍙 🍙

In that instant, Brennen’s chest swelled with a quiet, overflowing tenderness. He scooped her into his arms, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek. “My little darling… I’ve missed you so much.”

Adora let out a bright giggle, the sound clear and unguarded. Her little arms slipped around his neck with surprising trust. “Uncle.”

After officially taking office as the Mayor of Bleron, Brennen’s days were a whirlwind of meetings, inspections, and endless paperwork. Rarely did he have a moment to himself. Yet, no matter how packed his schedule, he never failed to carve out time for Hillcrest Villa, for his sister and, most of all, for his niece and nephew.

His doting on Adora bordered on the ridiculous. For her, he would move heaven and earth, sparing no effort to grant even the tiniest whim.

At first, Brennen visited Hillcrest Villa frequently, juggling the comings and goings between mayoral duties. Eventually, however, he decided the constant back-and-forth was too cumbersome, and so, naturally, Adora began accompanying him everywhere.

It became a familiar, even peculiar, sight at the government building of Bleron: Brennen, the newly appointed mayor, whether chairing meetings, greeting dignitaries, or inspecting the city, was always shadowed by a small, lively girl. During meetings, Brennen would sit at the head of the table, sharp and commanding, absorbing reports with a practiced intensity. Beside him, Adora would obediently perch in her chair, utterly engrossed in her doodles, crayons squeaking across paper. The only other sounds were the clipped questions from Brennen and the steady hum of discussion from his subordinates.

𝗝оіո 𝘁𝗵e сo𝗺𝗆u𝘯𝗂𝘁𝗒 a𝘵 𝗴a𝗹ո𝗈𝘃𝖾𝗅s.𝘤𝗼𝗆

It didn’t take long for everyone to accept it. For all his reputation as a young, brilliant, formidable politician, Brennen was utterly, hopelessly wrapped around his niece’s finger.

Out in the field, the pattern continued. Brennen gripped Adora’s hand as they walked construction sites, lifted her to see the progress atop scaffolds, and patiently explained the city’s master plan in terms even a child could grasp.

Adora’s curiosity was boundless. Her wide, sparkling eyes drank in everything, peppering him with the most whimsical questions. “Uncle Brennen, why is the sky blue?” “Why do we have to build so many skyscrapers?” “Is being a mayor fun?”

Brennen never got tired of her inquiries. His answers were patient, gentle, punctuated with smiles that transformed his usually stern, no-nonsense demeanor into something warm, almost tender.

Word spread quickly: the mayor had a tiny companion following him everywhere in Bleron. But rather than criticize it as unprofessional, it endeared Brennen to the citizens. They saw their new mayor as approachable, warm, human. Whenever the media covered a story about him, they made sure to capture Adora’s gorgeous close-up photo too. Overnight, her photos circulated like wildfire, a porcelain doll of a girl, clever, charming, and utterly irresistible. Everyone adored her.

But Austin hated this. Day after day, he watched helplessly as his daughter was carried off by his brother-in-law. And now, as if to torment him further, all he could do was catch fleeting glimpses of her on the news, each smile twisting another knot of frustration in his chest.

.

.

.

Message from Noa: Thanks for all the support in the last announcements, I really really appreciate it dear ones, have a nice weekend. God loves you and Noa wishes you all the best. ٩(^ᗜ^ )و ´-

.