A few days later...

Darren had become a capable assistant to Ivy, handling the farm work every day with the help of his two little "farmers."

"When will this one grow?" Lila asked curiously, holding a tiny watering can almost as large as her little arms could manage.

Darren glanced at the seedling she was pointing at and chuckled softly.

"We just planted it, Lila. You have to be patient. The seed needs time to germinate before it can grow into a plant."

"Oh..." Lila nodded seriously.

Beside them, Aria was helping Darren harvest ripe tomatoes from the garden. Her small basket was already half-full.

Meanwhile, a short distance away, Ivy sat comfortably on a wooden chair beneath the shade of a tree with little Hope resting in her arms.

The baby was no longer the tiny newborn she once was.

At four months old, Hope had become much more active. She could laugh, recognize familiar faces, wave her little arms excitedly, and even play with her older sisters whenever they came to see her.

As Ivy breastfed her youngest daughter, her gaze drifted toward Darren and the girls.

The sight before her warmed her heart.

Darren stood among the crops while Aria and Lila followed him around the garden, asking endless questions and helping whenever they could. The scene looked almost like a father spending quality time with his daughters.

A small smile appeared on Ivy’s lips.

That was the kind of father she had always wanted her children to have.

A present father.

A loving father.

Someone who would laugh with them, teach them, protect them, and create precious memories with them.

Unfortunately, life rarely followed the plans people made.

Humans could plan all they wanted, but in the end, some things were left in God’s hands.

Hope eventually finished feeding and began rubbing her sleepy eyes.

Within moments, the baby had fallen asleep in her mother’s arms.

Ivy carefully stood up and carried her inside the shelter.

She gently laid Hope in her cot and tucked a soft blanket around her tiny body.

After making sure Hope was sleeping soundly, Ivy quietly stepped outside again.

Aria and Lila were still helping Darren in the garden.

Leaving them to their work, Ivy headed toward the section of the farm where she kept her animals.

The moment she arrived, her eyes lit up.

Several of the goats that had successfully mated were now producing milk.

A wide smile instantly spread across her face.

Without wasting any time, Ivy fetched a clean white bowl and placed it beneath one of the goats.

The animal bleated softly.

"There, girl," Ivy said gently while rubbing the goat’s head. "You’re doing great."

She poured some feed into a container, allowing the goat to eat while she worked.

After putting on a pair of gloves, Ivy carefully began milking the animal.

Streams of fresh milk shot into the bowl with a steady rhythm.

The two girls had somehow noticed what Ivy was doing and immediately abandoned Darren without a second thought.

"Hey!" Darren called after them. "What happened to my helpers?"

Neither girl even looked back.

Their eyes remained fixed on the bowl filling with milk.

The girls reached Ivy within seconds.

"Can we help?" Aria asked eagerly.

"Please?" Lila added.

"Of course."

The two girls immediately crouched beside their mother and began helping feed the goat.

Ivy laughed before glancing toward Darren.

"You’ve both completely abandoned Uncle Darren."

The two girls turned to look at Darren standing alone in the garden.

The guilty expressions on their faces were so adorable that Ivy nearly burst out laughing.

Darren crossed his arms dramatically.

Just then...

"Mrs. Ivy! Aria! Lila!"

A cheerful voice suddenly called from outside the gate.

Everyone turned toward the source.

Standing outside was Pearl.

The little girl was carrying a bag that looked almost too large for her small body.

Despite the heavy load, a bright smile decorated her face.

"Pearl!"

Aria and Lila shouted excitedly.

Without wasting time, the two girls sprinted toward the gate.

"You’re here!"

"Are you here to play with us?"

"We missed you!"

The sisters spoke so quickly that Pearl barely had a chance to answer.

Pearl giggled.

"I missed you too!"

Ivy walked over and opened the gate.

The moment Pearl stepped inside, she dropped the oversized bag onto the ground.

A second later, the three girls threw themselves into a tight group hug.

Their laughter filled the farm.

Watching them, Ivy couldn’t help smiling.

After several moments, the girls finally separated.

Ivy’s gaze shifted toward the large bag lying on the ground.

One eyebrow rose curiously.

"And what exactly did Miss Pearl bring with her today?" Ivy asked with amusement.

"Strawberries!" Pearl replied immediately. "My father cultivated them himself and asked me to bring some over for you. They taste really good when you blend them into strawberry drinks or use them to make ice cream. Mother made some strawberry drinks a few days ago, and they were absolutely delicious."

"Oh? Thank you so much, Pearl," Ivy replied warmly.

She picked up the bag from the floor and unzipped it. The moment her eyes landed on the fresh, bright-red strawberries inside, the smile on her face widened considerably. They looked plump, juicy, and perfectly ripe.

Without wasting any time, Ivy walked toward a nearby table and grabbed a handful of candies....the same candies she often used to reward Aria and Lila whenever they helped out with the farm work.

Returning to Pearl, she placed several pieces into the little girl’s hands.

"That’s your reward for delivering them, little miss," Ivy said with a chuckle, gently rubbing Pearl’s head affectionately.