Leo Joyce raised a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, his face etched with distress. ’If I don’t make things clear to Tiana, I’ll never be at peace...’

’Since we’ve decided to be together, there can’t be any distance or secrets between us.’

"Tiana, you don’t know just how much I loved Amelia. That kind of love isn’t something you can just decide to turn off."

Tiana lowered her head and started to cry. ’I know. Of course, I know. I love Leo, too, but he just can’t see it...’

Leo Joyce turned back to look at Tiana, his eyes filled with tenderness. "After Amelia faked her death, I thought I would never love anyone else for the rest of my life. But, Tiana, it was you who gave me hope again."

Hearing this, Tiana abruptly lifted her teary eyes, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.

Leo Joyce gave a bitter smile, raising a hand to wipe the tears from the corner of her eye. "You silly girl, please believe me. I’m not going to leave you, and I certainly won’t distance myself from you just because Amelia is back."

Tiana’s voice trembled as she called out, "Leo..." ’So he knew. He knew what I was thinking.’

"Tiana, Amelia is one of the most important people in my life. I can’t just stand by and do nothing for her."

Tiana threw herself into Leo Joyce’s arms and said through her sobs, "Leo, I know, I know. Amelia is one of the most important people to me, too. I want her to be happy..."

"Yes. So, Tiana, until Amelia finds her happiness, the two of us... we don’t have the right to get married."

Tiana Grayson’s body stiffened slightly, and her heart clenched painfully.

Leo Joyce felt her stiffen. He held her tightly and said uneasily, "Tiana, I’m sorry..."

"It’s okay. I can wait. We’re still young anyway. Even if I have to wait another ten years, it doesn’t matter." Tiana steadied herself, and after a long, long moment, she spoke, her voice trembling.

’Leo could love Amelia and hold on for eight years. Well, I can do the same—for eight years, or even longer...’

*****

「Inside the shopping mall.」

Tristan Grayson watched the two people holding hands up ahead. All he could do was sigh.

Kiki had walked for a while, but when he noticed Tristan Grayson hadn’t caught up, he stopped in dissatisfaction and refused to move.

"What’s wrong, Kiki?"

"Waiting for Daddy."

Mika Summers’s expression darkened, and she looked at Kiki, a little annoyed.

’Once I get Kiki away from here, I’m never letting Tristan Grayson see him again.’

’This is so infuriating! How can he treat his daddy and mommy so differently!’

When Tristan Grayson finally sauntered over, Mika Summers shot him a glare and said coldly, "What’s wrong with you? Why are you walking so slowly? At this rate, it’ll be morning by the time we finish looking through the mall."

Mika Summers’s complaint wasn’t loud, but it was enough to attract the attention of a few passersby.

Tristan Grayson couldn’t care less about the stares of strangers. He was just happy that Mika Summers was complaining about him being too slow. ’Does this mean she’s willing to shop with me?’

He gave a roguish smirk, walked over to Mika Summers, and wrapped an arm around her waist. He lowered his voice and admitted his fault, "My dear wife, my mistake!"

"Who’s your wife? Let go!" Mika Summers’s pretty face flushed red as she glared furiously at Tristan Grayson.

Tristan Grayson did indeed release her waist, but he smoothly took hold of Mika Summers’s small hand.

"We’ll walk faster this way. Our whole family, holding hands."

When Kiki saw his daddy holding the woman’s hand, he angrily shook off Mika Summers’s hand, wedged himself between the two of them, and pried their tightly clasped hands apart. Then he placed his own little hands into theirs.

Tristan Grayson’s face darkened as he said with displeasure, "Kiki, what you’re doing is wrong." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Kiki snorted, tilted his head back, and said smugly, "This is how they do it on TV."