Chapter 622
For the way her eyes shone. For the happiness written so clearly across her face.
“I know you like it, don’t you?” Cale murmured, his fingers brushing gently against Lydia’s flushed cheek.
She pouted faintly. “I do… but it sounds like you don’t.”
“I didn’t say anything. Why are you accusing me of things I never said?”
Lydia chose not to argue, letting a small smile take its place instead. And for the first time that night, Cale noticed something in her-something that made him want to linger, to keep watching, to not look
away.
“Or at least,” he added, quieter now, “I want you to stay like this.”
“Like what?”
Cale didn’t answer immediately. His gaze dropped slightly, studying her face as if committing it to memory-checking, perhaps, that this moment was real.
“Happy.”
Just one word. Flat. Almost devoid of expression.
And yet… it carried a warmth Lydia could feel all the way to her chest.
“With me.”
Heat rushed to her cheeks. “Then you’ll have to make sure that always happens in my life, Mr. Miller.”
“Of course, Mrs. Miller.”
Behind them, Felicia had already started pulling Kalina away, giving the couple their space. The two of them made their way toward Daven and Althea, where Daven was attentively helping Althea as she settled comfortably.
The atmosphere slowly came back to life-laughter rippling through the air, glasses raised in celebration, soft music weaving gently into the night,
Everything felt… perfect.
The laughter that had filled the air gradually softened, melting into something warmer, calmer-like waves finally settling into their own rhythm. Lydia remained where she stood, quietly trying to hold on to every second of the night, to memorize it before it could slip away.
Then the sound of small, hurried footsteps broke through the moment.
“Mom!”
The voice was so bright, so full of excitement, that everyone instinctively turned.
Josh arrived first, slightly out of breath, with Grace following beside him at a more careful pace. A few steps behind them came Eli-not running, not exactly walking leisurely either. She lingered somewhere in between, as if unsure whether she truly belonged within that circle.
“Watch your step, Grace,” Daven said reflexively, though there was no real sternness in his tone. He was already moving toward her, ready to catch her just in case-just in case something went wrong, just in case she stumbled.
Daven was never careless when it came to Grace. Not even for a second. Even now, with part of his attention naturally drawn to Chase, he still made sure she was safe.
“Grace couldn’t wait to see Aunt Lydia,” Josh complained the moment he reached them.
“You were the same!” Grace shot back, sticking her tongue out at him.
“Yes, I know that,” Daven sighed softly. “But at least be careful when you run, Grace. There are a lot of
guests.”
Grace only grinned, completely unbothered, before wandering over to her baby brother’s stroller. “Hi, Chase. What are you doing?”
Meanwhile, Josh made his way straight to Lydia. He looked up at her, eyes shining with pure admiration.” Aunt Lydia… you look so beautiful.”
Lydia let out a soft gasp before pulling him into a tight hug. Her fingers ruffled his hair without hesitation, ignoring his immediate protest as his neatly styled look fell into disarray. “Thank you for the compliment, Josh.”
Josh huffed in mild annoyance-but only for a second. After that, he returned the hug, letting Lydia do as she pleased. To him, Lydia was the best aunt in the world.
Not wanting to be left out, Grace soon followed. She approached more slowly, one hand lightly lifting the hem of her dress. Her expression was calmer than Josh’s, but no less warm. “Papa said today is important. So Aunt Lydia and I must be the prettiest.”
Althea smiled from where she sat, while Daven simply shook his head, though the pride in his eyes was
unmistakable.
“Ah, he’s absolutely right!” Lydia laughed, her voice bright with delight. “Your father gives excellent advice. As women, we should always look beautiful-anytime, anywhere.”
Cale let out a quiet scoff at that, though a faint laugh followed, blending into the joy surrounding them.
A little further back, Eli came to a stop-not too close, but not entirely distant either. Her hands clasped together in front of her, fingers fidgeting restlessly as if searching for something to hold on to.
For a moment, her gaze lifted toward Lydia. But the second Lydia turned in her direction, she quickly looked away. Her lips parted, like she wanted to say something-But whatever words she had stayed trapped in her throat.
Felicia, who had noticed it, glanced over before a small smile tugged at her lips. “Is there something you want to say, Eli?”
Eli flinched, startled that someone had caught her. She lowered her gaze, visibly flustered, but in the end, she forced herself to gather her courage. “Hi, Aunt Lydia… Uncle Cale,” she greeted, a little awkwardly.
“Yes, Eli?” Lydia stepped closer, her voice gentle. She knew-she could tell-that even now, Eli still carried that quiet awkwardness, that lingering shyness whenever she was around the family. Even after returning from the dorm, as Daven had insisted Eli came home once a week, just so she wouldn’t feel pushed aside… or worse, forgotten by the people who cared about her.
“You… look really beautiful.”