Chapter 788

His voice was calm and even. There was no obvious sadness in it. No trace of lingering grief. It sounded almost as casual as if he were commenting on the weather.

And somehow, that was what surprised Naomi the most. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

Josh smiled faintly. “I was sad back then too.’

Naomi turned to look at him. Josh kept his gaze fixed on the photograph in front of him.

“I was so sad,” he continued quietly, “that there were times I wanted to follow Dad Chase.”

His voice remained calm, but the words landed heavily. “He was the best man God ever brought into my life.”

Naomi said nothing, simply listening.

“Dad Chase was incredible.” The pride in Josh’s voice was unmistakable. “He always had time for us. He always knew when I was upset or when I was lying. And he made the best pancakes every Sunday morning.”

A soft laugh escaped Naomi before she could stop it. For some reason, that last detail made everything feel so real.

“I think that’s a wonderful memory.”

“It is.”

Josh smiled. “That’s why I don’t like staying sad for too long. Mommy says being sad is a very human thing. But we still have to keep living with the memories we shared with the people who left before us. We carry them in our hearts and remember them.”

Naomi stared at him in confusion. She had never expected words like that to come from a boy younger than

herself.

Josh simply shrugged. “I believe Daddy Chase is still watching over me.”

The statement left Naomi momentarily speechless. “I know it sounds strange.

“Not really,” Naomi replied softly.

“He had a lot of hopes for me.” Josh lowered his head briefly before a faint smile curved his lips. “As his eldest son.”

Naomi nodded absentmindedly. Then, a few seconds later, something clicked. “Wait.”

Josh turned toward her. “Didn’t you just say you were his eldest son?”

“Yeah.”

“But…” Naomi hesitated.

Josh let out a small laugh. “I know what you’re about to ask.”

Naomi gave him an awkward grin.

“It’s okay.” Josh turned back to the photograph. “I’m not actually his biological son.”

Naomi froze. The confession caught her completely off guard. Yet Josh looked utterly unbothered by it.

“To me, he’s still my father.” His voice was simple, certain, and filled with affection. “And Daddy Daven is my

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biological father. We were separated for a few years.”

Slowly, Naomi began to understand.

“We all love each other,” Josh continued casually. “That’s what matters most.”

A gentle afternoon breeze drifted through the partially open window. Naomi watched him for a long moment. He was still so young, yet the way he viewed life felt far more mature than her own.

Then Josh spoke again. “And you know what?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m very lucky.” Josh said it with a smile. “I had Daddy Chase. I have Daddy Daven. I have Mommy. And Uncle Cale, who’s annoying sometimes, but I know he loves me.”

A small laugh escaped Naomi before she realized it. “You’re right. He is annoying.”

This time, they both laughed together.

“And Uncle Chris too,” Josh continued. “Even though he likes pretending he’s busy and cool all the time.”

“Don’t let him hear you say that.”

Josh wrinkled his nose. “I tell him that to his face all the time.”

Naomi shook her head, amused. Then Josh spoke again, his voice softer this time.

“I’m really lucky.” His gaze shifted to Naomi. “And I think you should feel that way too.’

The smile on Naomi’s face slowly faded. “Me?”

Josh nodded. “You’re here now. Right in the middle of this family. And everyone likes you.”

For a moment, Naomi couldn’t find a response. A warmth spread through her chest, but at the same time, something else crept in alongside it. Fear. Because the longer she stayed in this house, the more attached she became to the people living in it.

And with that attachment came a growing fear that one day, all the problems trailing behind her would destroy the warmth she had only just found.

“I don’t know whether I’m lucky or not,” Naomi admitted quietly.

Josh smiled. “Then let me be the one to tell you.”

Naomi looked at him.

The afternoon sunlight spilled through the corridor windows, bathing his youthful face in a soft golden glow. Despite being younger than her, there was something remarkably steady in his eyes.

“I think,” Josh said lightly, “you’re incredibly lucky.”

He paused, his smile widening just a little. “You just haven’t realized it yet.”