Chapter 699

“I’m going to miss you so much,” Grace said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Since morning, she hadn’t left Naomi’s side. Earlier, she had even managed to persuade her parents to delay their departure. Clinging to Naomi, Grace then turned to Lydia with a pleading look.

“You’ll come back home, right, Aunt Lydia? You know GrandMom and GrandDad miss you.”

Lydia, sitting beside her, could only let out a soft laugh. “Of course I’ll visit. Maybe… next month?”

“Yay!” Grace squealed, her face lighting up instantly.

The entire drive to the airport was filled mostly with Grace’s voice. Josh chimed in now and then with teasing remarks, while Althea occasionally stepped in to mediate, all while soothing little Chase. In contrast, Daven remained focused on his tablet, his expression serious as he worked.

And somehow, all of it made Naomi feel like she was truly living inside a world that was noisy, yet deeply comforting.

The truth was… she didn’t want to part with Grace. Or Josh.

Only yesterday afternoon had she finally begun speaking to him more easily. Thankfully, Josh wasn’t the shy type. If anything, he was the one who kept drawing her into conversation, guiding her until she spoke more freely.

Ah, if only she had another chance to spend time with them, she wouldn’t waste it.

At last, they arrived at the airport.

The moment of parting with Grace and her family drew closer, and it became harder for Naomi to let go. From the moment they stepped out of the car and walked toward the plane that would take them back to SunCity, Grace refused to let Naomi drift even a step away.

“Give me your number,” Grace said, holding out her mother’s phone to Naomi. “As soon as I get home, I’ll call you.”

Naomi hesitated.

All her belongings had been left behind… in her apartment? Or the hotel? She wasn’t even sure anymore. And until now, she hadn’t thought about getting another phone.

Sensing the awkwardness, Lydia quickly stepped in. “You can contact me first, sweetheart. Naomi’s phone is broken. As soon as I know her new number, I’ll give it to you.”

“Promise?” Grace held out her pinky.

“Of course.” Lydia smiled warmly.

Grace then made Naomi promise not to forget to take care of her broken phone.

“All right, little miss. Whatever you want, I’ll make it happen.” Naomi bent down to meet her height and pulled her into a warm embrace. “Until we meet again. I’m really going to miss you.”

Grace returned the hug, her expression tinged with sadness.

One by one, they boarded the plane. And once everything was ready, the aircraft slowly began to move, leaving the runway behind and carrying with it the warmth of moments that lingered sweetly in Naomi’s memory.

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Chapter 699

+25 Bonus

“You’ll see them again,” Lydia said, slipping an arm around Naomi’s shoulders. “You like those kids, don’t you?”

Naomi, who had been quietly holding back her sadness, suddenly felt embarrassed, as if Lydia had caught her red- handed. “Um… yes, I do. But how would I even see them again? They must have their own schedules, right?”

“It’s not difficult to go to SunCity,” Lydia replied with a light laugh.

Naomi frowned slightly, remembering how effortlessly Lydia and Cale had moved her from a hotel straight into a bed in their home in Hong Kong.

“Come on, let’s go home.” Lydia glanced at her watch. “I want to make potato soup. Will you help me?”

Naomi nodded softly, then followed Lydia toward the car waiting at the airport’s private lobby. The vehicle carrying them rolled smoothly out of the airport grounds as the afternoon sky dimmed toward evening.

Inside the car, the atmosphere was still warm with the lingering traces of their farewell, the children’s laughter echoing faintly in their minds.

“Grace almost refused to let you go back there,” Lydia said with a small smile, her eyes still holding that gentle warmth.

Naomi let out a quiet breath, though her smile did not completely fade. “She’s such a cheerful child. She even whispered that she wanted to stay in Hong Kong.”

“And Daven almost agreed, just because he didn’t want to upset her,” Lydia replied lightly.

“He really loves his daughter that much, doesn’t he?”

Lydia nodded with certainty. “He does. Josh, Grace, and now Chase. Daven loves all of them. And because of that…. he’s been able to make up for his mistakes in the past.”