Chapter 638
Eleanor nodded, and all the parents gathered their children and boarded the school bus, which headed off toward the forest park.
As the bus rolled slowly into the park, the children pressed their faces eagerly to the windows, voices erupting with excitement. Early winter sunlight filtered through the treetops, casting a warm golden glow over the entire forest.
“Mom, look! There’s a squirrel!” Evelyn squealed, pointing out the window.
Eleanor followed her daughter’s gaze and spotted a fluffy squirrel perched on a branch, clutching an acorn and peering curiously at the bus. She smiled. “We’ll see lots more little animals once we’re out there p>
When the bus came to a stop, the teacher gathered everyone in a circle for a warm-up game to break the ice.
Laughter and cheers filled the air as the children joined hands and played together. Evelyn and Vivian clung to each other, their faces alight with joy, while the parents watched from the sidelines, their hearts warmed by the children’s happiness.
At that moment, standing next to Eleanor, a pair of gentle eyes lingered on her face. Eleanor wore a white down jacket that made her look fresh and elegant. In the soft winter sunlight, her bright eyes sparkled, her cheeks carried a rosy glow, and her smile revealed perfect teeth.
Xavier swallowed hard, trying not to stare, unable to tear his gaze away.
He didn’t notice the camera across the clearing, snapping candid shots-not just of the children’s laughter, but of the parents’ tender expressions as they watched their kids.
After a stroll through the woods, the group came upon a shallow brook. The teacher handed out waterproof boots and little nets for fishing.
The children tumbled into the creek, buckets in hand, busily scooping up tiny fish. Their delighted shouts echoed through the trees.
Eleanor and Xavier joined them in the water, helping their daughters hunt for minnows, while the teacher snapped more photos for the memory books.
Suddenly, Eleanor slipped on a smooth stone beneath the water. She gasped, instinctively grabbing Xavier’s arm. Without missing a beat, Xavier wrapped an arm around her waist and steadied her.
Eleanor straightened up, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “Thank you p>
“No problem,” Xavier replied, reluctantly letting go, his hand tingling with lingering warmth.
Before long, the girls’ buckets held several shimmering silver fish. Proud of their catch, they clambered back onto the bank, ready to show off their prizes.
At lunchtime, picnic tables were set up in the sun, two families sharing each table. Naturally, Eleanor and Xavier sat together with their daughters.
The four of them gathered around the table, sunlight dappling their faces, the scene so warm and harmonious it looked like a family postcard.
Nearby, the official photographer captured every meaningful moment, camera lens glinting.
That afternoon, the families enjoyed some free time. Eleanor wandered the forest trails with her daughter, identifying plants and bugs until, at half past four, everyone gathered for a group photo before heading back to school.
On the ride home, Miss Alice could hardly wait to share the day’s photos. She uploaded them to the parents’ group chat as soon as they were on the road.
Meanwhile, at Goodwin & Co., lan sat in the conference room listening to department heads give their reports. Suddenly, his phone lit up with a message from the school parents’ group.
He tapped it open absentmindedly, not expecting much he hadn’t joined the field trip, after all, and rarely paid attention to these updates. But as he scrolled through the latest photos, his dark eyes narrowed sharply.
There, in one snapshot, Xavier’s arm was wrapped intimately around Eleanor’s waist as they stood in the creek, their eyes locked on each other. Beside them, the two little girls bent over, engrossed in catching fish.