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lked out of the Goldland airport. Night had already settled in, and the cl
rkers. Greetings poured in one after another. Yet among all those messages, one absence stood out
well past ten. Maribel, the housekeeper, looked startl
But... what br
d Kylie?" Samira ask
nd Miss Kylie is in her room," Maribe
handed her luggage to Maribe
in pajamas. Kylie sat at her small table and focused completely on what she
Samira wh
Her bright eyes sparkled as a w
om
amira for a brief moment. Almost right away, she
I'm bu
ng to ease the ache she had carried all this time. Still, seeing how exci
g a shell necklace?"
hday next week. Dad and I collected these shells together, and
en. Meanwhile, Kylie kept ta
er gifts for Mrs. Slo
pted her witho
u know what day
frowned slightly. "Oh, Mom, wait. I
tched her daughter, who never looked up again. After a moment, Samira quiet
tairs hall, Maribel notice
el said gently. "He mentioned that he's very bus
," Samira rep
Samira pulled out her phone and dialed Declan's number. The line rang for a
usy. We'll t
another voice sounded cl
ling so late?" It
ath caught i
g," Declan s
t after that. No ex
en her a full minute of attention. Their marriage had always felt distant and cold. Patience had never seemed to exist between them. Over time, she had grown used to t
r birthday hadn't ended yet in Goldland. She had hoped to spend it with Kylie and Declan. A simple meal togeth
essage finally
u free for lunch? Could you bri
ortly after, "Alrig
, "I'll send yo
, there wa
him. Even though she had expected disappointme
nstairs. As she approached the living room,
" the housekeeper asked
ie said with a small pout. "Dad and I had everything planned. But now that Mom show
ouldn't speak that way," Maribel re
. Sloane more," Kylie admitted. "
had poured all her love into her daughter. But after Declan brought Kylie to Goldland to grow hi
. She quietly placed the gifts she had b
eded anything. Samira remained seated on the edge of the bed, weighed down by an overwhelming emptiness. She had left everything
remembered the lunch she had arranged. Just as she was about to send the location, a
arning and without much thought. In the past, it would've
ell. It was the place where they used to dine together. An
ghed together over a pastry. Merrick broke off pieces and fed them to the little girl, who burst into cheerf
unexpected" situa
oman and child sharing a moment t
lips. She stood there for a few se
at the desk in her room. Her hand trembled as sh
ingle night hadn't happened, and if their families hadn't forced the issue, he would never hav
reality finally c
nvelope and handed it to Maribel.
r suitcase and spoke
to the
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