Chapter 5

When he turned around with breakfast in his hands, he finally noticed me.

“You’re up?” His tone was flat. “We’re heading out soon. There’s no time to make yours—handle it yourself.”

I didn’t say anything.

I knew it wasn’t that he didn’t have time. He simply wanted to focus, wholeheartedly, on cooking only for Emily.

The aroma drifting from the kitchen made my stomach twist painfully, but I said nothing. I quietly walked in and cooked myself a bowl of plain noodle soup.

After breakfast, they were taking the children to the amusement park.

Leo suddenly tugged at them. “Wait! We have something for you!”

The brothers ran upstairs and soon came back down holding four matching T-shirts—anyone could tell at a glance they were family outfits.

Emily hesitated. “This… might not be appropriate, right?”

Leo lifted his little face, his gaze stubborn. “But in our hearts, you’re our mom.”

He rubbed his son’s hair and said to her, “The kids are just fooling around. Go along with them this once.”

Blushing, she nodded.

The four of them stood together in the matching outfits.

He and she wore navy-blue T-shirts; Leo and Alex wore smaller versions, with a cartoon print on the chest reading “Mom and Dad Love Baby.”

Emily suddenly turned to me. “Grace, why don’t you come with us too?”

I shook my head. “No need.”

“But you’re their mom. It wouldn’t be right if you didn’t come…” She walked over and grabbed my hand without giving me a choice. “Come on. A family should be complete.”

I was forcibly pulled into the car by her.

The amusement park was packed with people.

With their matching outfits and striking looks, they drew countless glances from passersby.

A young girl blushed as she came over to ask for a photo, and for once, he didn’t refuse.

“Your Luna is so beautiful!” the girl said enviously to Emily. “And the kids are super adorable!”

He didn’t deny it. She lowered her head shyly. Leo and Alex puffed out their chests with pride.

I followed behind them like a transparent person, watching them be surrounded and praised, watching his hand rest naturally on her waist, watching the children call her “Mom” again and again.

My heart hurt until it went numb, and I could no longer even feel the pain.

Toward evening, we arrived at the Ferris wheel.

The staff smiled at him and her. “You two look like such a perfect match! They say if a couple kisses at the highest point of the Ferris wheel, they’ll never separate for the rest of their lives!”

Leo and Alex exchanged a look, mischievous smiles spreading across their faces.

The cabin slowly ascended, city lights flowing beneath our feet.

As the Ferris wheel was about to reach its highest point, the two children suddenly darted behind them and gave a hard shove—

“Ah!” Emily cried out as she fell straight into his arms.

The instant their lips touched, both of them froze.

She panicked and tried to pull away, but he acted on impulse, cupping the back of her head and deepening the kiss.

Leo and Alex covered their mouths as they giggled, secretly flashing a victorious hand sign.