Chapter 804

Adrian Valentine hesitated, his words stuck in his throat. His concern wasn’t about whether Baby Chloe would adjust—the little girl had immediately warmed up to them. What weighed on him was the thought of preparing for the wedding alone. His upcoming trip to Oceancrest would take at least two weeks, and he worried about burdening them.

Evelyn Carter and Alexander Hamilton, however, didn’t give him a chance to voice his worries. With shared understanding, they practically ushered him into the car. Their eyes met, brimming with uncontainable joy.

The ancestral home was filled with the rich aroma of fish maw hotpot. Margaret Hamilton and Grace Anderson hurried to the door at the sound of arrival, but their faces lit up the moment they saw the baby.

"Sweetheart, do you remember Grandma?" Grace cooed softly.

The baby tilted her tiny face upward and let out a cheerful "Oh," her smile blooming like a little flower.

Margaret tentatively reached out to touch her cheek. When the baby didn’t shy away, her heart swelled with happiness. Still haunted by the memory of making her cry last time, they’d learned their lesson—letting the little one settle in first.

But Baby Chloe was a natural social butterfly. She scrambled onto the sofa, and with a playful "Meow," Peanut the Ragdoll cat leaped up beside her. In seconds, the two were lost in their own world.

"Has Miss Langley given the baby a new name yet?" Margaret suddenly asked.

The living room fell silent. Evelyn and Alexander exchanged glances. Bianca Langley had once declared she would erase everything tied to Vincent Croix—including the baby’s original name. Now, with her new fiancé in the picture but the wedding still pending, the child’s name remained in limbo.

Alexander cleared his throat. "Mom, I think 'Baby' is a lovely nickname. It carries the meaning of being treasured."

The simple moniker unexpectedly won unanimous approval. Even Anthony Taylor and Teresa Taylor, who dropped by later, adopted the name.

While the adults were at work during the day, the four elders doted on the baby, filling the house with lively energy.

Teresa gazed at the little face and couldn’t help sighing, "If only she were our own grandchild."

The sentiment echoed in everyone’s hearts. Once Bianca’s wedding was over, the baby would be taken away. So whenever Evelyn returned from work, she was met with the elders’ unspoken, longing looks.

"Having a child around makes the house so lively," Margaret murmured wistfully.

"Evelyn used to run around the yard with Annabelle when they were little—such a delightful pair," Grace added.

Anthony and Teresa were more cautious, only daring to reminisce about Evelyn’s childhood antics. "You were smaller than Peanut back then, but so clever..."

Evelyn understood their unspoken wish. That Friday, she deliberately invited Lily and Lotus Waters over to play. The three children’s laughter in the yard finally diverted the elders’ attention.

But Lily’s words on the way home sent a chill down Evelyn’s spine.

"A strange brother showed me a photo and asked if I recognized the pretty lady—Baby’s mom. I said I didn’t remember," Lily said, blinking her big eyes. "Lotus said he didn’t know either."

Evelyn immediately pulled up a picture of Vincent. Lily nodded. "That’s him, but he looked angrier in the photo."

Her fingers turned icy. After dropping the children back at the ancestral home, she rushed straight to Alexander’s office.

His expression darkened as he listened. Vincent’s so-called business trip was likely a ruse—he probably already knew Bianca hadn’t returned to the country.

"Don’t be afraid," he said, interlacing his fingers with hers. "If the sky falls, I’ll hold it up for you."

Evelyn let him squeeze her hand. "I’m not worried about myself. I’m afraid Adrian might run into him. Thankfully, he’s already in Oceancrest."

Adrian posted daily updates on social media to reassure everyone. Bianca liked every single one, showering praise on the photos he took. The passion for photography that marriage had once extinguished was now reignited through Adrian’s lens.

Suddenly, Evelyn understood: some people enter our lives solely to correct the mistakes fate has made.