Chapter 971

"I miss Dad and the grandparents too." Alexander Hamilton's fingers stilled for a moment at Evelyn Carter's rare admission. He added a pinch of sandalwood to the incense burner, watching the tendrils of smoke curl upward. "How about we light some memorial lamps for them here? The cemetery is too far, but we can visit this place every week."

Evelyn rested a hand on her slightly rounded belly and nodded. "That sounds nice. I’ll have time to practice calligraphy and copy scriptures while I’m home resting."

Gazing at the sunlight streaming through the window, she realized how long it had been since she’d allowed herself such quiet moments. From medical school to the OB-GYN department, her life had always been packed to the brim. Now that it had slowed down, the change felt almost unfamiliar.

Meanwhile, a startled gasp echoed through the Hamilton family estate.

"It’s you?" Vivian Dempsey’s eyes widened at the unexpected sight of Victor Laurent. "Where’s Auntie Wu? Did you come alone?"

She craned her neck, searching behind him in vain.

Victor adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses with a wry smile. "That hurt. Do I really seem so useless?"

"What could you possibly help with?" Vivian crossed her arms.

"Babysitting, obviously." Confident, he crouched down and extended a hand toward the toddler stacking blocks. "Easy, say 'big brother.'"

The child blinked up at him, tiny fingers clutching Vivian’s sleeve.

Vivian burst out laughing. "You think she’ll remember you after one meeting? I’ve been playing with her every day, and she still won’t call me anything."

Unfazed, Victor pulled a colorful pinwheel from his pocket. Its cheerful spinning and chiming instantly captured the baby’s attention.

"Watch this," he boasted, shooting Vivian a smug look before softening his voice. "Easy, want to fly high with big brother?"

Before he could finish, the child’s face crumpled, and she let out a wail.

"Victor!" Vivian scrambled to scoop her up, while Peanut the Ragdoll cat hissed from the windowsill.

Victor frantically pulled faces and mimicked animal sounds until, at last, the tears turned to giggles. The little girl perched on his shoulders, waving her arms excitedly.

"Brave little thing," Vivian murmured, steadying the child with a chuckle. "Evelyn was never this wild as a kid."

"Is 'Baby' her actual name?" Victor asked cautiously, seizing the moment. Having been abroad for so long, he was out of the loop with old classmates.

Vivian’s smile faltered. Studying his profile, she abruptly changed the subject. "Have you eaten breakfast yet?"

"Not yet." His eyes lit up, catching on immediately. "Want me to cook? I remember you love—"

"Tomato egg noodles," they said in unison.

Sunlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, stretching their three shadows across the room. Peanut yawned lazily before curling up on the sofa and drifting off.