?Chapter 313:


    Sadie didn’t like that at all. She knew Noah meant well, but it was only natural for a child to crave snacks and junk food every once in a while. “He’s still young. It’s fine to indulge him asionally.”


    Noah directed his narrowed gaze at her. “Indulging a child isn’t in their best interests. You’ll be spoiling him before you know it.”


    Sadie pressed her lips into a tight line and bit back her words. There was no point in arguing with Noah about this.


    Needless to say, the atmosphere in the dining hall grew tense.


    “There will be a party in three days,” Noah finally said. “Go with me as my date.”


    Sadie was visibly taken aback, but she still nodded and said, “Okay.” As the night grewte, peace eventually fell over Myrtlewood Estate.


    Noah was in his study, buried in a pile of documents.


    “Mr. Wall…” A soft, childish voice suddenly broke the silence in the room.


    Noah turned toward the door with a frown.


    Averi was rubbing his drooping eyes, his feet bare, his gait a little wobbly as he entered the study.


    “Mr. Wall…” the little boy called out again, his other hand clutching a fistful of his bear-patterned pajamas.


    Noah set aside the papers he had been reading and took a good look at the little figure approaching him. He couldn’t help the wave of tenderness that swelled inside his chest.


    Before he knew it, he had stood up and walked around his desk. “Why are you awake?” he asked, barely noticing that his voice had instinctively softened.


    Averi was obviously still a little groggy, as he all but pounced on Noah’s leg, hugging it before rubbing his tiny face against the fabric of Noah’s trousers. “I want Mommy…”


    ?????????v?????.co?? for more reading


    Noah looked down at the little guy and rxed.


    He bent and picked Averi up with ease. The boy’s small, chubby body was soft and carried a faint scent of milk.


    An emotion surged in Noah’s heart, something he was unfamiliar with and could therefore not name.


    He carried Averi out of the study and into the master bedroom.


    Inside, Sadie was fast asleep,pletely oblivious to her son’s nighttime escapade.


    Noah carefully tucked the boy beside her.


    Averi immediately turned over and snuggled into Sadie’s arms, his little fist now clutching at her pajama shirt.


    Noah lingered for a while, just watching the scene before him with a gentle smile on his face.


    Then he turned the bedsidemp off andy down on the other side of the bed. Heid his arm over Sadie so that he was cupping Averi’s side, gathering them into a huge embrace.


    It was quiet in the room, apart from the soft, steady sounds of their breathing.


    Noah craned his neck and nced at the sleeping mother and son. He could feel something else blossoming inside his chest, and this one he could name — peace.


    Morning came, and sunlight filtered through the curtains and fell into the room in bright, narrow beams.


    .


    .


    .