?Chapter 1287:


    The moment she saw them, Nina bolted toward them, her soft, syrupy voice ringing out with excitement. “Mommy, Daddy, I miss you!”


    She flung herself into their arms, and they both scooped her up without hesitation.


    Just as she leaned in to nt kisses on their cheeks, Ellis’snguid, unfazed voice broke the moment. “Did you finish all the homework I gave you?”


    “Daddy!” Nina looked up at him with wide, disbelieving eyes.


    Ellis raised a single brow, his gaze calm and unreadable.


    Nina puffed her cheeks in protest. “Don’t you think that kind of ruins the moment?”


    “Well then, how about I let you off now and punish youter? Sound better?” Ellis gave her forehead a light tap, his tone indulgent butced with warning.


    Nina decided to pretend he didn’t exist.


    She turned and burrowed into Freya’s arms. “Mommy, I have good news!”


    “Oh?” Freya asked, her voice warm and encouraging.


    “I met a boy! He’s super nice,” Nina gushed, her eyes practically glowing. “He can cook and even bakes cakes! He’s amazing!”


    “Is that so?” Ellis cut in.


    Nina, caught up in the excitement, nodded like a bobblehead. “Uh-huh!”


    “And is he going to help you take your punishment too?” Ellis asked, already certain she hadn’t finished her assignments.


    Nina hadn’t seen thating.


    She muttered under her breath, “Daddy’s mean,” and snuggled deeper into Freya’s arms.


    But Ellis reached over and pulled her gently away, his voice stillzy but firm enough to draw a line. “If you haven’t finished your homework, not even your mommy can save you.”


    Nina clung tighter to Freya, pleading with her eyes.


    Freya scooped her up again, holding her protectively. “Don’t scare her like that.”


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    Ellis’s thin lips lifted into a faint, amused smile, his eyes dark with something more unreadable. He leaned close to Freya, his breath brushing her ear as he spoke in a low, teasing murmur. “We can’t go soft on her. If you want to shield her, are you prepared to take her punishment for her?”


    He deliberately emphasized the word “punishment,” letting it hang there with a sly undertone.


    Freya froze, a flush creeping up her ears.


    She gave up on the idea of intervening. If Nina skipped her work, at worst she’d lose ytime or be made to stand in the corner. But if she took the punishment… the cost might not be so innocent.


    “Come here and show me your homework,” Ellis said as he strolled toward the study area, motioning to Nina.


    Nina stood rooted to the spot, guilt written all over her face. “Mommy…”<fn7d1a> Readplete version only at F?ndNovel</fn7d1a>


    “It’s okay, go with Daddy,” Freya said softly, ruffling her hair. “If you didn’t finish, just exin. He may be strict, but he’s reasonable.”


    Nina fiddled nervously with her fingers. “He just takes rules way too seriously.”


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