?Chapter 1372:


    “I adore it!” Joy squealed.


    A quiet ache bloomed in Eric’s heart, his throat tightening. “This is your home too, Joy.”


    Joy tilted her head, her young mind only half-grasping his meaning. Before she could ask more, her eyes caught sight of a slide and swings nestled nearby.


    “Yay!” she gasped, giggling with delight. “You really put up a slide and swings!”


    “Of course,” Eric said, ruffling her hair with a tender smile. “I made you a promise, and I always keep my word.”


    “Eric, you’re the best!” Joy’s wide eyes darted back to the slide. “Can I y now? Please?”


    “Absolutely,” Eric said, his smile warm and encouraging.


    “Mommy!” Joy called, dashing toward the slide and waving eagerly. “Come on, Mommy! y with me!”


    “I’m right behind you,” Hadley replied, her own smile blooming. Seeing Joy’s uncontainable joy, Hadley couldn’t bear to dampen the moment. She jogged after her daughter, joining in the fun.


    Eric, limited by his injured hand, stayed back, content to watch from a distance.


    He observed Hadley and Joy, hand in hand, climbing the slide and whooshing down, over and over. Their faces mirrored the same gleeful abandon, theirughter ringing through the air.


    Eric stood quietly, a soft chuckle escaping him. His eyes shimmered with warmth, his heart swelling with a gentle tenderness.


    What a perfect scene!


    His beloved woman and their precious daughter, ying together—his family.


    Nearing thirty, Eric felt, for the first time, the true warmth of home. What his parents could never give him, he had found for himself.


    He longed to pause time, to hold Hadley and Joy by his side forever. If that were the case, he would have no regrets.


    In that moment, Eric realized with piercing rity that he craved a home—not a grand, empty mansion, but a haven filled with loved ones, with family.


    That evening, after ensuring Hadley and Joy werefortably settled, Eric returned to the hospital for his nightly treatment.


    Post-treatment, he made sure to keep his left hand dry and took a quick shower.


    As he emerged, his phone hummed.


    A message hade through from Hadley. “How is your hand? Still in a lot of pain tonight?”


    Eric’s lips curved into a faint smile as he typed back. “The doctor checked it—it’s manageable. But this ward is so quiet, it makes the pain feel sharper thanst night.”


    The hint was subtle—he missed her presence.


    Hadley responded with a photo of Joy, fast asleep, followed by a message. “Here is your painkiller.”


    Eric opened the image and let out a softugh.


    His eyes glowed with affection.


    He traced Joy’s sleeping face on the screen with a gentle fingertip, murmuring, “Joy, Daddy is trying his hardest. Cheer for me, okay?”


    “The blood flow looks good,” the doctor said while gently pressing along the tip. “Sensation at the fingertip also looks normal.”


    “So… the finger’s made it?” The voice came from Ferris. He hadn’t shown up in days, but he wouldn’t miss a check-up like this.


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