<h4>Chapter 246: His Next Move</h4>


    The way back up to the rooftop apartment was quiet, heavy with the kind of silence that clung like a second skin. Cammy carried Dn’s takeouts from Mrs. Moore while Ric and the nanny handled the rest of the food they had brought with them from thendlords.


    Thete afternoon sun filtered through the ss doors, bathing the room in a soft, golden haze.


    As soon as they stepped inside, Cammy noticed Dn rub his eyes with the back of his tiny hand, a long yawn escaping his lips.


    "Are you sleepy, sweetheart?" Cammy asked, crouching down to meet his eye level, brushing back his messy hair with a tenderness that made her chest ache.


    "Yes, Mommy," Dn mumbled, his words slurring with exhaustion.


    Cammy smiled warmly and kissed his forehead. "Then how about we take an afternoon nap?" she suggested, speaking in a soft, coaxing voice.


    Dn nodded but immediately grabbed the hem of her shirt with his small fingers, holding it tight.


    "Only if you stay with me until I fall asleep," he pleaded, his sleepy voice marked with sweetness.


    Cammy’s heart squeezed painfully in her chest. How could she ever say no to him?


    "Of course, baby. I’ll stay with you," she promised.


    She turned to Ric, silently unconsciously asking for his permission. Ric caught her nce and smiled reassuringly.


    "Go ahead," he said, cing a box down gently. "I’ll help the nanny unpack the rest of the things."


    "Thank you," Cammy whispered.


    She led Dn into the bedroom, the familiar scent of fresh linens and the faint trace of new furniture filling her senses. Theyy on the bed, Dn immediately curling up against her, his little hand clutching the fabric of her blouse like a lifeline.


    Cammy stroked his hair in slow, soothing motions, humming a soft tune under her breath. The world outside their small cocoon felt like a distant roar; the only reality that mattered now was the steady beat of her heart against his tiny frame.


    As his eyelids drooped heavily, Dn mumbled against her chest,


    "Mommy... why is everybody saying you’re getting married?"


    Cammy stiffened for a fraction of a second, her hand faltering before resuming its slow caress.


    "Because Mommy and Uncle Ric are getting married soon," she said gently, trying to keep her voice steady, trying not to let the sudden sting of emotion seep into her words.


    Dn was silent for a beat, and Cammy thought he had finally drifted off—until he spoke again, his voice small and heartbreakingly honest.


    "I like Uncle Ric... but I like Uncle Greg more."


    The words were a whisper, but they hit Cammy like a thunderp.


    She closed her eyes tightly, fighting the tears that threatened to spill.


    How could a child so young sense the storm raging inside her when she herself was still trying to deny it?


    She pressed a kiss onto Dn’s forehead, letting her lips linger there, as if trying to shield him from the turmoil he couldn’t yet understand.


    "I know, baby," she whispered, her voice breaking against his skin.


    "I know..."


    And as Dn finally slipped into sleep, breathing deep and even, Cammy stared up at the ceiling, feeling the weight of the future crashing down on her like a tide she was powerless to stop.


    Carefully, Cammy peeled herself away from Dn’s tiny embrace, moving slowly, inch by inch, to make sure he didn’t stir. She tucked the nket gently around him, brushing a soft kiss against his hair before silently slipping out of the bedroom, closing the door behind her with a tender click.


    The apartment was quiet except for the faint tapping of keys. In the living room, she found Ric seated on the couch, hisptop perched on his knees, brows furrowed in focus. Thete afternoon sunlight cast a warm glow on him, making the moment feel almost surreal—peaceful, too perfect, like the calm before a storm.


    Ric’s head lifted the moment he heard her approach. A smile tugged at his lips, gentle and weing.


    "How’s Dn?" he asked, closing hisptop and setting it aside.


    Cammy padded across the room barefoot and sank onto the couch beside him, her body still heavy with emotions she couldn’t name.


    "He’s asleep," she said softly. "He asked about the wedding before he dozed off."


    Ric straightened, his gaze sharpening with interest. "Yeah? What did you tell him?"


    "That we’re getting married soon." She forced a little smile, feeling the weight of those words settle between them.


    Ric reached for her hand, holding it between both of his like it was something fragile, precious.


    "And... how did he react?" he asked, his voice careful, like he was ready to catch her if she said something that would hurt.


    Cammy shook her head, a small chuckle escaping her lips. "No big reaction. He was already half-asleep. But it wasn’t negative." She paused, her heart softening a little more. "He said he likes you."


    Ric’s face broke into a wide smile, pure and unguarded, and for a moment Cammy saw the boyish part of him—the one that craved eptance, family, love.


    "He really said that?" he asked, squeezing her hand tightly.


    She nodded. "He did."


    Ricughed quietly under his breath, his eyes gleaming.


    "You have no idea how much that means to me, Cammy," he said, voice thick with emotion. "I know I can never rece..." He trailed off, not wanting to say Greg’s name. "But I’ll do my best to be someone he can rely on."


    Cammy’s heart twisted painfully. She pulled her hand away gently and rested it against her stomach, feeling the faintest flutter of life within.


    "I want to talk about something important," she said, her tone shifting to something heavier.


    Ric leaned forward, attentive, his smile fading into something more serious.


    "Our wedding... and where we’ll live after that."


    He nodded. "Of course. Let’s talk about it."


    Cammy swallowed hard. "I know we haven’t really had time to n anything properly... but I don’t want a big wedding.


    I don’t want fancy receptions or crowds. I just want something small... intimate. With people who matter," she said, her voice trembling slightly.


    Ric reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear.


    "I want whatever you want, Cammy."


    She offered him a grateful smile but her next words came out in a rush, filled with a bittersweet longing she could no longer hide.


    "And as for where to live..." She nced toward the bedroom where Dn slept peacefully. "I want Dn to stay somewhere familiar. I don’t want him to feel like everything’s changing at once. Maybe... maybe we could stay here for a while. Even after the wedding."


    Ric studied her, his gaze searching deep into her soul. He stayed silent for a while calcting, thinking of his next move.