<em>Cecilia and Noah were escorted to a nearby cafe. </em>


    <em>Mrs. Wilkinson sat by the window in elegant attire, worry lines etched between her brows. </em>


    <em>Noah called out sweetly, “Grandma.” </em>


    <em>Mrs. Wilkinson gave a vague murmur in response. </em>


    <em>Cecilia asked a staffer for in water before turning to Mrs. Wilkinson. “You wanted to see me?” </em>


    <em>Mrs. Wilkinson slid a card across the table. “Ms. Zamora, thispensates Noah.” </em>


    <em>Cecilia stared at the card without speaking. </em>


    <em>Mrs. Wilkinson continued. “I know you n to change Noah’s surname. I support that. This card also includes gratitude payment for you, Ms. Zamora.” </em>


    <em>Cecilia understood: Mrs. Wilkinson came representing the Wilkinson family. They didn’t want Noah, and they didn’t even want him to bear the Wilkinson name. </em>


    <em>Her face turned cold. </em>


    <em>“Mrs. Wilkinson, no matter what Noah’sst name is, he carries half the Wilkinson blood.” </em>


    <em>The Wilkinson family was truly heartless. </em>


    <em>Mrs. Wilkinson’s eyes reddened. </em>


    <em>“I know, but I can’t let this child ruin the rest of his life. He’s still young, and the Wilkinson family’s reputation needs him to uphold it.” </em>


    <em>With Noah around, his mind would always be on the child. </em>


    <em>Besides, if Luciano pursued a political career, this matter could be used against him. </em>


    <em>That was why the Wilkinson family had ignored Noah for three years. </em>


    <em>Seeing Cecilia’s face before her, Mrs. Wilkinson remembered another. </em>


    <em>She once resented Prisci for ruining her son. Now, the memory brought sadness. </em>


    <em>Noah was so well–behaved; she loved this grandson. </em>


    <em>But she had no choice. </em>


    <em>Cecilia was about to speak when the cafe door chime jingled. </em>


    <em>Luciano walked in. He picked up Noah. </em>


    <em>Noah threw himself into his dad’s arms and kissed him. “Daddy, Noah missed you so much.” </em>


    <em>Luciano ruffled Noah’s hair, his cold eyes fixed on Mrs. Wilkinson. “Mom, I told you, stay out of my business.” </em>


    <em>Mrs. Wilkinson couldn’t stay seated. Tears streamed down, </em>


    <em>‘Luciano, she’s been gone three years. You’ve done all you could for her.‘ </em>


    <em>Luciano’s expression tightened. He immediately led Cecilia and Noah </em>


    <em>away. </em>


    <em>Cecilia offered gently. “The doctor says Noah’s recovering well.‘ </em>


    <em>Luciano thanked her. </em>


    <em>‘Appreciate your help.‘ </em>


    <em>Her eyes filled with warmth. ‘I should.‘ </em>


    <em>1288 Vouchers </em>


    <em>After a long pause, she added, ‘Luciano… she only worries for you.‘ </em>


    <em>After all, he was still young, yet had no one who truly cared for him. </em>


    <em>Perhaps more than his future, this weighed on Mrs. Wilkinson’s mind. </em>


    <em>‘Cecilia,‘ he said quietly, ‘you could walk away from all this too.‘ </em>


    <em>She could choose a different life. </em>


    <em>Without Noah. Without Wesley. </em>


    <em>A life of freedom. </em>


    <em>The atmosphere inside the car turned heavy with silence. </em>


    <em>Luciano spoke slowly, his voice low. “See? We feel the same. So don’t try to talk me out of it.” </em>


    <em>Though he’d lost those memories, his heart still resisted letting others in. </em>


    <em>Cecilia couldn’t let go of Noah, bound by that old debt of gratitude. </em>


    <em>Gazing at the sleeping child in her arms, her voice softened to a whisper. “You can’t move on… and neither can I.” </em>


    <em>Luciano stayed quiet for a long moment, lost in thought </em>


    <em>Only when the car stopped at a red light did he speak again. “I want to </em>


    <em>stay in Baritel for a while.” </em>


    <em>Maybe… something mighte back to him there. </em>


    <em>Mrs. Wilkinson’s words had sparked a thread of suspicion, making him desperate to reim his past. </em>


    <em>“I’ll take good care of Noah,” Cecilia promised. </em>


    <em>Luciano took them to the amusement park. Before leaving, he wanted one proper day with his son. </em>


    <em>He didn’t know how long Baritel would hold him. </em>


    <em>Maybe two weeks. </em>


    <em>Maybe much longer. </em>


    <em>Noah had been fragile since birth–a ss doll, perpetually unwell. </em>


    <em>Now, finally stronger, he could handle the gentler rides. </em>


    <em>Waking to see the amusement park, Noah nearly bounced with excitement. </em>


    <em>Cecilia waited on a bench, her movements still careful. </em>


    <em>They stayed until thest ride–the Ferris wheel. </em>


    <em>Noah wanted both his parents with him. </em>


    <em>Cecilia smiled and agreed. </em>


    <em>The Ferris wheel stopped at its highest point, a brilliant sunset painting the sky, warm and beautiful. </em>


    <em>Sitting between his parents, Noah felt he was the happiest child in the world at that moment. </em>


    <em>Cecilia gently touched his face, leaning down to kiss the top of his head. </em>


    <em>Luciano had the same thought, and their foreheads bumped together. </em>


    <em>They immediately exchanged a knowing smile. </em>


    <em>Wesley watched the scene from his car, finding it unbearably piercing. </em>


    <em>Dim light masked the pain in his eyes. </em>


    <em>Only his voice trembled slightly as he asked, “Got a smoke?” </em>


    <em>The driver quickly handed over his own cigarettes. “They’re cheap—” </em>


    <em>Before he finished, Wesley had already lit one. </em>


    <em>The smoke swirled, revealing bloodshot eyes. </em>


    <em>Elijah sent the driver a red envelope and dismissed him. </em>


    <em>Wesley smoked three cigarettes, filling the car with the scent of cheap tobo. </em>


    <em>His gaze remained fixed on the Ferris wheel’s peak. </em>