"It''s fine. I can spare the time," Noah said with a smile.


    Cynthia replied, "Then I''ll have to impose on you. You''re the only one who can handle this little monkey."


    Noah simply nodded at her.


    He still felt immensely guilty about Karina causing that scene and pping Cynthia,


    so he was hoping to make it up to her. Spending some time with Lionel seemed like a good start.


    "Daddy," Nic suddenly interrupted, throwing herself into Noah''s arms.


    "Daddy, I''m thirsty."


    "Alright, let''s get you some water," Noah said, taking Nic''s small hand and leading her toward the tent.


    Nic was too young for cold water, so Noah had brought an insted bottle for her.


    As Cynthia watched Noah lead Nic away, her warm expression slowly turned cool.


    Meanwhile, Lionel had started chatting with Dominic. The two hit it off immediately, and Dominic enthusiastically invited Lionel to join their camping trip, an offer Lionel happily epted.


    The Scotts, it seemed, were all skilled socialites.


    With Cynthia and Lionel joining them, three tents were no longer enough, so they had to set up another one.


    Lionel and Dominic got to work while Cynthia went over to lend a hand.


    Nic thought it looked like fun and followed them, running back and forth, though she was mostly getting in the way. She bumped into a freshly erected tent pole, which toppled over and almost hit her.


    Fortunately, Cynthia was standing right beside her and pulled her out of the way just in time, but the pole struck her own arm.


    "Nic, stop fooling around!" Noah said, rushing over. He pulled his daughter aside, his worried gaze fixed on Cynthia.


    "Cynthia, are you hurt?"


    Cynthia lifted her arm. Her hand was a little red, but it wasn''t serious e fine, it''s just a scratch. Kids this age


    shelf of energy. Don''t scare her."


    "Cynthia, I didn''t mean to," Nic said, walking over and hugging Cynthia''s arm.


    "I know, sweetie," Cynthia said, patting Nic''s head. "Come on, let''s get back to setting up the tent."


    Nic happily followed Cynthia back to the tent-building.


    Cynthia was good with Nic, but not in a way that seemed overly eager or fawning. She always managed to strike the perfect bnce.


    "Here, have some water," Bet said, walking over and handing a bottle to Noah.


    Noah took it but didn''t open it, his eyes fixed on Cynthia and Nic in the distance.


    Cynthia was using a handkerchief to


    wipe the sweat from Nic''s forehead. Nic was a well-behaved child and not shy with strangers; she already seemed quite close to


    Cynthia.


    "Cynthia is a better mother than Karina," Noah suddenly remarked, as if speaking to Bet, or perhaps just to himself.


    Bet acted as if he hadn''t heard, offering no reply.


    It wasn''t his ce as a younger brother tainterfere in Noah''s rtionships. As long as it didn''t harm the Thompson family''s interests, Bet couldn''t care less who was the eldest son''s wife.


    "Bet, I can''t find my shirt!" Yvonne''s voice called out from inside their tent.


    Bet shook his head with a faint smile and walked into the tent.


    Inside, Yvonne had turned their suitcase into a chaotic mess but still hadn''t found what she was looking for.


    Bet walked over, pulled the T-shirt she wanted from a sidepartment, and handed it to her before neatly repacking the suitcase.