Nic''s face was flushed from crying, and her voice was hoarse.


    Noah Thompson crouched down and pulled Nic into his arms.


    "Don''t cry, Nic. Daddy isn''t abandoning you; you''ll always be my daughter. It''s just that you''re growing up, and you''ll get to see more ces and make new friends. It''s like that for every kid when they get bigger."


    "Really?" Nic asked doubtfully, her face streaked with tears.


    Being so young, she was easily swayed.


    "Yes," Noah nodded, gently wiping the tears from her face.


    "Daddy still has work here, so I can''t go with you right now. But I''lle visit you every month."


    "Really?" Nic held up her hand, extending her pinky for a pinky swear with Noah.


    Noah linked his pinky with hers.


    A pinky promise, sealed and unbreakable.


    "You can''t lie, Daddy," Nic finally said, a smile breaking through her tears.


    "I won''t," Noah nodded, gently smoothing her hair, his gaze a mixture of tenderness and reluctance.


    "Mr. Thompson, the ne is about to board. We might miss it if we don''t go through security now," the nanny reminded him as she approached.


    Given how unreliable Karina White was, Noah couldn''t possibly trust her with the child alone. He''d naturally arranged for the nanny to go along, both to care for Nic and to keep an eye on Karina.


    Noah stood up, lifting Nic into his arms.


    He pressed his cheek against Nic''s small face, his heart aching with reluctance.


    Although Xerovia wasn''t far, the thought of his young daughter going to a foreign country still tore at him.


    But the heart is biased. He loved Nic, but he loved Cynthia Scott even more.


    "Once you''re there, listen to the


    nanne


    and your teachers, Eat


    well


    sleep well, and study hardet


    Noah


    said, his voice choked emotion.


    "I''ll be a good girl, and I''ll miss you, Daddy," Nic pouted, nting a kiss on Noah''s cheek.


    Then, the nanny took her and carried her through the security gate.


    Karina lingered, looking at Noah with a reluctant expression.


    "Karina, without the White family to fall back on, hope you can be a good mother. This is thest chance


    I''m giving you. After sp. Noah


    saw the nanny and Nic disappear through the security gate and turned to teave without a second nce. Cóntent


    Karina scowled in frustration, stomping her foot, but ultimately turned and hurried through the gate.


    Noah left the airport and drove straight home.


    His spirits were low as he walked through the door.


    "You''re back, sir," said Mrs. Liu, who was cooking in the kitchen. She popped her head out when she heard the door.


    "Where''s Cynthia?" Noah asked.


    "Ma''am is resting in her room upstairs," Mrs. Liu replied.


    Noah nodded, changed his shoes, and headed upstairs.


    In the bedroom, Cynthia had just woken up and was sitting on the edge of the bed, lost in thought.


    Soothing music yed softly in the room-an aid for sleep, and also to aid in prenatal bonding with their baby.


    When Cynthia heard the bedroom door open, she looked up to see Noah walk in.


    "Are they gone?" Cynthia asked.


    Noah had told Cynthia his ns


    bet


    before he left that day. She knew he


    was going to the airport to see Karina and Nic off.


    "Yes," Noah nodded.