Eira’s lips pouted, and her nose scrunched in complaint as she turned to look at her father.
Sensing her gaze, Dylan glanced at her, studying her for a second.
"What’s wrong?" he asked.
The little girl’s pout deepened. "It doesn’t sll like Mama."
Dylan’s gaze shifted briefly to the bag in her hands before he nodded. "It wouldn’t," he said calmly.
Eira’s frown deepened, and the resentnt in her eyes only grew.
And once again, Dylan found her reaction strikingly similar to her mother’s. Both of them had a habit of pouting like little kittens.
The corner of his lips lifted ever so slightly.
"The clothes were sent for cleaning," he explained. "If there was any scent, it would have been washed away."
Eira looked down at the bag for a mont before suddenly shoving it toward him. Then, crossing her arms, she turned to face away stubbornly.
From the front, Ford caught the entire exchange through the rear-view mirror. And he couldn’t help but smile.
Monts like these between father and daughter were rare —
But every ti they happened, they were quietly heartwarming to witness.
"Even if it doesn’t carry her scent, it still needs to be returned," Dylan said after a beat of a mont.
His tone remained casual, but his words were enough to make Eira turn back to him.
She blinked her big eyes, trying to process what he said.
She did, but she wanted to confirm before acting.
As if Dylan read her confusion well, he helped her decide.
Turning his eyes to the front, he said,
"Ford," Dylan added, his voice low and composed, "return it later in the evening."
Ford glanced at them again through the mirror, his gaze briefly —but deliberately —lingering on the little girl.
Then he nodded.
"Understood, Boss. I’ll return it to Ms. Grace."
Eira heard that.
In the very next second, she snatched the bag back and hugged it tightly to her chest.
Dylan raised a brow at her.
"Mama’s things are treasures," she declared stubbornly. "Eir will go and return them with Uncle Ford."
Dylan watched her quietly, his expression calm.
He hadn’t planned to send her to Adelyn so soon. But seeing how deeply the little one longed for her —it hurt him to watch her hold back her tears every ti.
Glancing at Ford, Dylan t his eyes through the mirror. "You know what to do?"
Ford nodded, understanding the silent instruction very well.
His gaze flickered toward Eira once more, noticing how her eyes had brightened again.
—————
anwhile, on the other side —
The cab finally pulled up outside Adelyn’s apartnt.
"Ma’am, we have arrived at your destination," the driver announced.
Adelyn had nearly dozed off. Hearing him, she opened her eyes and glanced around.
Recognizing the familiar surroundings, she nodded and paid for the ride.
Once done, she stepped out and began walking toward the building.
"Wait there!"
The voice made her stop mid-step.
Adelyn turned around to see Nigel approaching.
"What do you need now, cub?" she asked, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Let tell you, I’m exhausted. I just want to sleep. If it’s not important, co find later."
Nigel pursed his lips.
"Aren’t you growing quite audacious now? Treating as a pup who stays and waits for his master to return?"
Adelyn paused for a mont, studying him.
Then she shook her head.
"I’m not growing audacious; I’ve always been like this. Don’t you know this better than ?"
She paused before reaching out and ruffling his red hair.
"And wait ... I called you cub. When did you beco a pup? Don’t look down at yourself and bla it on ."
"You—!"
Nigel was montarily speechless.
Then, taking a deep breath, he steadied himself.
"Where did you disappear to last night?" he asked.
At the ntion of the last night, Adelyn stiffened for a brief second.
"Disappear? Where would I even go?" she said lightly. "I was around. I just ca back late, so I didn’t think it was right to wake you."
"Oh, really?" Nigel folded his arms, indulging her sarcasm. "Since when did you beco so thoughtful? As far as I rember, you won’t even think twice before waking up, even from my grave."
She didn’t retort. She opened her mouth to, but then she didn’t.
"Fine, if for a mont, I believe what you said, then explain this —why did I just see you getting out of a cab?"
Adelyn’s brows lifted slightly, and a confused smile appeared on her lips.
"That ... that’s because I had to go sowhere early this morning," she replied quickly. "I just got back."
"You want to believe that?" Nigel asked, blinking at her as if genuinely curious.
Adelyn nodded firmly.
"Of course. Why wouldn’t you believe ? I’m your best friend —you should believe everything I say."
"Hn-hn," Nigel humd. "I should believe everything you say. Interesting."
Adelyn smiled, ready to excuse herself —
But before she could, Nigel spoke again.
"But tell sothing ... which of your words do you want to believe first."
Her brows furrowed.
"What do you an?"
Nigel smiled faintly.
"I an, you told to believe everything you say. So should I believe what you are saying now ... or what you said last night?"
"Last night?"
Adelyn froze.
What had she said last night? Since she doesn’t rember, it must have been in her intoxicated state.
"I think you should believe what I am saying now," she replied quickly. "What I said before is already in the past. Why bother about the past? Haha —!"
"Now that I have helped you decide, I will go back and rest first."
She then turned, ready to leave ... as quickly as possible.
"Stop right there. I am not done yet."
Nigel’s voice turned serious, making her pause.
He walked up to her and stopped right in front of her.
Staring right in her eyes, he asked,
"What kind of boyfriend did you make this ti?"
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