Chapter 14
Layla looked at the wall covered in drawings and asked, “Is this me? And who gave this 100 marks? Do I really have a triangular face?”
“Stephendid,” one of the children answered.
Layla pointed at the wall and called out to Stephen, who was standing behind the crowd. “Come here. Explain why my face is a triangle.”
Smiling, Stephen explained, “Compared to the abstract drawings of your face, a triangle looks quite flattering.”
Layla had already forgotten why she had come. She was surrounded by the children and staff, who were all intrigued by the “famous” quest
It became clear that Stephen often spoke about her at the orphanage.
Determined to find out more, Layla quietly pulled a few articulate lids aside and asked, “Tell me. What does Stephen say about me when he talks to you? I’ll give you candy if I’m happy with your answers.”
“ife said that when you’re angry, your eyebrows are joined together, and your face puffs up like a pufferfish.”
Another child added, “He also said that when you were little, your face was round, but now it’s sharp. Your eyelashes are long, and your eyes always have a sparkde.”
Layla tilted her head. “Is that what he said?”
“Stephen also said you’re the cutest, that even though you’re scared of the dack, you always say you’re not.”
“When you were little and didn’t like certain foods, you’d secretly feed them to the dog. Knowing the dog wouldn’t tell on you, you did it several times.”
Layla was stunned. How did he know about that?
The break only lasted for 20 minutes. Soon, the children ran off again.
Laylasat alone on the swing. She gently swayed back and forth, while Stephen walked over with Dylan in hand.
“What did you find out?”
Layla glanced at the man beside her. “Why did you tell them about me?
Stephen sat next to her on the swing. The white–painted swing contrasted with the lush greenery around them. For the first time as adults, they were sitting so close, yet Layla didn’t mind his proximity. They needed someone adorable to be their little hero,”
So am I the ‘little hero‘?” Layla asked while pointing to herself,
Stephen met her gaze with his deep, unwavering eyes. “Yes, you are.”
Layla’s heart skipped a beat. She quicldy looked away, feeling a bit flustered. She mumbled, “But I never heard you say anything nice about me.”
Atter picking up Dylan’s clothes and admiring the succulents he had grown, Layla was given one as a gift.
Though she wasn’t keen on keeping it–since she even struggled to care for cacti–she accepted it to avoid disappointing Dylan.
At lunchtime in Blossoms Home, a child started crying because they didn’t like the egg yolk they were served. One of the caregivers immediately said, “Layla used to love egg yolks when she was little.”
Layla, who was in the corner staring at the egg yolk on her plate, froze.
The children’s eyes were fixed on her. Their gazes made her feel uneasy.
Eventually, she managed to eat a bite of the egg yolk in front of the children, who then followed suit.
Stephen was usually stem and intimidating in business settings, but today at Blossoms Home, he was smiling more and seemed relaxed. Layla shot him a pointed look for watching her suffer.
at Layla? We don
don’t have any family, but why does Dylan have so
During nap time, the children crowded around Layla with questions. “Why does Dylan call you Aunt many?”
Layla stamanered, “Ul. well… because…” She couldn’t find an explanation.
At that moment, Stephen sat down next to Layla and explained, “Because she’s my wife.”
