*****Grace froze completely, her confident smile disappearing so quickly that it was as though someone had erased it from existence.She had prepared herself for denial, expected excuses, and even anticipated another ridiculous act.What she had absolutely not expected was a sudden compliment that struck with the precision of an arrow.For a brief moment, her mind became completely blank.Not only had Xavier shamelessly escaped the topic altogether, but he had effortlessly redirected the conversation with the single sentence that almost every woman secretly longed to hear from the man she loved.Before she could even stop it, his sincere voice replayed itself inside her mind.‘You’re the prettiest woman in the entire universe.'A vivid blush spread across her fair face with astonishing speed, climbing all the way to the tips of her ears."You..." she managed to say while pointing at him, looking simultaneously embarrassed, flustered, and completely defeated. "How… how shameless are y

*****Xavier’s eyes swept across the dashboard, the steering wheel, and the familiar leather seats before a puzzled expression surfaced on his face.Why didn't you use your new car today?” he asked, the question catching Grace completely off guard.For a brief instant, she just stared ahead at the road. Then a faint blush quietly spread across her cheeks, once again softening her composed features.“I... don't want it to get used yet,” she admitted at last, her voice noticeably quieter than usual, carrying an unusual hint of embarrassment.The response stunned Xavier into silence.His eyes widened, and he blinked several times as though he wasn't entirely convinced he had heard correctly.“You... don't want it to get used?” he repeated, his mouth hanging open in disbelief.Seeing his exaggerated reaction only made Grace's face grow warmer.‘Why did I actually confess something so childish?’ she wondered, biting her bottom lip in embarrassment.Then, before she realized it, her thought

*****The very first destination Little Lola insisted Xavier and Grace take her to after they departed Oceanview Estate was the market, where she had wandered homeless for years.The moment those words left her mouth, Grace simply nodded with a gentle smile, completely unaware of the history hidden behind that ordinary-looking marketplace.To her, it was merely a stop where they would hand out toys and make children happy - something she felt very willing and excited to do.Xavier, on the other hand, reacted very differently.The instant he heard Little Lola's request, his hands tightened ever so slightly on his lap.For a brief moment, he fell silent, then slowly, he lifted his eyes to the rearview mirror.There sat Little Lola, hugging one of the oversized bags of Labubu dolls with all her might.Her tiny legs dangled happily from the seat while she wore an excited smile, already imagining the expressions of the children she wanted to surprise.Seeing that smile, Xavier's heart softe

*****Without realizing it, the bustling marketplace before Xavier gradually blurred until all he could see was the tiny, frail figure of Little Lola from the day they had first met.She had been painfully thin back then, her oversized, worn, and tattered clothes hanging loosely from her tiny frame, while her pale little face bore the exhaustion of a child who had gone far too long without proper meals.Even standing had seemed like a struggle… as though a strong gust of wind might be enough to knock her over.Yet despite looking so fragile, she had still somehow summoned the courage and gathered the strength to approach a complete stranger… not to beg for money or food, but to ask for work so she could earn it herself.She had desperately wanted to help him find the medicinal herbs he needed for his parents, even though she herself looked as though she was only moments away from collapsing from hunger.That memory alone was enough to make Xavier's heart ache.Soon afterward, another s

*****A moment ago…Little Lola, completely oblivious to the fact that neither Xavier nor Grace had followed behind her, happily walked along the crowded market pathway while dragging a bag several times heavier than herself.Despite the effort it took, she never complained or stopped to rest.Instead, her tiny face glowed with excitement as she imagined the expressions of the children she once lived alongside during her homeless days.Children just like her… who had no parents to protect them, no family to love them, no warm bed waiting at night, and often no meal waiting for them when hungry.Children who survived by carrying loads far too heavy for their tiny bodies, running errands for cruel adults, scavenging through discarded vegetables, or enduring endless hunger while watching other children laugh with toys they could never hope to own.To them, even a piece of candy was a luxury.And a stuffed toy?That was the kind of miracle they only saw from afar.Just imagining those fam