Chapter 608 Mutual Affection
A soft noise came from the doorway. Henry stood there, holding a blanket. He looked at the three people huddled together on the bed, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Dad," Emma whispered.
Henry tiptoed in and gently draped the soft wool blanket over them. His rough hand brushed through Sophia and Emma's hair, finally resting on Lucas's little head, as tenderly as if he were touching a fragile treasure.
"It's chilly at night. Don't catch a cold," Henry's voice was deep and warm.
Lucas groggily opened his eyes and saw his grandpa standing by the bed. He immediately reached out his small hand, "Grandpa, come here too."
Henry hesitated for a moment, then his eyes filled with warmth. Since Emma had come back, the house finally felt alive again. He carefully sat at the foot of the bed, afraid of stepping on anyone's feet.
"Dad, come up here," Emma scooted over to make room for him.
Henry hesitated for a moment but eventually took off his jacket and lay down. The bed suddenly felt crowded but filled with a long-lost warmth. Lucas, like a little octopus, climbed all over the adults, finally settling horizontally in the middle of the four.
"This kid," Sophia couldn't help but laugh, gently pinching Lucas's chubby little foot.
Emma stared at the ceiling, feeling the warmth of her family around her. The sound of her parents' breathing, Lucas's occasional murmurs, and the faint chirping of crickets outside made her feel incredibly at peace.
After a while, Lucas's breathing became steady and deep. He finally succumbed to sleep, curled up in Sophia's arms, his little hand still clutching a strand of Emma's hair.
"Asleep?" Henry asked in a low voice.
Sophia nodded gently, carefully tucking Lucas in, "He's been extra clingy today."
"He misses his mom," Emma's voice choked up, "I missed him too."
The room fell silent. Moonlight streamed through the gap in the curtains, casting a silver beam on the floor.
"Emma," Henry finally spoke, "What are your plans now?"
Emma's eyes became resolute, "I'm going to find Wanda."
The name cut through the warm atmosphere like a knife. Sophia's hand trembled, and Henry's face turned serious.
"I will avenge Seraphine," Emma's voice was soft but unwavering, "Then I want to live with Lucas and my parents."
Sophia couldn't hold back her tears, "Yes, we'll never be apart again."
Henry held Emma's hand, "The Stuart family will use all our connections to find Wanda."
"I've already looked into it," Emma said calmly, "Wanda isn't in the country. She's likely fled abroad."
"Even if she's at the ends of the earth, I'll find her," Henry's eyes flashed with determination, "The Stuart family may have been low-key these years, but our connections are still there."
Sophia wiped her tears and suddenly remembered something, "Are those two men still outside?"
Emma shook her head, "I don't know, and it doesn't matter anymore." She looked at the sleeping Lucas, "I just want to raise Lucas well and make up for the lost time."
"You've grown up," Henry looked at Emma with pride, "Stronger than I imagined."
Emma smiled, a mature smile born from hardship, "Because I know you're always behind me."
Outside, the night deepened.
George still stood there like a statue, his gaze never leaving the now-dark window.
"Mr. Russell, it's already 2 AM," the driver reminded him.
George snapped back to reality, noticing that Michael's car had left at some point. He took one last look at the Stuart Villa and got into the car.
"Find out where Wanda is," he told the driver, "Use all our connections. We must be faster than Michael."
Inside the Stuart Villa, the family of four slept huddled together. In his sleep, Lucas turned over, his little foot kicking Henry's stomach. Instead of getting angry, Henry carefully held Lucas's foot, afraid he might catch a chill.
Emma watched this scene, silent tears falling. She knew the road ahead was long, Wanda was still out there, and Seraphine's revenge was yet to be fulfilled. But in this warm embrace, she finally found the strength to move forward.
"Goodnight, Seraphine," she whispered in her heart, "Mom will get justice for you."
The moonlight gently enveloped this family, who had endured so much yet remained whole, silently guarding their dreams.
Morning sunlight filtered through the curtains. Lucas, like a little monkey, climbed onto Emma, patting her face, "Mom! Mom! Wake up!"
Emma groggily opened her eyes to see her son's bright eyes close to hers. Lucas's face was flushed with excitement, "Mom, I dreamed I was on a big airplane! A really big airplane!"
"Really?" Emma smiled, ruffling Lucas's hair.
"I want to ride a real airplane!" Lucas suddenly announced loudly, "My classmate said she flew to see the clock tower, I want to see it too!"
Sophia, woken by the noise, couldn't help but laugh, "Lucas wants to go to Aetheria?"
"Anywhere is fine!" Lucas snuggled into Sophia's arms, "As long as I get to fly! Grandma is the best."
Henry, now fully awake, looked at Lucas's antics and shook his head, "You're just like your mom when she was little."
At the breakfast table, Lucas kept talking about flying.
"Mom, is airplane food really good?"
"Mom, do flight attendants give toys to kids?"
"Mom…"
Emma, overwhelmed by the questions, suddenly had an idea. She put down her utensils and looked at her parents, "Actually, taking Lucas on a trip abroad might be a good idea."
Henry and Sophia exchanged a glance, immediately understanding Emma's intention.
"It'll be a good way to relax," Henry nodded, "I'll have my assistant arrange the trip."
"Let's go to Elsera," Sophia suggested gently, "Lucas wants to see the clock tower, right?"
Lucas jumped up from his chair, almost knocking over his milk, "I'm going to fly on a big airplane!"
Emma watched Lucas's excitement, but her mind was on something else. If Wanda wasn't in the country, could she be hiding somewhere in Elsera?
That day, the family of four stood in the VIP lounge at the airport. Lucas, dressed in a little suit and carrying a dinosaur backpack, excitedly watched the planes take off and land through the glass.
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