His arms wrapped around Fitch's neck, his gaze as deep and clear as the midnight sky.
Fitch assumed the little guy was just hungry and kept walking forward, unfazed.
But as the observation elevator began its descent, Fitch's eyes inadvertently swept across the lobby below, and there it was - a woman's silhouette.
For four years, every detail of Zoey - her face, her silhouette, her voice - had been etched into his very bones.
Even from this distance, his heart trembled.
He froze, his grip on Nolan tightening instinctively.
Seconds later, he began frantically pressing the elevator button.
The hotel manager by his side didn't dare to speak up. He wanted to say that pressing the button now was futile; they needed to wait for the elevator at the designated floor to move down.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtBut Fitch knew this all too well.
He was just panicking, hence the repeated pressing.
When the elevator finally started moving down, he strode out with Nolan in his arms.
He arrived at the spot where Zoey had stood, but she was gone.
His gaze wandered aimlessly into the distance as his phone began to ring.
It was Tyler.
"Tyler, what's up?" "Fitch, your mom has been callingsince yesterday. She and lan are helping you look for a potential bride. You're seriously considering getting hitched?" Fitch's attitude had been ambiguous last time, so Sharon assumed he'd agreed.
But after discussing it with Nolan, the boy's stance was a firm no.
"I'm not planning on it. Nolan doesn't want a new mom." As soon as he finished speaking, Nolan patted his back. "Mommy." It was the first tNolan had used that term in so long.
Fitch's heart ached as if it had been hollowed out, bleeding profusely.
He took a deep breath and told Tyler, "I'll talk it over with Nolan again. Maybe he's changed his mind." Tyler sighed.
"Alright, have a good talk with the kid." After hanging up, Fitch set Nolan down and took his little hand.
"Nolan, do you want a mommy?" Nolan paused, looking in the direction Zoey had left. "Yeah." "Talk to Daddy about it. Didn't you say you didn't want Daddy to get married before?" Nolan shook his head, then nodded. "Want mommy." Fitch couldn't describe the feeling in his heart. Nolan wanting the neant he had to get married, to let nother woman into his life. Content felongs to englishS He looked down, suddenly remembering what he was doing. He had chased a mere silhouette from above. Zoey was long gone.
He held Nolan's hand and scooped him back into his arms, standing up.
"Okay, Daddy will take his tlooking, and I'll find someone you'll be happy with." Nolan said nothing, his dark eyes still fixed on the distance.
Meanwhile...
Zoey had switched to a more modest restaurant with Henry, enjoying the quieter ambiance.
They got along well, mainly because Henry had a good sense of boundaries and never probed too deeply.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAfter the meal, which she found quite satisfactory, Henry asked, "How about we catch a movie together?" "Sounds good." Zoey was indeed interested in know him better.
her parents hadn't pressured her, they were certainly worried about her. They ambled along the street toward the cinema.
"Zoey, is everything smooth at work?" "It's alright." "Did you hear about the big partnership in Zion City? There's talk a kid might attend your kindergarten." "I've heard. I'll turn it down. I don't need the hassle." They reached the bustling cinema entrance, where Henry purchased two tickets. But when he turned around, Zoey was gone. His phone rang an important client was et at his love piano shop, ready to buy an expensive grand. "Henry, get back here. The VIP's almost arrived. If they like your playing, that two-hundred-thousand-dollar piano might just sell." The client was high-profile, and a piano that pricey wasn't common.
Henry hastily excused himself to Zoey via phone, telling her to be careful as she lingered in the ladies' room.
Back at the piano shop, as he briefed his boss, a luxury car pulled up.
Through the large windows, Henry thought he recognized the man from earlier.
The shop owner turned cautious, welcoming the guest.
"Mr. Haskins, this is the piano you were interested in." Fitch held Nolan close.
The boy's eyes lingered on Henry, a sense of unease in the air.
Fitch, sensing his son's mood, asked, "What's wrong?" "Nothing... nothing."