Chapter 514

Aiden's eyes crinkled with a faint, knowing smile as he murmured, "Mmm, my bad." Willow's face instantly flushed crimson. Then came his follow-up, delivered in that velvety tone, "So, Willow, are you going to keep punishing me tonight?" Willow: "..." Damn this infuriating man—get lost already! By the time dusk painted the sky, their little troupe finally returned home. The two children could barely keep their eyes open, utterly exhausted. Thankfully, the chilly weather meant daily baths weren't necessary. Willow and Aiden simply wiped the sleepiness from Jason and Ivy's hands, feet, and faces before tucking them beneath warm quilts. Willow gently stroked Ivy's rosy cheeks, her gaze overflowing with tenderness. The scars that once marred the little girl's face had nearly vanished entirely, revealing delicate, doll-like features beneath. "What kind of heartless parents," she wondered aloud, "could abandon such a beautiful child?" A pang of sorrow flickered through her chest—but just as q