Chapter 201

As soon as those childish words dropped, everyone froze for a second—then burst into laughter. Even Adrian and Ethan couldn't hold back a chuckle. You had to know, since the moment Grace showed up, Adrian hadn't smiled once. And Ethan? He was always the cold, serious type—not someone you'd expect to crack a smile. But now? Everyone was practically bent over from laughing. All thanks to that one innocent line to Claire: "Can you be my mommy?" Yet after laughing, the mood kind of dipped. A quiet, bittersweet heaviness lingered in the air. If only his mom were around... Maybe things would've been different. Maybe Henry could've grown up like any other kid—happy, playful, throwing tantrums now and then, trying to win over the grown-ups. But life doesn't always play nice, does it? Claire only laughed for a moment before her smile faded, the little guy's words tugging at her heartstrings. She crouched down to Henry's level, her expression soft but serious, trying to explain something that no