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Chapter 2282
Groggy from the depths of sleep, she thought she heard her mom's voice, "Sleepyhead, time to rise and shine~"
Ivy stretched languidly in bed, her eyelids heavy as lead. "It's still dark out. Just five more minutes," she mumbled. But then it dawned on her. Mom was on a business trip, though she had messaged last night that she'd be back today.
Ivy's eyes flickered open. A blurry figure loomed before her. It wasn't her mom. As her vision cleared, the tear-streaked yet smiling face of a handsome man came into view.
"Dad?" she blurted out instinctively.
"Yeah," Wayne's voice choked up, "Mom's surprise has arrived."
"Daddy!" Ivy vaulted out of bed and into Wayne's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.d2
Wayne felt his heart twist in agony. Holding his daughter, he gently patted her back, "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I took too long to come home."
Ivy didn't speak, her sobs just grew louder.
Rosalynn stood behind the father-daughter duo, Cory at her side, his hand in hers. When they had first arrived and heard the car pull into the garage, Cory had waited eagerly by the elevator.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
Upon seeing Wayne, the father and son shared a reserved, manly embrace. No tears, no drama.
"Cory..." Rosalynn teased, her eyes twinkling mischievously at her son.
Cory instantly raised his hand in a gesture of polite refusal, "Mom, I'm not the crying type, really, no need."
Rosalynn's shoulders shook with silent laughter.
After Ivy finished crying with her dad, she turned to her mom, and with a glance at the sunflowers on the nightstand, her tears burst forth anew, "Mommy!"
Rosalynn cradled her in her arms, "Dad bought those for you."
Ivy, face streaked with tears, burrowed into Rosalynn's embrace, her sobs resuming.
Rosalynn was torn between laughter and sympathy.
After crying in her mother's arms, Ivy wasn't done yet. She clung to Cory, drenching his new clothes in snot and tears, leaving Cory with a helpless grimace. "I told you guys, we should've waited till she woke up on her own. She's a waterfall when she's groggy," Cory remarked with concern to his parents.
"Sorry, you know her best," Rosalynn replied, bringing her hands together in mock penitence.
Cory sighed and gently patted Ivy's shoulder, "You nearly overfed Fish No. 8 today. Maybe you should tell Mom about it?"
Ivy sniffled twice, then detached from Cory, her voice wobbly, "Cory, it wasn't me. Molly knocked over the fish food, and greedy No. 8 ate it all up!" And just like that, her attention shifted.
Rosalynn covertly gave her son a thumbs-up.
"What happened? Ivy, didn't I tell you to halve the daily portions for the cats, dogs, and koi?" Rosalynn continued the conversation.
Ivy sidled up to Wayne, "I did halve it."
Then she quickly changed the subject, her voice tinged with worry, "Daddy, you're not just home on vacation, are you? You're staying for good, right?"
"I'm here to stay," Wayne reassured her, pulling her close, "Dad's never going to be away from you guys again!"
"Are you all better now? No more being sick?" Ivy's lips quivered, tears brimming once more.
"I've recovered!" Wayne assured her promptly.
"Then promise you won't get sick again!" Ivy nestled into his shoulder, her sobs starting anew, "I'll pray every day, ask the angels to watch over Mommy, and they'll look after you too, Daddy!" Wayne felt a lump form in his throat, "I promise, sweetheart. Daddy's not going to get sick again."