Boots crunched on the soft snow as Leanne stepped away, then turned back.


    Through the swirling snowkes, Curtis stood under the eave, his features as striking as ever.


    Locking eyes with her, a gentle warmth flickered in his eyes.


    He didn''te to see her off, just said, "You should head back. It''s cold out."


    On her way back, Leanne couldn''t shake the image of his eyes from her mind.


    When Joy heard she had seen Curtis in Northwood, her gaze immediately darted to Leanne''s belly.


    "Did he notice?"


    "No."


    At home, Leanne shrugged off her down jacket.


    Joy reached out,paring their bellies, "How do you manage to stay so slim at 20 weeks? I look


    bigger after a single meal at a buffet."


    Leanne retorted, "Is that from one meal, or because you''re eating five times a day?"


    Stung, Joy mock-threatened, "I''m gonna get you for that!"


    Halfway through her yful attack, she remembered Leanne''s condition and dramatically grabbed her


    own neck instead, "I''ll throttle myself!"


    "Don''t you have a check-up tomorrow? I have to attend a meeting in the morning, which should be


    done in a couple of hours," Joy mentioned. "Why don''t you wait for me? I''ll go with you in the


    afternoon?" "I''ve already made an appointment with the doctor," Leanne said. "I''ll be fine. Don''t worry."


    Leanne dreamed that night again.


    She dreamed of her parents before tragedy struck when they lived a simple yet warm life as a family of


    three.


    In the dream''s final moments, her father advised her, "Keep running. Head towards where the sun


    rises."


    Awakening from the dream in a room bathed inzy light, Leanne sipped water while pondering her


    parents'' message. They hadn''t revealed the culprit, not wanting her soul trapped in that dark factory,


    confined by their demise.


    She looked forward and moved towards the sunrise. But where was her sun?


    It was in Northwood, d, Leanne''s Castle - everywhere Curtis was.


    Leanne attended her prenatal


    With


    in the morning. The 4 et showed a healthy b


    every organ clearly visible.


    The doctor conducting the exam didn''t disclose the baby''s gender, but being medically trained herself,


    Leanne knew.


    As she stepped out of the clinic, stuffing the results into her bag, Jeremy called out to her unexpectedly.


    "Leanne?"


    She looked up, equally surprised, "What a coincidence!"


    Jeremy nced at her, then at the sign for the maternity ward, quickly regaining hisposure.


    "I''m here to visit my cousin who just had a baby. Are you here alone?"


    "Yeah."


    Leanne didn''t find it awkward, but


    e


    their unexpected meeting made Jeremy hesitant, wanting to ask. more without crossing a line. Without


    his prying, Leanne wasn''t sure how to begin exining.


    After an awkward moment, Leanne smiled, "It''s okay. Say whatever you want."


    Jeremy managed a smallugh, "It''s nothing. Does Curtis know?"


    Leanne shook her head, "Not yet."


    Understanding the delicacy of the situation, Jeremy tactfully expressed, "He''s going to regret missing


    out."


    His words made Leanne pause.


    Jeremy didn''t linger, soon excusing himself.


    Leanne slowly walked out, taking out her phone to message Curtis.


    "I have a gift for you."


    Before receiving a reply, her phone rang with Jennifer''s name shing on the screen. She answered.


    "Leanne," Jennifer''s voice was


    hoarse


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    ill. Doy and heavy, "Mary is seriously


    I want toe to thee


    hospital?"


    Leanne tightened her grip on the phone, "How could this happen?"


    But deep down, she knew Mary''s health had been failing, far exceeding the doctors'' initial predictions.


    Mary hung on by a thread. The sudden reappearance of Hanley after years of absence had weighed


    heavily on her heart.