Chapter 1044


    "Mom, I want the chocte fudge one." Elowen pleaded, her cherub cheeks flushed with excitement.


    "I want the old-school vani." Sophia raised her hand, eager to voice her choice.


    "I want that fruit sorbet." Dorian licked his lips, already longing for the taste of ice cream before even


    having a bite.


    "I want that popsicle." Atticus chimed in, his cute little face all aglow.


    Thssa took note of everyone''s requests, fetched their preferred vors from the freezer, and handed


    each child their treat. She then grabbed several more ice creams and a few bottles of chilled water and


    headed to the checkout counter.


    Callum stood there with wallet in hand. "Put it on my tab." he said.


    He signaled Thssa to ce the items on the counter.


    Thssa, not wanting to feel more indebted to Callum, offered politely, "I should pay, really. I can''t


    thank you enough as it is."


    "Your card is from back home; if you swiped it, there would be a transaction record. Lysander can trace


    it in no time, pinpointing when and where you spent money. Plus, this is Weston Country; your home


    currency couldn’t fly here." Callum exined.


    Thssa was taken aback, nearly making a blunder. "Then I must trouble you, Mr. Gordon. Once


    things settle down, I''ll get some local currency."


    Callum gave her an assuring smile and told the cashier to ring them up.


    After paying, the kids were contentedly munching on their ice cream, little faces quickly smeared with


    cream and syrup, looking like adorable messy kittens.


    Thssa watched them and felt a heartwarming glow.


    Once in the car, she handed the driver and Callum the extra ice creams. "Cool off a bit."


    Callum took two popsicles without any fuss. "Good idea. Have one yourself, cool down."


    He unwrapped one for the driver and kept one for his own enjoyment.


    "Will do." Thssa replied, passing one to Evelyn.


    "I''ll just have some ice water. Weird, howe Weston Country is so hot?" Evelyn said, taking a bottle


    from the bag and unscrewing the cap before taking a sip.


    "Weston Country is tropical. It''s hotter than most ces. But the heat doesn''tst all year — just three


    months of peak temperatures." Callum provided some insight.


    "Three months! Gosh, you could practically cook in this heat." Evelyn eximed, her habitual


    She had beenining all the time when she lived with Thssa and the kids. It became her habit;


    she’din upon she opened her mouth.


    Her words were casual, but Callum took notice.


    He nced at them through the rear-view mirror and said, "Sorry for the rush. This ce is a bit out of


    the way, which means Lysander won''t think to look here. Once we get a chance, we can relocate to


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    another country if needed."


    Realizing her mother''sints had struck a chord with Callum, Thssa quickly exined, "Mr.


    Gordon, my mom''s justmenting on the climate, not ming you. We''ll get used to it. Adapting is


    part of life, no matter where you are."


    "Yeah, yeah, I was just remarking on the weather. Didn''t mean to sound ungrateful or anything." Evelyn


    added, realizing she might have spoken too freely.


    Back home, one could be blunt and speak their mind, knowing the family would tolerate all ws


    without taking offense. But elsewhere, some decorum was necessary even with the closest of friends.


    "Don''t worry. I''m not upset. I was just discussing future ns. If you really can''t stand the climate here,


    we can always consider moving." Callum said with a light-hearted smile, easing their worries.


    "Oh, alright, as long as you don''t mind, that''s fine." Evelyn sighed in relief, anxious not to have upset


    their host.


    After all, they were in a foreignnd. They had to rely on Callum''s kindness with no other options at


    hand.