Chapter 283


    He held ra in his arms with a hint of helplessness, and his voice was tinged with reluctance. "I''ve


    got to head back and take care of a few things. I''lle check on you as soon as I''m done."


    ra gently rubbed his back,forting him with a yful tone, "You''re such a good boy, Mr.


    Hayes."


    Ian''s lips curled into a mischievous smile as he looked at her, "Don''t tempt me, or I won''t mind


    giving Grandpa Reed a show of how I kiss you."


    Laughing, ra dodged back yfully, tugging on his arm. "Grandpa Reed, he''s got work to do. Let


    him go. Dad and I will stay here to take care of you."


    Reed looked at Ian with eyes full of longing. "Go on with your tasks, young man. It''s good for you to


    be busy."


    After a few more words with Reed, Ian left the room with ra.


    The helicopter sat on an open stretch ofnd on the eastern edge of the vige. Such a curious


    machine had attracted quite a crowd. Fortunately, the vigecked streetlights, and the dim glow of


    shlights couldn''t reveal ra and Ian''s faces.


    Standing at the back of the crowd, Ian adjusted ra''s down jacket hood and whispered with care,


    "It''s not as warm here as it is at home. Make sure to bundle up and pile on the nkets when you


    sleep. Don''t catch a cold, got it?"


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    ra nodded with a smile. "I know, don''t worry. I used to stay here all the time as a kid. I''m well


    used to it."


    Still, Ian tenderly caressed her cheek. "I''ll sort things out as quickly as I can, thene see you."


    He kissed ra''s lips reluctantly. "Sweetheart, try not to miss me too much."


    Faced with such an exceptional and tender man, ra felt a selfish urge to keep him there, but her


    better judgment held back the impulse.


    Her lips curved slightly as she softly called out, "Ian."


    "Hmm, Mrs. Hayes, anything else you need?"


    "I just love you so much!"


    Her eyes were sparkling as she said it, her brows and lips upturned in joy. She looked just like the


    old ra. She always gazed at him like that, uttering flirtatious and enticing words.


    Something warm and sweet seemed to fill Ian''s chest. He pulled her back into his embrace and


    kissed the top of her head. "If you keep teasing me, I really won''t be able to leave."


    ra snickered in his arms, her fingers yfully grazing his alluring Adam''s apple. "Be good and


    head back. I still need to make dinner for Reed."


    After another affectionate embrace, Ian finally strolled to the helicopter.


    ra held the shlight, gazing up at the retreating chopper, feeling a sudden emptiness inside her.


    She murmured to the sky, "Ian, will we always be this happy?"


    The evening after Ian left, ra went to the corner store alone to pick up some items for Reed. She


    instinctively nced at the open space where she had parted with Ian two days earlier. As she kept


    looking in that direction, she thought she saw Ian''s tall, prominent silhouette.


    His profile was sharply defined by the moonlight, his back straight and his legs long. He stood there


    in ck attire, like a deity stepped out of aic book. His expression was forlorn with a touch of


    sadness.


    Without a second thought, ra ran towards him, her heartbeat racing. As she ran, she shouted,


    "Ian, when did you get here? Why didn''t you tell me?"


    But just as she was about to throw herself into the man''s arms, she realized with a jolt that this


    person was not Ian at all.