Chapter 373


    After several back and forths, Brodie finally rested his palm atop ra''s head and, with a smile


    ying on his lips, said, "No more tears now. You''re a mother yourself. Howe you still cry like a


    little girl?"


    Looking up at him, ra wiped away her tears and said, "Where have you guys been all these


    years? Why didn''t you contact me? I went to our old house every summer and winter break, waiting


    for you. When they tore it down, I got into a fight with the demolition crew. I told them if the house


    was gone, you would never be able to find your way back home."


    Although a smile lingered on Brodie''s lips, his eyes brimmed with tears when he heard these words.


    He gently tousled ra''s hair, his voice a bit hoarse, "We were being hunted. Contacting you


    would''ve put you in danger. But eventually, we found my mother''s family, and we''ve been well these


    past years. We''re back now to look into my mother''s old case. We didn''t want to cause you any


    trouble."


    ra sniffed and questioned, "Is that true? You''re not lying to me, are you?"


    "When have I ever lied to you?"


    "You did when we were kids. You said you were going to the market, and then you never came


    back."


    Remembering the past, Brodie chuckled softly. "Still holding grudges like when you were little, huh?"


    He was about to flick ra''s forehead when Ian abruptly caught his wrist. Ian''s voice was cold and


    deep as it pierced his eardrums. "Enough with the touching. Keep your hands to yourself."


    With that, he pulled ra into his embrace, his voice tinged with a hint of jealousy. "Crying over


    another man like this? Your husband is still here."


    As he wiped her tears, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips, the gesture clearly staking


    his im.


    Brodie couldn''t help butugh. "Jealous already? What if I told you ra and I shared a lot more


    childhood memories? Would you go insane with jealousy?" His tone was calm, but the provocation


    was unmistakable.


    Ian gave him a cold look and scoffed, "Child''s y doesn''t count. Do you think everyone is as


    serious about it as you? My wife isn''t that foolish. She''s long forgotten all that, haven''t you, ra?"


    ra bit her lip, unsure how to answer. Whatever she said would hurt one of them.


    Just then, Katherine''s scream pierced the air from the bedroom. "Ford, Ford, stop, please!" Her


    voice was a mix of a growl and a sob.


    Brodie immediately rushed in and took Katherine into his arms, soothing her gently, "Mom, wake up.


    You''re having a nightmare again, aren''t you?"


    Katherine awoke from the nightmare. Her forehead was beaded with sweat. She stared nkly at


    Ian''s familiar yet unfamiliar face and involuntarily called out, "Ian?"


    Hearing this intimate yet foreign address, Ian''s breath hitched. He and Katherine hadn''t grown close


    enough to warrant such familiarity. Yet, why did this ''Ian'' sound so endearing to him?


    It felt right.


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    His brow twitched, and then he spoke in a deep voice, "I brought ra to see how your injuries are


    healing."


    Hearing his voice, Katherine finally regained herposure. She smiled faintly, her voice gentle.


    "I''m much better now, thanks to you both."


    ra immediately went over, took her hand, and said, "Get well soon. I''m really looking forward to


    your homemade chicken pot pie."


    Realizing ra recognized them, Katherine smiled and patted her head. "Alright, once I''m out of the


    hospital, I''ll make it for you all, but no shrimp - Ian''s allergic to seafood."


    At that, Ian''s dark eyes flickered sharply.