Chapter 497


    Thinking about these things made Ian felt a wave of empathy as he looked at Anders. "You should


    spend more time with Elle. She''s probably feeling pretty vulnerable right now, being a mom and all. I


    haven''t told ra about this. I''m worried she''ll start imagining the worst."


    "Better she doesn''t know. With just three months to go before the babyes, we need to keep


    things safe and stress-free."


    The two men delved deeper into the matter of Leonora.


    By the time Ian left the office, it was well past seven in the evening.


    He stopped by a florist to pick up a bouquet of fresh flowers and then swung by the bakery for a


    cake.


    When he finally got home, he saw ra and Buddy, their little terrier, sitting on the swing.


    Buddy came trotting over to Ian, circling around his feet and making a yful whining sound.


    Ian bent down to scratch the dog''s neck, chiding him, "How many times have I told you to give Mom


    some space? When will you learn?"


    Buddy barked back a few times in protest before scampering away.


    Ian, carrying the cake and cradling the flowers, approached ra and gently kissed her lips.


    He handed her the flowers and asked with a smile, "Has the little rascal been giving you a hard time


    today?"


    Inhaling the fragrance of the flowers, ra looked up at him with twinkling eyes and nodded. "He''s


    been especially mischievoustely, always squirming around when I''m trying to nap, ruining my


    midday rest."


    Ian pressed his face against her belly and said with mock severity, "You hear that, you little


    troublemaker? If you keep picking on my wife, you''re getting a spanking the moment you''re out."


    As if on cue, the baby started to move energetically at the sound of Ian''s voice.


    Seeing such a lively little life, Ian kissed ra''s belly contentedly.


    "That''s it, scamp. I''ll deal with youter. Right now, I need to pamper my wife with some cake."


    Then, he wrapped his arm around ra, and holding the cake. They walked into the living room.


    Casey was in the kitchen cooking up a storm and greeted them with augh, "Go wash up, dinner


    will be ready in a jiffy."


    Ian passed by with a chuckle, "Thanks for the hard work, Pop."


    "What hard work? I was just whipping up a meal. This is what life''s all about. Look at the warmth in


    our home now."


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    For safety''s sake, Ian hadn''t hired any help, leaving all the household chores to Casey.


    Feeling a bit guilty, Ian promised, "When the baby''s born, you''ll be the first one to hold him."


    "Well, of course," Casey replied, "that kid is the treasure my daughter brought into this world with


    her strength."


    Ian led ra into the downstairs bathroom. As the door shut, ra whispered, "Ian, I need a favor


    from you."


    He looked at her earnestly and kissed her again gently, "Just say the word, sweetheart. Whatever it


    is, I''ll take care of it."


    ra hesitated for a moment before saying, "I want to help Dad find that child from back then. It''s


    his flesh and blood, after all."


    Ian washed her hands thoughtfully, responding, "After all these years, it won''t be easy. Because


    Victoria brought you home, there was no police record. Even if the traffickers were caught, if no one


    imed the child, they most likely ended up in different orphanages. But I''ll do my best to search


    and hope for a good oue, okay?"


    ra nodded with a smile. "Why have you been so agreeabletely? You say ''yes'' to everything.


    You''re not up to something behind my back, are you?"


    Ian dried her hands with a towel and then, with a mischievous grin, pulled her hand toward his


    pants.


    "Why don''t you check for yourself, Mrs. Hayes?" he teased, his eyes gleaming with yful intent.