“Very well. Let me see you out."

Their homes shared a border, but that didn't stop Gerard from escorting her to her doorstep before he retreated to his sanctuary.

The latest contest had thrust Aurora Jewelers into the Limelight once more. When Phoebe resumed work, their clientele ballooned, and Lilah's prowess became undeniable. If there was a spare moment, designers would flock to her, hoping to glean some wisdom.

“Miss Phillips," one voice chimed in, "it's odd. We're booming, but Mr. Merritt doesn't seem pleased."

Lilah considered this for a moment. “Maybe he's got other things on his mind."

The conversation waned; the matter seemed trifling to Lilah. She was all in for Aurora Jewelers. Whatever personal agenda Joseph had didn't concern her, provided he didn't meddle in her territory.

At day's end, Gerard's voice rang through the phone, warm and rich, melting away the day's stress. "Lilah?"

She perked up. "Yes, Mr. Harris?"

There was an almost imperceptible pause at her formal address. Then, he sighed softly, "I may run late tonight. Could you watch over Jerrold for me?"

"Absolutely!" Lilah responded without hesitation. Jerrold's charm was undeniable; she relished every moment with him.

Once off work, she made her way to Gerard's residence. Inside, Jerrold was deeply engrossed in a book. As she walked in, his gaze momentarily locked onto hers, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Lilah grinned, her heart warmed by his innocent look. Gently cradling his face, she explained, "Your dad's tied up at work, so I thought I'd hang out with you."

Jerrold's face lit up with glee. “What's got your attention?

Fairytale stories?" Lilah questioned, peering at the title. It was a tome on “Economic Composition". She blinked, impressed yet taken aback. "Quite the heavy reading for someone your age, don't you think?"

Without missing a beat, he replied, "It's nice. Do you want to read in with me?"

Trying to steer the evening to something a tad lighter, Lilah responded, “Have you had dinner? Let's whip up something tasty."

She smoothly transitioned to the kitchen, musing to herself; it wouldn't do to have a child outpace her in economics!

Lilah's culinary skills might not have won any awards, but she knew how to put together a decent meal. Tonight, it was vegetable and egg noodles. She watched, a touch anxious, as Jerrold took his first bite.

To her relief, he seemed to enjoy it, eating with measured enthusiasm; even a bead of sweat formed on his brow.

"Take your time," Lilah gently reminded him, dabbing his forehead with a napkin.

"It tastes good," came his soft-spoken reply. Jerrold's naturally reserved demeanor made such comments feel like high praise.

Witnessing his impeccable manners, Lilah was lost in thought. With children like him, parenting seemed like a breeze.

Her thoughts inevitably wandered to Jerrold's mother. Who was she, and how could she leave behind such a precious soul?

All the while, as Jerrold enjoyed his meal, he'd throw occasional, curious glances toward Lilah. In his young heart, a wish took root: if his daddy was ever away, would Lilah be always there for him? The thought brought a genuine smile to his face.