She feared Lilah might demand something unreasonable.

Lilah shrugged nonchalantly. “Why not sign with Effie's agency? I think you'd excel in comedic roles. You'd be a sensation."

Hadley didn't grasp her underlying meaning, but her excitement mounted. She hugged Lilah tightly, tears and mucus staining her clothes.

Jerrold noticed Lilah escorting a young woman inside and curiously descended the stairs, eyeing Hadley.

“Who's this tearful lady, Mommy? Why doesn't she talk, just staring at me like that?" Jerrold tugged at Lilah's sleeve, lowering his voice curiously.

He looked incredibly tender and adorable, like a doll.

Hadley resisted the impulse to scoop him up and give him a tight hug, gently holding his soft little hand. "I'm Hadley Seymour. How about calling me Hadley?"

This boy was simply too charming!

Hadley felt her heart melting. He was endearing now; he'd be even more so as he grew older.

“You're Mommy's friend. Can I really just call you by your name?"

Jerrold raised his face, asking sincerely.

Hadley couldn't help but burst out laughing.

“Alright then, call me Miss Seymour, okay?" Hadley said, pulling a lollipop from her bag and waving it in front of Jerrold. “You call me Miss Seymour, and I'll give you this to eat."

"Cyrus!" Jerrold suddenly shouted.

"I'm here!" Cyrus lifted his head from the garden, where they had been playing hide and seek with Jerrold. "What's going on?"

He speculated that Jerrold had encountered a problem.

Jerrold spoke in an endearing tone. “I've entrusted you with many snacks for safekeeping before, remember? Could you fetch some for me now?"

Cyrus burst into laughter. "No trouble at all, I'll be right back!"

With those words, he dashed off, moving so swiftly that he left a blur behind.

Lilah and Hadley felt a rush of wind, and when they turned, Cyrus had vanished.

In less than a minute, Cyrus returned with a wide array of snacks and sweets in hand.

"You must be hungry after all that playtime. Come on!" Cyrus stared at Jerrold affectionately.

"I want to give these snacks to the lovely lady as a gift." Jerrold handed the bag of snacks to Hadley.

“Miss Seymour, I have no use for this lollipop. You may have all the snacks."