Chapter 1170:
“Not at all,” Ari said, wrapping her arms around Millie’s.
“Some things are hard, but I know you’re doing it because you care about me.”
Ari leaned into her, resting her head against Millie’s arm.
“Millie, I want to be just like you someday,” she whispered.
“I’m your daughter.”
Warm sunlight spilled over the two of them.
Millie pulled Ari closer, tucking a few loose strands of hair behind her ear. She noticed Ari’s lips part slightly, as though she wanted to say something more.
Millie knew what it was. Ari wanted to call her “Mom.” But she also knew that word still carried pain for the girl.
Ari’s biological parents had left her when she was very young because she was sick.
“Ari,” Millie whispered, “you don’t have to force yourself.”
The time would come naturally.
Maybe in the years ahead, as Ari continued to grow, the wounds of her past would slowly fade, and the word “Mom” would finally leave her lips with ease—free of sadness, free of fear.
Ari snuggled deeper into Millie’s arms, and Millie gently stroked her back, comforting her.
All she could do now was wait.
Patience was required—not only for Ari, but for Nicole as well.
And patience was something Millie possessed in abundance.
She continued to gently pat Ari’s back, her eyes warm with affection as she watched the little girl nestled in her arms. A faint smile curved her lips.
“Ari,” she said lightly, “how about we go feed the alpacas?” After all, Ari had finished her lessons.
Ari’s eyes lit up instantly.
“Yes, let’s go!” she exclaimed with a wide grin.
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Hand in hand, they climbed into a small buggy and rode toward the alpaca pen. Myron had arranged for the animals to be kept there after learning how much Ari adored them.
By the time they arrived, everything was already prepared.
Soon, both of them were happily feeding carrots to the alpacas. The animals chomped noisily, and the sound made both Millie and Ari burst into laughter.
A short distance away, Myron stepped out of his car and paused, watching the two of them beneath the warm afternoon light. His eyes softened with affection.
When Millie noticed the movement behind her, she turned and saw him standing there.
“Here,” she said, offering him a carrot.
He accepted it, then leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. It was brief and tender. After that, he smiled and turned to feed one of the alpacas.
Millie glanced down, watching the small creature nibble eagerly at the carrot in his hand. She chuckled softly.
“What’s your secret? Every animal you keep somehow ends up round and pudgy.”
They hadn’t even had the alpacas for that long, yet they already looked adorably plump.
“I have no idea,” Myron said with a laugh.
“I just feed them, and they turn out like this. But hey, they’re cute,” he added, his gaze lingering on Millie as he smiled.
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