Novel Reader
Chapter 1285
Meanwhile, Hope had been trying her best to impress Nina and Nash.
Orion really liked her, and though Nina had initially planned to place her in an orphanage, Hope clung tightly to her arm.
"Aunt Nina, can I come to your home now?" she asked, eyes pleading.
"It's not just our home. It's your home, too," Orion corrected. "You can stay as long as you want. My mom and dad are really nice, and our little sister is super cute." Some kids were shy around strangers, but not Gemma. She always greeted people with a smile, never fussy or afraid.
"Mm-hmm," Hope nodded eagerly, grabbing Orion's hand. "It feels so good to have all of you with me."
Originally, Nina and Nash had planned to stay in the city for a few days, but now with Hope, they decided to head home sooner.Content held by NôvelDrama.Org.
Before they left, they asked the kids, "Orion, Hope, do you two want to go to the amusement park?"
"Yes!" Orion nodded enthusiastically. He had been before, but this time would be different. Not only would his parents be there, but also his new friend, Hope.
Hope, however, was more reserved. "Can I ask... what's an amusement park?" she said quietly.
Orion quickly explained, "It's a super fun place with lots of rides. You can ride on horses, spin around in the air, and there are life-sized characters walking around. And the food! There's so much to eat!" Hope's eyes lit up. "There's really a place like that?"
"Of course! Haven't you ever been to one?" Orion asked, surprised.
Hope shook her head, her voice small. "My parents never took me. They always brought my little brother and sister."
The group fell silent.
After a moment, Orion stepped forward and apologized, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say something hurtful."
The more he thought about it, the
worse he felt. Hope had just lost her father and had been abandoned by her mother. She was so pitiful, and
his words might have only made her
feel worse.
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"It's okay, I really don't mind," Hope reassured him, wiping her tears and smiling. "You didn't know. So... when are we going to the amusement park?"
Nash, already booking tickets on his phone, announced, "Tomorrow morning! I've got tickets for all four of us, and I've reserved a family suite at a nearby hotel."
The suite had two beds, a large one for Nina and Nash and a smaller one for the kids. After they had all washed up, Nash held Nina close while they lay down, watching TV and chatting.
"I never thought we'd come back from this trip with an extra daughter," Nash said, shaking his head with a smile. "Meeting her feels like fate," Nina agreed softly. "And Orion really likes her. Honestly, I feel a lot of guilt about Orion."
Her eyes welled up as she thought about the past five years. "As a mother, I haven't been there for him like I should have."
Most kids grew up nestled in their mother's arms, but what about her Orion? Especially after Gemma was born, she and Nash had spent so much time with their daughter.
Orion, on the other hand, never
complained, never caused trouble. Instead, he willingly took on the responsibility of being the big brother, always helping to take care of his little sister.
The more well-behaved and thoughtful he was, the deeper Nina's guilt grew "Having Hope here is really great," Nina said, her voice soft with emotion. "They're close in age, so they can play together. I won't have to worry about Orion being lonely anymore."