Chapter 125

Katrina moved back and forth across the room, gathering clothes and placing them neatly in a suitcase. Clarence sat on the bed, clutching her red panda toy tightly and watching her mother with curious eyes. Katrina paused to ruffle her daughter's hair, smiling warmly.

"What are you thinking about, sweetie?"

Clarence tilted her head, her gaze flicking toward the suitcase. "Daddy... go bye-bye?"

Katrina nodded gently. "Daddy has to go on a business trip, but he doesn't want to."

Clarence frowned. "Why?"

Katrina crouched beside her, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Because Daddy loves being here with us. But sometimes, he has to work far away so he can take care of everything we need."

Clarence's lower lip trembled, and she rubbed her eyes. "No Daddy."

Katrina pulled her into a hug, kissing her chubby cheeks repeatedly. "I know, sweetheart. I'm going to miss him too. But guess what? You can sleep next to me the whole time he's gone." She began tickling Clarence, eliciting squeals of laughter. "How does that sound?" "Fun, Mommy!" Clarence clapped her hands enthusiastically.

Katrina kissed her on the forehead. "We'll have so much fun playing games, singing, and snuggling up together."

Clarence cheered, and just then, Kylan entered the room with a smile. "What's going on here? Have you two been conspiring behind my back while I was at work?"

Katrina glanced at him and grinned. "We were packing your suitcase for your trip."

Kylan hummed thoughtfully and approached the bed. "Well, it looks like you forgot two important things."

Katrina tilted her head, amused. "What's that?"

"You and Clarence," he said with a smirk.

She laughed. "You can't pack us."

Kylan picked Clarence up and placed her in the small suitcase. "Sure I can. Look, she fits perfectly!"

Clarence giggled. "Yes, Daddy!"

Katrina shook her head, chuckling. "You're not taking her."

Clarence handed her toy to Kylan, who kissed her head. "Thank you, sweetheart. And who says I can't try?" He sighed, sitting on the bed with Clarence on his lap. "I hate these trips. I hate being away from you two." Katrina sat beside him, resting her hand on his arm. "You'll be okay. We'll call you, video chat. You'll see us all the time."

Kylan kissed Clarence's cheek and looked at her. "You're going to take care of Mommy for me, right?"

Clarence nodded earnestly. "Yes!"

"You'll keep her company at night too?"

Clarence giggled. "Hug Mommy!"

"Lots of hugs and kisses, okay?"

"Kisses!" Clarence shouted, throwing her arms around Katrina and peppering her cheeks with kisses.

laughed, returning the affection. "Oh, I feel so loved!" She turned to Kylan. "I think someone else deserves some love before he leaves tomorrow

while Katrina resumed packing. "How long will you be gone

on the bed. "I should be home the following evening if things go smoothly. If not, the

nodded, zipping the suitcase shut. "Don't rush back for us,

"I know. But being away

no racing home.

"Promise," he murmured.

while Kylan held

Katrina replied, her heart full as they all

morning, Katrina kissed Kylan goodbye and reassured him as he left for his trip. She spent the day keeping Clarence entertained with games and laughter, and they ended the evening with a bedtime story before settling down. As night fell,

heart leaped at the sight of his name. She

she froze as she

"Have another drink, Kylan."

"I don't know... I've already had two,

huh?" the woman

head to bed.

Today was a good day, though, wasn't

was," Kylan agreed. "A great

to please you, Kylan," she said, her

quicker we finish, the quicker we can get back to the hotel." "You're right," the woman replied, her tone shifting to

followed by Kylan's

bed, her chest tightening with pain and uncertainty. She prayed it was all a misunderstanding, clinging to the memory of Kylan's love and the life they had

~0~0~0~

reached for it. He groaned, fumbling with the screen, but Isabella's hand darted out, snatching it before he could. "I've got it," Isabella said groggily, her voice

but before he could protest, Isabella answered the

she said, her tone casual but

sharp and clear through the line, her words weighted with

the phone now," she interrupted, oblivious.

silence hung in the air, thick with

did you just say?" Katrina asked, her voice eerily calm, like the quiet

now asleep," Isabella repeated, now sensing something amiss. "Wait,

degrees. "Tell Kylan not to bother calling back. He's done enough." The line went dead before Isabella

the room moments later after he had gone to the bathroom to wake

demanded, snatching the phone from

I... I told her you were putting me to bed because you just helped me to the

already dialing Katrina back, his pulse pounding in his ears. But each ring felt like an eternity, and when the voicemail clicked

bed in her and Kylan's room, her hands trembling as she dialed another number. Clarence stirred beside her, clutching her favorite stuffed toy. Katrina's eyes welled up as she saw it was the red

sleepily, sensing the tension in

her daughter's hair. "We're going to

her father's number. When her father answered on the other end,

stay with you for a bit? I need... I need to get

understand, Alois agreed and told her he would pick them up

"Is everything okay, sweetheart?"

also meet him soon so it doesn't make sense to lie to him. "No, Dad... but we will talk once we get to Portland, okay?" "Yes, of course, my love. You

things. The phone buzzed incessantly on the nightstand, but Katrina ignored it. Finally,

you want,

it's not

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