When Leanne's estrangement from the Richardson family became public knowledge, Devin was more devastated than if he'd gone through a breakup himself.

"It's nothing," Curtis said, clicking the pen shut with an air of indifference that made it seem as if they were discussing the unremarkable weather of a typical summer day. "Same as always."

Devin couldn't grasp the situation. "She didn't even show up for Mary's 80th birthday bash. How is that the same as always?"

Curtis couldn't be bothered to explain. He stood up from his chair and playfully slapped Devin on the head as if he were a mischievous pup. "Go entertain yourself."

Joy had been staying at Leanne's Castle for nearly a month by then, arriving just a few days after Curtis had moved out.

Concerned about Leanne's well-being, Joy took all the leave she could from work. She avoided the office unless absolutely necessary, choosing instead to spend her days in the garden with Leanne. Their time together felt more like a vacation than anything else.

The summer in Stonebridge was on another extreme, with the heat crawling everyone's skin and the sun scorching the earth. Only the gardens in this bustling city offered some respite from the relentless heat. What surprised Joy, however, was Leanne's stable mood. She wasn't sad or depressed but spent her days gardening, playing with the cats, feeding the fish, and preparing her application for Medical School in Emberland.

Selina would visit now and then, sometimes bringing beer and crawfish, other times ice cream, cake, and bubble tea.

This time, she brought nutritious chicken soup. After eating their fill, Joy lounged on the rocking chair, sipping on freshly squeezed watermelon juice, and patted her belly contentedly. "Life's pretty sweet when you're eating and resting well.."

Joy's comfort. Leanne had draped a shawl over her shoulders while a cat napped in her lap.

here you are, packing on the pounds," Selina

her note-taking and looked up

her to bite her tongue. Wincing in pain, Selina retaliated with a lisp,

to Joy, "How did you

month, initially attributing it to stress. On the tenth day,

sorted out her feelings yet. Somehow, they guessed it as if they could read her like

Selina brought nutritious soup

pregnancy test

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had found it instead," Joy said, gaining confidence.

told Curtis

chimed in. "We can't let

wouldn't

the family. If

grows up

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