Chapter 644

Their faces tightened with suspicion. “Who are you?” one asked sharply.

It hit me—they didn’t recognize me. We’d met before, but that was years ago, and they’d aged since then.

“I’m… a friend of Desmond’s,” I lied, keeping my tone light. No way would they tell me anything if I revealed the real reason I was here. “I heard he had a baby and thought I’d check in.”

Their eyes darted to each other; their unease was palpable. “We’ve never seen you before,” one said, voice sharp with doubt. “And Desmond never mentioned a friend like you.”

Their guardedness made sense—these days, you couldn’t be too careful with all the scams and con artists around.

I offered a gentle smile as I handed over the small gifts I’d brought. “It’s okay. I just wanted to check in and see how you’re doing. That’s all.”

But they didn’t take them. “We don’t know you, and we’re not comfortable with this.”

With that, they turned and walked away.

I stayed rooted in place, watching them go. Following them would only make things worse, pushing their suspicion or fear over the edge.

Still, where was the child? Was he cared for by a nanny? I couldn’t exactly march into their apartment to find out. Instead, I went to the property management office, left the gifts with them, and casually asked if they could pass them along.

While I was there, I tried to bring up the child in conversation.

“Their grandson? Oh, he’s doing just fine,” the property staff said. “They dote on him. They take him out to play every day—usually near the playground.”

He gestured toward a small play area within the community.

“They treat that boy like gold,” he added. “Though I heard he’s been under the weather with a cold. They even brought in a doctor to care for him. See over there?” He pointed across the way.

Following his direction, I spotted a middle-aged woman gently pushing a baby carriage near the playground.

He continued, “Even if you say you’re a friend of their son, the couple doesn’t want to hear it. You might as well take those gifts back. They’ll just toss them.”

That caught me off guard. Desmond’s parents weren’t just cautious—they were set in their ways.

I decided not to push further. Still, I left the gifts with the property management.

Curiosity pulled me toward the playground, hoping to catch a glimpse of Desmond’s child. As Lena had said, he was the cutest, chubbiest little thing. His fair skin looked impossibly soft, and his eyes sparkled like tiny stars.

The baby noticed me watching and flashed the sweetest, gummy smile. That smile—it could thaw the iciest heart. I couldn’t help but take a few steps closer. “Hi there,” I murmured.

“Keira?!”

The familiar voice startled me, and I looked up to see a woman standing nearby. It took a second to place her, but I recognized her immediately—Whitney. She used to work with Lena at the hospital. I’d run into her a few times during my visits back then.

“You’re a family doctor now?” I asked, genuinely surprised.

“Yeah,” Whitney replied. “After leaving the hospital, I struggled to find a good job, so I ended up opening a private family clinic.”

As we talked, the baby in the stroller began squirming. Whitney picked him up, patting his back, but he kept stretching his little arms toward me.

“Oh, you want me to hold you?” I teased, holding my hands out.

Whitney chuckled and passed him to me.

The second he was in my arms, his tiny hands grabbed at my cheeks, tugging at my lips, and then he nuzzled his head into my neck.

That soft, warm weight against me sent a wave through my chest. I pressed my cheek to his fluffy little head, like the whole world had melted into something warm and tender.

“This poor little guy,” Whitney sighed. “He’s never been held by his mother.”

My chest ached for him. He was so innocent and so sweet. I couldn’t help it—I kissed his soft, chubby cheek.

Then Whitney’s phone buzzed, cutting through our conversation. She answered quickly, and as she listened, her expression tensed.

It didn’t take much to figure out who was on the other end.

“His grandparents want me to take the baby back home right away,” she said after hanging up. “They don’t want him interacting with strangers.”

I knew exactly who they meant. Whitney did too. She gave me an apologetic smile, muttered a few polite words, and gently took the baby from my arms before walking away.

I didn’t leave right away. Instead, I stood there, watching her disappear with that soft little bundle of warmth. He’d left an imprint on my heart in such a short time. There was something about him—so calming, so innocent.