Chapter 358

The touch on his fingertips was soft and gentle, like newly bloomed flowers. The new sensations overwhelmed Howard, sending shivers down his scalp and momentarily silencing his thoughts. His body, however, reacted before his mind could catch up. He carefully laid Rosie on the sofa, cradling her chin as he admired the vibrant fullness of her lips.

A spark ignited within him. Her lips were not only soft but sweet as well. A long-lost memory surfaced—a night, many years ago, when he had kissed her.

"Hmm…" Rosie frowned, letting out a soft, unhappy sound.

Howard froze, quickly pulling away. He touched her face and asked, "What's wrong? Are you uncomfortable?"

Rosie pouted, her brow furrowed. "Daniel…"

Howard stiffened, his gaze fixed. She was calling for Daniel. The thought ignited a fire of anger within him. She was still tied to that husband, even in her intoxicated state. Did she think Daniel had kissed her? His grip loosened, and he jumped to his feet.

As he began to leave, Rosie whimpered. "Go… go away!"

As she spoke, she wrapped her arms tightly around herself, tears silently tracing paths down her cheeks. "Leave me alone…"

Howard was struck, a wave of concern washing over him, quickly replacing his anger with a smile. He had misjudged. Knowing her husband, Rosie would surely prefer solitude, not closeness.

He bent down and hugged her, whispering softly in her ear, "He's not here… Don't be afraid. He will never have the chance to come near you again." Rosie had already fallen asleep, oblivious to his words, her tears still flowing.

Howard sighed lightly and pressed his lips to hers again. Their mouths met, warm and gentle, lovingly intertwined. Slowly, Rosie calmed, sinking peacefully into a deep sleep.

Chapter 318

The next day, Josiah arrived early at Sunshine Neighborhood. After dropping Sienna off the night before, he hadn't had a chance to speak with her. Tara answered the door.

Josiah held out a bag bearing the Seasonal Bakery logo. "Here are the muffins Sienna and Joyce like."

"Mr. Flynn, you're so thoughtful," Tara said with a warm smile as she accepted the bag.

"Is Sienna awake?" Josiah peeked inside.

"She's washing up."

Sienna emerged from the bathroom and briefly glanced at Josiah. "Good morning."

Josiah nodded with a smile. "Joyce has to go to the hospital today, so I'm here to keep her company." Sienna noted his excellent memory. "Joyce isn't awake yet; it's perfect timing for us to talk," Josiah said, stepping closer, taking her hand, and settling onto the sofa beside her. He knew her routine; breakfast was usually shared with Joyce.

He offered her water. Sienna, who enjoyed a glass upon waking, accepted it gratefully. During their time at Silver Beach, he had come to understand her well.

Josiah had a relaxed demeanor. "We're getting married soon, and we need to tell Grandma… When do you think would be a good time? I'm…"

Sienna raised an eyebrow and quietly scoffed. Josiah was a classic example of someone who played the fool after taking advantage. If he had listened to her, they wouldn't even be discussing a wedding. "Let's hold off on telling Grandma for now."

Those words prompted Josiah to frown. "What are we waiting for?"

Sienna said, "Don't you care about Joyce's feelings?" For Joyce, this would mean a significant life change. Understanding dawned on Josiah, and he nodded slowly. He should have thought more carefully. "I should spend more time with Joyce. Luckily, I have plenty of free time. Don't worry; I'll work hard to help her accept me."

Sienna, with a hint of sarcasm, replied, "Then let's hold off on the wedding until Joyce is more accepting." Though she knew this wouldn't significantly alter the timeline, since Joyce had always liked him, any delay was still a delay.

"Good things come to those who wait. Since Howard's getting married, Grandma has almost everything ready for a wedding; the date's already been set." This reminded Sienna of Rosie, prompting her to ask curiously, "What about Howard and Rosie? Aren't they… planning to marry?"

Josiah chuckled lightly. "If they do, it won't be anytime soon. Howard is quite shy; Rosie doesn't know his true feelings yet, maybe…"

At that moment, a cry filled the air, interrupting their conversation. Sienna started to get up, but Josiah stopped her. "Stay seated, I'll go." This was a perfect chance to strengthen their father-daughter bond. He left the room.

Sienna pressed her lips together, deep in thought. 'Can Rosie and Howard make it work? Josiah said Howard had feelings for Rosie, but what about Rosie? Does she feel the same about Howard?' She hadn't seen Rosie in days; she should find time to check on her.

Joyce sat up in her blanket, her hair messy, eyes still closed as she cried. Seeing Joyce, Josiah felt his heart ache. He climbed to the edge of the bed and lifted his little girl into his arms, letting her head rest on his shoulder as he gently paced the room. "It's okay, sweetie. No rush. Take your time, Joyce."

Her crying slowly subsided, her tear-streaked face lifting to look at Josiah. "Josiah…"

He smiled. "It's me. Your mommy is waiting for us outside. Let's get dressed, okay?" She had chosen her outfit the night before. "Josiah, it's over there," she pointed to the corner where her clothes hung. Josiah held her in one arm while grabbing her clothes with the other, then carefully set Joyce down, helping her change.

Meanwhile, Sienna watched quietly. She suddenly thought that, given Josiah's patience with Joyce, if she were to refuse him, he wouldn't really disregard Joyce.

Then, her phone rang; it was Rosie. "Hello, Rosie."

"Sienna, long time, could you come visit? I have something… I wish to talk about with you." Rosie's voice was soft, tinged with a hint of apprehension.