Chapter 280 Whose Good Baby!
Evie couldn’t help but laugh, her heart swelling with pride. Mia’s sincerity and innocence always had a way of disarming even the most difficult moments. It was as if Mia’s words had shifted something in the room—lightening the atmosphere and bringing everyone closer.
“You’re absolutely right, Mia,” Evie said, her voice warm with affection. “You’re our family’s good baby.”
Mia beamed, clearly pleased with the attention. “Godmother, did I say it right?” she asked, her big eyes shining.
“Perfectly,” Evie affirmed, giving her a playful wink. “You’re a natural at making everyone feel welcome.”
Brian, still holding Mia up in the air, laughed heartily. “Well, I think we’ve found the most charming addition to our family. Who needs more kids when we’ve got a princess like Mia?”
Mia giggled, her legs kicking playfully. “I’m not a princess, Mr. Brian, I’m a good baby! A very good baby!”
Evie’s smile softened as she watched the interaction. It was moments like these that reminded her of how much joy Mia brought to those around her, how much she herself had changed since becoming a part of her life. She wasn’t just a godmother—she was family. And Mia, despite the complexities of their world, was her anchor.
Jane Hansen, who had been watching the scene with a warm smile, turned to Evie. “You’ve done well with her, Evie. It’s clear she’s been raised with love.”
Evie’s smile faltered for a moment, a wave of emotions stirring in her. She had worked hard to create a loving environment for Mia, but sometimes she couldn’t help but wonder how things might have been different if her life had followed a different path. If she had met the right person, if things hadn’t been so complicated with Byron, if… well, there were a lot of ifs.
But she couldn’t afford to dwell on the past—not now, not with Mia by her side.
“Thank you,” Evie replied softly, her voice steady. “I’m just doing my best.”
“Doing your best is more than enough,” Brian said with a smile. “That’s all anyone can ask for.”
The conversation turned light again, with Brian playfully teasing Caspian about his bachelor status, and Jane making plans for a family dinner in the near future. But through it all, Evie’s thoughts lingered on the day’s events—the quiet moments with Mia, the lingering questions about the future, and the silent weight of everything she was still holding back.
She could feel the tension in the air as she looked around at the people she cared about. It wasn’t just Mia’s presence that kept her grounded; it was also these moments of connection—however brief—that gave her the strength to keep moving forward.
After a while, as they all sat down to eat, Evie found herself lost in thought. As much as she was grateful for the company, there was a part of her that still felt distant from the world around her. The shadow of her past, the feelings she hadn’t fully let go of—especially concerning Byron and the tangled mess of emotions between them—still hovered in the background.
But then Mia’s small hand reached up and gently tugged at her sleeve. “Godmother, are you okay?”
Evie snapped back to the present, her gaze softening as she looked down at the child who had unwittingly become her anchor. “I’m fine, sweetheart,” she reassured, offering her a bright smile. “Just thinking about how lucky I am to have you.”
Mia smiled back, satisfied with the response. “I’m lucky too,” she whispered, and in that moment, it felt like the world around them—filled with the noise of laughter and the clinking of silverware—faded away, leaving just the two of them.
In that quiet, simple moment, Evie realized that no matter what happened next, no matter the tangled paths ahead, this—this connection with Mia, with those she loved—was what mattered most.
And for that, she would keep going, one step at a time.