Beside him was the plump boy he had clashed with once at summer camp, their arms dr@ped over each otherâs shoulders as they strolled along, appearing like best friends.
While Melon seemed lost in thought, the boy was the first to notice Ariana and Holden and nudged Melon excitedly.
âLook! Your dadâs here to pick you up! And your mom, too.
Wow, itâs my first time seeing them together!â
As Melon lifted his gaze, he caught sight of Ariana and Holden side by side at the kindergartenâs entrance.
He couldnât hide his surprise, having not anticipated their joint appearance.
He dashed towards them, halting just a short distance away.
Just as Melon was on the verge of calling Holden by his name, Holden swiftly cut him off.
Lifting Melon into the air, Holden asked with a grin, âHave you been missing Mom and me, Melon?â
âYes!â Melon nodded with joy and leaned closer to whisper to Holden, âBut what brings you here?â
Holden, with a smile, gently ruffled Melonâs hair and replied, âBecause Iâve missed you, too.
â
Ariana, watching this heartwarming scene, couldnât help but smile.
âWhat would you Like for dinner, Melon? Letâs go get some groceries,â she said.
âFantastic! Iâm ready for a big dinner tonight!â exclaimed Melon, his enthusiasm bubbling over.
The supermarket wasnât far off, so they made their way there, filling the air with their laughter and
chatter.
Holden carried Melon, who excitedly shared stories from his day at kindergarten.
Ariana and Holden listened intently, offering comments here and there.
After picking up some groceries, they headed back home.
To their surprise, as soon as they reached their doorstep, they spotted a figure stepping out of a car nearby.
It was Mitchel.
Ariana, taken aback by Mitchelâs sudden appearance, watched as Mitchel turned at the sound of Melonâs voice.
âMr.
Chadwick!â Melon yelled, surprised and delighted.
He wriggled out of Holdenâs grasp and into Mitchelâs arms.
Seizing the moment, Mitchel hugged him tight, and Melon clung to his neck, saying, âItâs been ages since Iâve seen you.
â
Equally astonished, Ariana approached Mitchel and inquired, âWhat brings you here?â
Mitchel gently patted Melonâs head and shared, âI just had a meeting in the neighboring province and brought some snacks for Melon.
â
Melonâs face lit up with joy.
He hugged Mitchel tightly, not wanting to let go, and kept talking.
It was clear that Melon Liked Mitchel very much.
Holden, standing a step behind, felt a pang of jealousy.
His expression darkened, though he tried hard to mask it and maintain his composure, especially in front of his rival in love.
With a forced smile, he moved closer and casually dr@ped an arm around Arianaâs shoulders.
Then, he asked her, âArenât you going to introduce him to me?â
Caught off guard by the question, Ariana offered an awkward smile.