Chapter 674 A Change of Heart

• Counting on Zachary to ask Lenora? Not happening. Ezekiel decided to ask her himself. Lenora hesitated. “Is something making this hard for you?” Ezekiel explained right away, “Don’t worry. Even though Mason’s body is weak, he’s sharp because of what he’s been through. He’s bright and way ahead of his age. When you meet him, tell him the truth and come back—he’ll get it.” Hearing that, Lenora’s heart pinched. Mason was young, but he’d suffered too much. He was sensitive and timid, yet oddly mature and considerate. Whether Mom and Dad loved him or not—he understood everything. In that instant, Lenora thought of herself as a kid. Her dad adored her, sure, but she still longed for a mom of her own—a woman to love and protect her. “It’s not that, Ezekiel,” she said softly, a hint of apology in her voice. “I just haven’t been to the studio in a while. The past two days have been packed. I’m Mason’s mother. He’s my responsibility. I’ve been thinking about this already. Since you brought it up, I’ll go to Jeahron tomorrow and stay a few days.” “Good. Lenora, I’m glad you agreed.” Ezekiel sounded pleased. “I bet Mason will be thrilled to see you. Oh—Zachary visited Mason today. You know that?” “Yeah. He just told me.” Ezekiel paused, then chuckled. “Good. He’s thoughtful—brought Mason a game console. The kid loved it.” So Zachary really didn’t ask whether she’d visit Mason. If he had, she wouldn’t have reacted like this when she picked up. “Alright then, Ezekiel. I’ll get ready. See you tomorrow.” “Okay.” After she hung up, the thought of the meeting made Lenora surprisingly nervous. Butterflies. That’s what coming home feels like. Lenora opened the flight app and bought a morning ticket to Jeahron. She set her phone down, finished a few yoga poses, and started packing. When she was done, she sent Zachary a screenshot of the ticket. Said nothing else. He’d get the message. Sure enough, a few minutes later, Zachary texted, “I’ll pick you up at the airport tomorrow.” He’d get the message. Lenora read it, warmth blooming in her chest, and replied, “Okay.” “Why the sudden change of heart?” he asked. “I thought it over. Mason is my child. I should own up. It’s better to meet him sooner and let him know I never abandoned him.” Zachary had grown up without a mother around. He’d understand a kid’s hunger for love. “Alright. We’ll go see him together.” With the plan set, Lenora started thinking about a gift for Mason. First meeting—she needed something sincere, meaningful. Something he’d use often, something that would make him think of her. She mulled it over, checked some online suggestions, and decided on a smart robot. She searched a few popular models and picked one that could do voice chat, tutoring, games, and day-to-day company. It could keep him company while he studied and lived, spark his interest through interactive games, and feel like a little buddy. For a kid Mason’s age, that should be a hit. More importantly, Mason was timid and introverted; he wouldn’t tell grown-ups what weighed on him. But he could confide in a robot. Turned out that brand had an official store in Jeahron, so Lenora pre-ordered one and planned to pick it up after landing tomorrow. As for the rest, she didn’t have time to prep—she’d figure it out once she got there. The next morning, Lenora headed to the airport with her suitcase and flew to Jeahron. A few hours later, the plane touched down. She grabbed her luggage and walked out to see Zachary waiting at the arrival gate. Jeahron’s winter was biting cold. He wore a long black down jacket, making him look even taller and straighter. They hadn’t seen each other in about twenty days. Usually it didn’t hit her. But the moment she saw him, she realized—yeah, she’d missed him. Zachary stepped up, took her suitcase, and looked her over—she was bundled like a tiny teddy bear. He asked quietly, “Tired?” “I’m okay. Just—man, Jeahron is freezing. I got off the plane and froze my ass off.” Her breath puffed white in the air. Zachary took her hand, wrapped it in his palm. “Come on. It won’t be cold in the car.” Lenora hesitated. “What’s wrong?” She frowned a little and lowered her voice. “Kinda uncomfortable.” She was debating a quick run to the bathroom... “Where?” Lenora glanced down, then tugged his arm and hurried forward. “I’ll tell you in the car.” “?” In the car, Zachary started the engine, cranked the heat, shrugged out of his jacket, and pressed, “Where does it hurt? If you’re not feeling well, we should hit a clinic.” Lenora’s cheeks flushed. She muttered, “I was going to switch to formula after the postpartum month. But deciding to come to Jeahron last minute, I haven’t weaned yet, so… yeah. I’m uncomfortably engorged.”