Chapter 255: Family

Several days had passed since Sienna resigned from her work at the Imperial Hotel, and life at home had become much busier than she had expected.

Every day, she treasured every moment she spent with her son while also devoting hours to researching the business she was planning to build with Ava. There was always something new to read, compare, or discuss, and the days slipped by so quickly that she barely noticed another Friday had arrived.

It was exactly one week before Skylar’s seventh birthday, a day both of them had been eagerly looking forward to.

To celebrate the upcoming occasion, she took Skylar shopping at Mogul Megamall, one of the city’s most luxurious shopping destinations. She had heard that the mall was owned by Sterling Group, though she had never paid much attention to who owned it whenever she visited.

During the drive, Skylar barely stopped talking. He excitedly listed everything he wanted to buy, every store he hoped to visit, and all the snacks he wanted to try along the way. Sienna simply listened with a warm smile, amused by his endless excitement. His cheerful chatter filled the car, making the trip feel much shorter than usual.

As their car approached the entrance to the mall, Skylar turned toward her with curious eyes.

"Mommy, have you been to Mogul before?"

She nodded. "Yes. I’ve been here a few times whenever I needed to buy something. I also used to come here with my friends because there’s a sushi restaurant we really liked."

The moment he heard the word sushi, his eyes immediately sparkled.

"Mommy, can we have sushi for lunch today?"

She chuckled at how quickly his attention had shifted from shopping to food. "Of course, sweetheart."

He grinned from ear to ear. "Then I’ll shop faster."

Sienna raised an eyebrow with an amused smile. "Really? Five minutes ago, you said you wanted to visit seven stores."

Skylar looked thoughtful for a second before holding up his fingers as though he were doing serious math.

"...Then I’ll shop... medium fast."

She laughed softly. "Medium fast?"

"Yes." He nodded with complete confidence. "Not too fast because I have to look carefully, but not too slow because sushi is waiting."

"I think the sushi can survive a little longer."

"But my tummy can’t."

"You had breakfast less than three hours ago."

"My tummy already forgot."

Sienna shook her head, unable to stop smiling. "Your tummy has a very bad memory."

"It only remembers desserts." He said seriously.

She laughed again, her heart feeling lighter than it had in days. No matter how busy or stressful life became, Skylar always managed to brighten her mood without even trying.

A short while later, they entered the mall. Since it was still during work hours on a Friday afternoon, the building was quieter than usual. Only a handful of shoppers wandered through the spacious corridors, making the atmosphere calm and comfortable.

Sienna reached for Skylar’s hand as they walked toward the first destination on his carefully planned list. This specialty store sells professional photography equipment.

The moment they stepped inside, her eyes wandered across the displays of cameras, lenses, tripods, and accessories.

Even without checking every price tag, she could tell many of the products were incredibly expensive. Some cameras alone cost nearly as much as her annual salary when she had worked at the Imperial Hotel.

The thought briefly made her pause, but she quickly reminded herself why they were there. She had promised Skylar that he could choose a photography gift for his birthday, and she intended to keep that promise.

Still holding his hand, she bent down slightly so they were at eye level.

"Sky, you can choose either a new camera or a new lens. Take your time and make sure you pick the one you really want and need."

His round eyes lit up with excitement as he looked back at her.

"Thank you, Mommy."

His voice was filled with genuine happiness, and it warmed her heart more than she expected.

He gently slipped his hand from hers before eagerly making his way toward the display he had apparently been thinking about for quite some time. Judging by how confidently he navigated the store, he clearly remembered the layout from his previous visits.

Sienna followed at a relaxed pace, watching him with quiet affection. Instead of rushing to help, she stayed a few steps behind and let him speak with one of the shop assistants himself.

There was something satisfying about seeing him confidently explain what he was looking for and ask thoughtful questions, his curiosity shining through every word. As she watched from a distance, her smile softened. Moments like these reminded her just how much her little boy had grown, and she silently hoped this birthday would become one of his happiest memories.

As Skylar’s birthday drew closer, Sienna found herself feeling more excited with each passing day. This would be the first birthday party she had ever planned for her own son, and she wanted everything to be perfect.

She had already talked it over with Zachary, and they had decided to hold the celebration in their backyard with only their close friends and family.

’Family.’

The thought alone made something inside her tighten. Even now, she still hadn’t met Zachary’s parents. They were on vacation in Europe and were only expected to return a few days before Skylar’s birthday party.

Although Zachary had reassured her more than once that his parents were open-minded and kind people, and Skylar had innocently insisted that his grandparents would definitely adore her like he is, Sienna couldn’t completely shake her anxiety.

The closer the birthday came, the more often those worries returned to her mind. She wanted everything to go well, not only for Skylar’s sake but because she hoped to be accepted by the people who meant so much to Zachary.

"Mom, I’ve found what I want."

Skylar’s cheerful voice pulled her out of her thoughts. She blinked, quickly setting her worries aside before walking over to him.