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The word “Mom” pierced Naya’s heart like a gentle arrow. She stared at the little girl, her heartbeat skipping.!!
Seeing this, the man quickly scooped the child into his arms.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “Harriet was abandoned in a trash can right after she was born. That’s why she calls anyone who resembles her “Mom,”
Naya’s throat tightened.”
She looked at the little girl, so full of life, yet born into such cruelty, and couldn’t help but think of her own daughter.
If her child had lived, she might have been just as lovely, just as radiant as this little girl.
“It’s okay, Harriet,” Naya said gently. “If you miss your mom, you can come see me here. This bouquet of sunflowers is for you.”
She pulled a large bouquet from the side and handed it to the girl. Harriet’s eyes lit up as she took it, waving the flowers excitedly at the man.
“Sheldon, is it because I’m as pretty as her that she gave me flowers?” she asked with innocent pride.!
Her words made both Naya and Sheldon laugh.E
Sheldon playfully pinched her cheek, unfazed by her sass, and then turned to Naya with a more serious expression,
I’m Sheldon Latham,” he said, offering his hand. At the sound of the name, Naya froze. The bouquet in her hand trembled slightly.
‘Sheldon? Could it be that Sheldon?‘ she wondered.
Sheldon noticed the flicker of confusion in her eyes and smiled softly. There was a trace of affection behind it.
He raised the calla lily he held and offered it to her with quiet sincerity. “Do you remember me, Naya? Back in high school, I used to secretly leave you calla lilies. Once, I even sent you two bouquets, one with my name, one anonymous.”
The past flashed before Naya’s eyes. When she first received the anonymous bouquet, she had secretly wondered if it was from Sheldon.
But the following year, when she received two identical bouquets of calla lilies; one signed, one not, her suspicions faded. Eventually, she even forgot that Sheldon had once given her calla lilies. Now, meeting an old friend in a foreign land, Naya’s heart stirred with joy.”
Then why didn’t you send any more?” she asked, puzzled, posing the question her younger self never had the chance to ask. Sheldon’s gaze lingered on the flowers between them, his expression soft. “I heard you hated calla lilies,” he said gently. “So | never sent flowers again.”
But that wasn’t the full truth. Back then, he had overheard the girl he liked saying she disliked calla lilies. The words had
stung.
Later, he gathered the courage to ask her friends what she did like. When he found out she loved sunflowers, he bought one and planned to confess his feelings.
But before he could reach her, she had already gone abroad to study.
Naya paused, a little flustered.X
In fact, she had noticed Sheldon secretly eavesdropping on her conversation with her friend that day.
Suspecting he might be the one who sent the flowers, she had playfully said she didn’t like calla lilies, just to test his reaction./ She never imagined that one small joke would scare him off from giving flowers to any girl for years.!!
Thinking of this, Naya quickly explained, “Actually, I was lying. I never disliked calla lilies. Back then, I just wanted to test if it was you who sent them.“E
The two, who had seemingly left the past behind, shared a knowing smile.
The air seemed sweeter somehow, and even Harriet noticed it. She clung to Naya, constantly asking about the names of different flowers and begging her to teach her how to arrange them.X
For the rest of the day, Harriet stayed by Naya’s side until the shop finally closed, and Naya happily taught her everything she could
Sheldon sat nearby the whole time, quietly watching them sort through blossoms. The hours drifted by, quietly, yet beautifully.2
Even after Sheldon and Harriet disappeared around the corner, Naya stood in the doorway for a long while.
Staring at the quirky bouquets Harriet had put together, she felt an unexpected warmth in her chest. A kind of bliss that made her forget Cesar entirely, just for that one day.
