The Returning Ex

Sophia stared intently at the family of three, all the while being reminded of the fact that she used to want a life like the one they led. Unfortunately, nobody was there to fend for her in the past, nor did she have someone whom she wanted to fend for. The child chuckled, while the mother followed suit. Despite his stoic expression, the father’s eyes were gleaming with joy.

Sophia quickly averted her gaze, but as soon as she did, a man standing not too far away from her came into view. The scene reminded her of back when she wanted to scale the walls, only to see him watching her while standing under a tree.

Dylan approached her upon noticing that Sophia had seen him. “Why are you here alone?”

Sophia examined him before saying, “I could ask the same of you.”

Dylan sat down beside her before saying, “My dad’s birthday is coming soon, so I came to buy him a present.”

His reply startled her, which made her stammer, “Your dad—Hold on, you mean, Uncle Owen will be celebrating his birthday?”

A chuckle escaped Dylan. “Yeah, did John not tell you? His birthday is one week away, so the household might be hosting a celebration.”

to find excuses to cover for herself. “I was so focused on working toward opening my own shop, so I might’ve missed out on it when he told me.” She recalled that Owen never celebrated his birthday

she said, Dylan grunted in response. “Now that

their elders’ birthdays together with the entire household during a banquet, as they weren’t on the best terms with each other, so if they happened to decide

while asking, “Can you provide some

his sudden request. What kind of suggestion does he

but Dylan seemed to think it was a great idea. Thus, he stood while saying,

come from, we need only bring a few kilograms of pork to the birthday boy or girl’s house, so who the heck knows what you

Dylan knew what to choose despite having made a round in the section, say less of Sophia. All of the gifts seemed pointless in her

toward her as he asked, “Do you have any

gave him a shrug before telling him the truth as she perceived, as she liked nothing in the gifts section. While casting a glance at Dylan, she said, “I suppose

pondered on her words, which he realized to hold some truth. A family like his wasn’t lacking anything

slightly younger than John, so I think your parents would