He kept noticing something else in his Mommy's gaze whenever she looked at him—a flicker of guilt mixed with sorrow.

It was clearly Daddy who had broken Mommy's heart.

James remained still in Elise's embrace, not resisting at all. He let her hold him tightly, as if she'd lost him once before and couldn't bear to let him out of her sight for even a moment.

The Ferris wheel carriage rose steadily higher, climbing toward the sky's peak.

Elise finally composed herself and answered James's earlier question. "Having you with me makes everything better."

"Mommy." James reached up and gently wiped the tears from her cheeks.

Only then did Elise realize she was crying.

These were emotions she had bottled up for far too long.

Today, she allowed just a little of that pain to escape.

Elise said tenderly, "Jamie, I'm so grateful to have you in my life."

"No matter who Daddy chooses to marry, I'll always stay by your side," James promised solemnly.

"Okay." Elise stroked James's hair affectionately, a soft smile gracing her lips.

"Actually..." James looked up at Elise with earnest eyes, "Daddy doesn't have feelings for Victoria."

Elise shook her head gently.

It wasn't that she doubted James's words, but she simply didn't care anymore.

"He really doesn't. When we lived overseas, even though Victoria visited often, Daddy always kept his distance. It's you he cares about, Mommy. It's Great-Grandpa who keeps pushing for their union," James continued passionately. "Daddy won't actually marry Victoria. He told me once that the only person he'd ever—"

"Jamie," Elise interrupted softly.

James looked at her with his large, dark eyes full of concern.

"Children shouldn't worry about adult matters." Elise didn't want James burdened with complications beyond his years. "Just remember that no matter what happens between Daddy, Mommy, or even Victoria, we all love you deeply. Nothing will ever change that."

"Okay." James nodded seriously.

"Let's take some pictures." Elise pulled out her phone and began taking selfies with James.

She refused to let unhappy thoughts ruin this moment.

In the adjacent Ferris wheel carriage, Victoria gazed out the window, her face radiant with happiness.

"William, Crestwood has developed so rapidly. When I visited with Grandfather as a child, I never imagined it would become this magnificent. The city's growth these past few years has likely surpassed even Rockville's development." Victoria praised the city enthusiastically.

"Hmm." William responded noncommittally.

Crestwood had indeed experienced explosive growth in recent years, becoming the nation's most significant economic hub. From purely commercial and economic perspectives, Crestwood had surpassed both the capital and Rockville. The latter two cities remained more politically focused, housing numerous high-ranking government officials.

Victoria turned from the window and noted the cold expression on William's face.

Whenever cameras weren't pointed their way, he maintained his distance from her—more noticeably than he ever had overseas.

She deeply regretted not returning with William when she'd had the chance.

The Stuarts maintained business interests in Crestwood. She could have easily returned here and continued her relationship with William.

That way, that woman would never have had an opportunity to come between them.

She had always believed William had no other women in his life besides her. Though she'd never openly expressed her romantic feelings, she'd always assumed he would either remain unmarried or eventually marry her.

Her pride had prevented her from making the first move all these years. As someone who'd been pampered and admired since childhood, she couldn't bring herself to pursue anyone. She would rather wait forever than appear desperate.

But now, William had let another woman into his life.

Faced with this threat, she had completely transformed.

She knew with certainty that if she didn't act now, William would belong to someone else. She could accept him remaining single forever, but she could never bear seeing him love another woman.

So she had flown back and persuaded her grandfather to accelerate their engagement plans.

Since their childhood, family elders had often joked about them marrying someday. Though no formal betrothal had ever been announced, it was tacitly understood between both families. Given their families' close relationship and the commercial benefits their union would bring, the Levines had no reasonable grounds to refuse when her grandfather proposed the match.