Chapter 175

Chloe nodded. Alright. As long as she wasn't left alone, she could manage.

Damien made a quick call to Tristan, requesting him to look after Chloe on Saturday.

Tristan agreed without hesitation. Of course.

Come Saturday, Tristan took Chloe and Iris to Meadowlight Park.

The amusement park boasted thrilling rides and colorful attractions. Yet none seemed to capture Chloe's interest today. Her usual spark was missing.

She seemed distant. Lost in thought.

Tristan handed them both ice cream cones - strawberry for Iris, vanilla for Chloe.

Studying her features that bore traces of Camille's elegance, he asked gently, "Chloe, what's troubling you today?"

Perched on a swing, Chloe took small licks of her melting ice cream. "I miss Mom," she whispered.

Back in Lucerne, there were months when she wouldn't see her mother. But daily calls kept them connected.

Recently, even with Camille's hectic schedule, she always answered Chloe's calls. Sometimes even rushing home to cook her favorite meals.

Now? Nothing. Not a single returned call. This silence was new. Terrifying.

Tristan knew about the finalized divorce. Knew custody had been granted to Damien.

But he didn't know the current dynamics between them.

"Did something happen?" Tristan probed carefully.

Chloe confessed about the unanswered calls.

Tristan realized she still didn't know about the divorce.

He hesitated. Chose his words carefully. "Your mom would never ignore you intentionally. She's probably swamped with work. It'll pass."

Chloe nodded. "That's what Dad said too."

Tristan fell silent. What more could he say?

Noticing Chloe's sadness, Iris chimed in. "I miss Aunt Camille too! But Uncle Tristan says important people get super busy. She'll call soon!"

Chloe managed a small smile. "Okay."

Truth was, Tristan hadn't reached out to Camille either. Not because she was busy - but because he understood the divorce, especially losing custody, must be devastating.

Asking her to babysit now felt cruel.

At 5 PM sharp, Damien called. "Where are you?"

Tristan shared their location. Within twenty minutes, Damien arrived.

"Dad!" Chloe's entire demeanor brightened. No comparison to how she'd been with Tristan.

Damien, dressed in a tailored navy suit (his overcoat left in the car), scooped her up effortlessly. "Did you have fun with Tristan and Iris?"

Chloe, now cheerful, nodded vigorously. "So much fun!"

She clung to Damien like a koala, refusing to let go.

Damien carried her into The Meridian, only setting her down in their private dining room. He turned to Tristan. "Thanks for today."

"No trouble," Tristan replied. "They mostly entertained themselves. Honestly, it was easier than expected."

With the girls distracted, Tristan lowered his voice. "I know you have custody, but what about visitation?"

Damien's lips curved knowingly. "You think I'm keeping Camille away?"

The unspoken tension hung heavy between them.