HEIRESS REBORN: MARRYING HER EX-FIANCÉ-Chapter 29: One year later

As time goes by, the seasons change, and another year slips away in the blink of an eye, almost without warning.

Ayana Kingston was now 13 years old physically, but a year older as an older woman mentally at heart.

’’~Sis!’’

The familiar sound of her little brother’s voice pulled her attention away from her laptop. She looked up to see an adorable toddler waddling toward her in his onesie, his wide eyes sparkling with joy.

"Yes, Jay?" she replied, her gaze softening as it always did when she looked at him. She couldn’t help but smile at the sight of his tiny, determined steps.

Yes.

Her little brother, the adorable Jason, could now walk on his own without any assistance.

"What do you want Sister to do for you, baby?" Ayana asked gently when her little brother paused by her side.

’’.....’’ The adorable Jason stared at Ayana with a blank expression, as if considering her question. Then, without a word, he turned and began to waddle off, his tiny feet leading him on a new adventure as he toddled around her room.

’Cute.’ Ayana chuckled softly, watching him as he moved from one corner to the next, exploring her things with wide-eyed wonder.

Even if it wasn’t his first time doing so, it was a familiar routine, one that always brought a sense of warmth and comfort to her weekend.

’I should read through this draft and submit the assignment before the end of the day.’ She turned back to her laptop screen with a tired sigh.

’’~Sis!’’

’’Hm?’’

She glanced over to see her little brother waddling back to her side, this time tugging along her water bottle by the attached string. A soft smile spread across her face at the sight.

"You want me to have a drink? Our Jason is such a sweetheart," she cooed, setting her laptop aside to give him her full attention. She reached down and took the half-emptied water bottle from his tiny hands, her heart melting a little more at his thoughtful gesture.

*~Growl*

Right on cue, Ayana’s tummy rumbled loudly, breaking the sweet atmosphere between her and Jason.

’’You wanted to call me for lunch, huh?’’ She let out a chuckle and pulled the pillow off her lap.

’’Yesh!’’ As though understanding her words, Jason nodded eagerly with a toothed grin and sparkly eyes that seemed to be asking for praise.

’’Then why didn’t you say anything to sister?’’ Ayana asked, setting aside the water bottle, and pushed herself up, her toes curling on the fluffy foot carpet by her bedside. She then stretched her arms above her head before smoothing out her loose cream shirt.

’Now that I think about it, this little guy always seems to know when I get hungry....’ Ayana lowered her gaze to her little brother, who seemed a little down, probably from her words.

She chuckled at the sight of his pouty lips and placed her on his silky hair. ’’Our Jason is indeed the best and the cutest little brother.’’ Her fingers brushed through the curls, hoping to brighten up his mood as she could not bear to see her little brother sad, especially from her words.

’’Let’s go eat with Nanny and big brother, Jason.’’ She removed her fingers from his curls, and offered them. As expected, Jason instantly brightened up at her words and held onto them without hesitation.

’’Yesh!’’

’So cute....’ His eager innocent eyes elicited a slight laugh from herself as they carefully walked out and left for the dining room.

When they arrived, Noah was already at the dining table in his wheelchair. "I was just about to come get you." He said as they passed behind him.

"I was trying to finish my assignment that’s due on Monday." Ayana explained as she reached the dining table. She gently lifted the two-year-old into the highchair, ensuring that he was comfortably secured before taking a seat beside him. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

As she began to eat her own meal, the soft clinking of plate and the scent of warm food filled the room. Ayana glanced over at Jason, who was squirming slightly in his highchair, his eyes darting between her plate and the empty space in front of him.

Right on cue, their Nanny entered the dining room with Jason’s meal, a brightly colored baby blue plate with bite-sized portions of his lunch.

"Here we go, little one," she said with a gentle smile, placing the meal down in front of Jason. His hazel eyes lit up instantly as he reached for the small blue spoon and tugged on the small-sized chicken and boiled eggs.

Ayana chuckled lowly at the sight before taking another bite of her meal.

"Ah, that reminds me. The Young master Easmond wants to take another checkup on Jason, Ayana," Noah said, breaking the comfortable silence in the dining room after Nanny Hilda left the family of three alone.

Ayana looked up from her plate, her gaze shifting to Noah before turning to Jason, who was happily munching on his food clumsily, oblivious to the conversation. She furrowed her brow slightly, her concern subtle but present.

"Another checkup?" she repeated softly, her tone thoughtful. "I guess it’s time for it again, huh?"

After a moment, she glanced back at Noah. "What about yours, Noah?"

Ever since the Young master Easmond had guaranteed to take a look at her first cousin, Ayana had also decided to add Jason to his list of patients. If there was anyone that she could trust to keep a close watch on her little brother’s well-being, it would be the unknown medical genius, Matt Easmond.

Though she had been ignorant and foolish in her past life, she was thankful to the heavens that she had caught the news about the Easmond family.

True to those rumors, the Young master Easmond lived up to that title of a medical genius. When she had taken Jason to one of the hospitals under the Easmond family, she had seen the medical expertise of Matt Easmond.

It also seemed that she wasn’t the only one who believed in him rather than the Young miss of the Easmond family. Two medical doctors were also present while they diagnosed both her little brother and her first cousin.

Though it was more of Matt taking the lead, but under their diagnosis and prescriptions, Jason started to get better, and before she knew it, the one-year-old toddler had taken his first step.

’’He checked my body last week,’’ Noah replied after swallowing a bite of his rice. ’’Since my illness is a bit complicated and not just one, he seems confident that it would take a while or perhaps years before he develops a suitable cure.’’

’’Now, he’s focusing on Jason since it’s quite critical for a toddler,’’ He added with a sigh. ’’I didn’t expect my father to have taken his greed far.’’

Ayana stilled, her fingers pausing over her spoon. She blinked blankly at Noah and asked quietly, "Your father?"

’’I am not stupid, Ayana.’’ Noah stated with a small grin. ’’Who else would give an unborn baby a drug that would make him addicted in later years?’’

’’.....’’

’’If you were trying to make me not feel bad, I appreciate the kind gesture, but I know my father.’’

’’.....I thought too much then.’’ She said after a while.

’’You did,’’ Noah pointed out immediately. ’’But I didn’t expect my arrogant cousin to care for a sick man like myself.’’ He teased with a playful smile.

’’Noah....’’

’’Yes, Yes, you are a changed person.’’ He let out a dramatic sigh despite her warning tone. ’’But Ayana, you’re still an arrogant person deep down no matter how much you try to hide it.’’ He then chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. ’’I see it when you talk to others outside our family of three.’’

’’Shut up.’’ Ayana shot back, getting annoyed by his antics and almost gritted her teeth

Noah feigned a look of shock, pressing a hand to his chest. "Oh, how could you say that to your dear cousin? I’m just looking out for you."

Ayana rolled her eyes, picking up her pace as she continued eating, eager to escape the dining room.

Her first cousin was getting more annoying day by day. She suddenly wondered when he started these playful antics of his.

’’Oh right, have you heard of the upcoming banquet for the Young miss Easmond?’’

*Clank!*

Two pairs of hazel eyes, one big and one small, suddenly focused on Ayana, whose expression shifted to one of shock as her eyes grew wide.

"Shit." was all she managed to say, the word slipping out before she could stop herself.

"~Shit!" Jason giggled playfully, his chubby arms shooting up in the air with his small blue spoon.