Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 785

Hearing the commotion at the front door, little Lillian turned around to look.

To her delight, her mom had finally come home.

“Mommy!” she squealed.

Like a tiny cannonball, Lillian launched herself into Camila Davis’s arms. “Mommy, you’re back!”

Camila scooped her daughter up, showering her with kisses. “I missed you so much, Lillian! I missed you more than anything!”

Lillian’s cheeks were soft and sweet, and she giggled as her mom smothered her with affection, her voice ringing clear and bright: “I missed you too, Mommy! I missed you a hundred out of a hundred!”

Melissa George watched the affectionate scene, unable to keep from laughing. “You two act like it’s been years, not just a few days apart! Aren’t you laying it on a bit thick?”

Camila finally looked over at her mother and grinned. “It’s not just that—I’ve got great news!”

She beamed with pride. “Lillian entered an international art competition and won the silver medal! Our Lillian—she’s now officially a little prodigy artist!”

“Really?” Jerry Davis, who’d overheard from his office, rushed into the room, his face lit up with excitement. “That’s incredible! Our Lillian is amazing!”

“But—which competition was it?” Melissa asked, a bit unsure. Jerry immediately grabbed his tablet and pulled up the details for her.

Once they understood how prestigious the award was, both grandparents were bursting with pride for their granddaughter.

“This is wonderful! It’s a huge event for our family!” Jerry exclaimed. “I’ll have Susan get things ready—we’re celebrating tonight!”

He turned to Camila, eyes shining. “Why don’t you invite Sarah and the others over for dinner? Let’s make it a real party!”

“Absolutely!” Camila nodded, her whole face aglow with happiness.

The couple and Susan wasted no time. By two in the afternoon, the three of them were already busy confirming the menu and buying ingredients.

“Absolutely!” Sarah nodded, then dove back into the fray with Larry, both of them vying for the last chicken wings.

By the end of the meal, every plate was wiped clean, and everyone was stuffed. They drifted out to the backyard, sipping tea and chatting as they digested.

Jarvis Peters was practically starstruck to finally meet Eric Morris. He’d been dreaming of this moment for ages. Now that he had the chance, he hovered around Eric, pouring him tea and peppering him with questions.

“Has Camila mentioned I want to be your apprentice?” Jarvis asked, eyes shining with hope.

Eric couldn’t help but laugh at his obvious eagerness. He accepted the tea and replied, “She did. But are your parents on board with this?”

Without missing a beat, Jarvis blurted out, “Don’t worry! They weren’t thrilled at first, but after I went home and talked to them, they finally agreed!”

Camila, overhearing the conversation, couldn’t help but wander over, curiosity written all over her face. “What did you do to convince them?”

Knowing Jarvis, she half-wondered if he’d threatened to cut ties again just to get his way.