Chapter 633

Chapter 633

The golden rays of the setting sun streamed through the car window, casting a warm glow on Gabriel and Travis's excited faces.

Zoey turned around from the passenger seat, watching the two chatterboxes in the backseat, a smile tugging at her lips.

"Mom! My robot did a backflip today, and my classmates were totally amazed!" Gabriel gestured wildly, his eyes sparkling like stars.

"My telescope is super cool too!" Travis chimed in, not wanting to be outdone. "My friends said they could see little bunnies on the moon through it!"

Henry, driving, glanced at his sons through the rearview mirror. "Those aren't bunnies, they're craters on the moon."

"Whatever, it's still awesome!" Travis insisted, his face flushed with excitement. "Sandy said she's never seen such a great birthday party!"

"Yeah," Gabriel agreed immediately, "the bounce house was twice as tall as the one at Sunshine Kindergarten! And that three-tier cake with the spaceship on top was just the coolest!"

Zoey reached back to ruffle Gabriel's hair, her fingers brushing through the soft strands. "I'm glad you liked it. Mom and Dad worked hard to make it special."

"We loved it!" Gabriel and Travis shouted in unison, their voices so loud that Henry winced.

"Quiet down, my birthday boys," Henry said, pretending to be stern, though the smile lines around his eyes betrayed him. "You're going to make Dad go deaf."

Gabriel and Travis immediately covered their mouths, but their eyes still sparkled with joy.

Zoey watched this scene, feeling a wave of warmth wash over her. Six months ago, when she brought her sons back to the States, she thought they wouldn't stay long and that Gabriel and Travis wouldn't make any friends.

Now, under Henry's loving care, they had become lively and cheerful kids.

The car pulled into the courtyard of The Windsor Manor, where the fountain sparkled in the twilight.

The butler had already opened the door, waiting, but Henry waved him off, choosing to open the car door himself for Zoey and the kids.

"Alright, time for baths and bed!" Henry scooped up Travis, pretending to toss him into the fountain, making Travis scream in delight.

"Dad's cheating!" Gabriel protested, jumping to grab Henry's pant leg. "I want to fly high too!"

Zoey laughed and picked up Gabriel. "Okay, okay, let's get inside. You need a bath, or you'll start to smell."

"We don't smell!" Travis wriggled on Henry's shoulder. "We're astronauts! Astronauts don't smell!"

"Really?" Zoey pretended to sniff him. "This astronaut smells a bit sweaty."

Gabriel and Travis burst into giggles, their laughter echoing in the twilight.

They continued to laugh and play as they entered the house, with the butler and maids smiling as they watched.

The villa was brightly lit, yet still cozy.

Zoey set Gabriel down and gently took off his little suit jacket. "Alright, astronauts, time to take off your gear."

Henry also set Travis down, kneeling to help them undo the complicated fastenings of their astronaut suits.

Gabriel and Travis cooperated, lifting their arms, their eyes still shining with excitement from the day's events.

Gabriel suddenly asked seriously, "Dad, can my programming robot really learn new moves? Like you said?"

Henry nodded, his fingers deftly undoing the last buckle. "Absolutely. When you're a bit older, I'll teach you how to code, and you can design the moves yourself."

"I'm gonna make it do ten flips in a row!" Gabriel announced excitedly.

"What about me?" Travis squeezed in, not wanting to be left out. "Can my telescope see Mars?"

Zoey, tidying up their birthday outfits, answered, "When the weather's good, Dad will take us to the countryside. The night sky is clearer there, and maybe we'll see Mars."

Travis's eyes widened. "Are there aliens on Mars?"

Henry chuckled. "That's something for you to explore when you grow up, okay?"

"Okay!" Gabriel and Travis answered together, as if making a solemn promise.

Zoey looked at her sons' innocent faces, her heart melting.

She touched Gabriel's forehead, then Travis's, making sure they weren't overheated from the day's activities, and felt relieved.

"Let's go, time for a bath."

She took Gabriel and Travis's hands and led them to the bathroom upstairs.

Henry followed, grabbing clean pajamas from the kids' room wardrobe.

In the bathroom, Zoey had already filled the tub with warm water, floating a few rubber ducks, Travis's favorite, while Gabriel preferred the toy submarine that could squirt water.

"Charge!" Travis yelled, eager to jump into the tub, but Henry caught him.

"Hold on, little warrior," Henry said, helping Travis out of the rest of his clothes. "You need to take off your 'armor' first."

Gabriel was already unbuttoning his shirt, but got stuck on his pants.

Zoey knelt to help him, smelling the unique scent of sunshine on his skin, mixed with the sweetness of cake and a hint of sweat. It was the most wonderful smell in the world, she thought.

Soon, the two little ones were splashing in the tub, sending water everywhere.

Zoey's shirtfront was instantly soaked, but she just shook her head with a smile.

"Watch my submarine attack!" Gabriel maneuvered his toy, squirting water at Travis.

"Duck fleet, counterattack!" Travis immediately organized a defense, splashing water back.

The bathroom was filled with laughter and splashing water, almost lifting the roof.

Henry rolled up his sleeves and grabbed the kids' shampoo. "Alright, navy warriors, time to clean your 'ships.'"

Zoey picked up a towel, and the two worked as a team, one washing hair, the other making soap bubbles.

Despite Gabriel and Travis wriggling like little fish and constantly talking about the day's events, the couple managed to complete the nightly task.

"Close your eyes," Zoey said softly, pouring warm water over Gabriel's head. "Don't let the shampoo get in your eyes."

Gabriel obediently closed his eyes but kept talking. "Mom, today I saw Marcella's aunt talking to a waiter. They looked really secretive."

Zoey's hands didn't stop moving. "Really? Maybe they were just ordering food."

"No way," Gabriel shook his head, almost splashing foam on Zoey's face. "They talked for a long time and kept looking my way."

Henry, wiping Travis's back, looked up. "What kind of waiter?"

"A man with dark glasses," Gabriel tried to remember. "His hair was neatly combed, and he smiled at me."