Sabrina bounced toward Veronica with pure joy radiating from her small face, her palm stretched high in the air. "Mom, we crushed it!"
Veronica t her daughter's enthusiasm with a satisfying slap of their palms. "We did." Cullen approached them with asured steps. "Did you capture the footage?"
"I got it all," Veronica confird, her fingers dancing across her phone screen as she transferred the video to his device.
The musical chairs competition had concluded, making way for the next challenge: the Invincible Light ga.
This particular activity demanded collaboration from four families working as a unified team. Each group needed to advance forward while maintaining the constant rotation of a large circular tape ring beneath their collective feet. Victory belonged to whichever team crossed the finish line first.
Cullen's gaze found Veronica's face. "Are you interested in participating this ti?"
Sabrina's head bobbed with unmistakable excitent. "Mom has to play this one with ."
Veronica found herself without any reasonable protest. "Fine by ."
As the starting whistle approached, Veronica found herself staring uncertainly at her handbag.
Cullen's hand extended toward her without hesitation. "Let take that."
"I appreciate it." Veronica placed her bag into his waiting palm.
Among typical married couples, such a gesture would barely register as noteworthy. Yet between them, this marked the very first occasion Cullen had ever accepted responsibility for her personal belongings.
Veronica wondered silently whether he had ever perford this simple courtesy for Niall.
His appearance today deviated from his usual corporate formality, yet his imposing height combined with that tailored black overcoat made carrying her bag appear completely natural.
Any observer unfamiliar with their complicated history might easily mistake him for a devoted husband, patiently waiting while holding his cherished wife's belongings until her return.
Veronica forced her attention elsewhere.
The ga demanded flawless coordination between teammates. Veronica positioned herself at the group's center, lifting her arms in perfect synchronization with the others to maintain the tape ring's steady rotation.
Sabrina claid the spot directly behind her mother, gripping Veronica's coat to match her movents, her laughter echoing with genuine delight.
The mont Sabrina spotted Cullen docunting their performance with his phone, her energy skyrocketed. "Dad!"
Cullen had strategically positioned himself at a slight angle ahead of their group.
Veronica remained conscious of his nearby presence, though the ga's intensity prevented her from acknowledging him directly. The instant Sabrina's voice rang out, Cullen's calm instruction followed. "Keep your focus here. Stay with your mother's pace."
Sabrina's response bubbled with enthusiasm. "I understand!"
During the earlier competition, Veronica had remained stationary while filming, maintaining a fixed recording position. Now, as Cullen captured their participation, he demonstrated remarkable dedication by moving in harmony with the ga's progression, walking backward while maintaining steady footage.
One complete circuit brought the ga to its conclusion.
Sabrina imdiately rushed toward Cullen. "Dad, that was incredible! Could we do this again another ti?"
Cullen's expression softened with genuine warmth. "Absolutely."
Veronica approached and reclaid her bag from his grasp. A notification chi erged from within the bag at that precise mont.
She retrieved her phone and discovered Cullen's video ssage waiting for her. Though she registered its arrival, she chose not to view it imdiately.
Sabrina had already claid the space beside Cullen, her curiosity focused entirely on watching the video he had recorded.
Cullen surrendered his phone to her eager hands, then twisted open a water bottle and offered it in Veronica's direction.
Veronica accepted his gesture. "Thank you." Her throat had indeed grown parched from the exertion.
She consud several refreshing sips before securing the cap back in place, just as Cullen's voice cut through the ambient noise. "What cos next on the schedule?"
Veronica seriously doubted that soone possessing his remarkable mory would genuinely forget the agenda after reviewing it once.
However...
Her eyes dropped to the water bottle resting in her grip, and she hesitated. Declining soone's question after accepting their kindness felt unnecessarily harsh.
With that consideration weighing on her mind, she provided the answer he sought. "The Orr Transportation Match."
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