He Never Loved Me Until the Day I Finally Left Him novel Chapter 528

Sitting nearby, Claire Campbell looked at Hope with fond exasperation. "Hope, he was just checking on you. Don't be ungrateful!"

Claire gently pinched the little girl's cheek. "And he's your brother. Why do you insist on calling him your brother-in-law?"

"It's the same thing! 'Sister-in-law' sounds weird, so I call her Lena. That makes Julian my brother-in-law!" Hope declared, operating on her own unique brand of childhood logic. "Besides, Julian doesn't mind!"

Truthfully, Hope preferred to call Julian by his first name.

Since he endlessly spoiled her, he never bothered correcting her.

Claire was completely helpless to enforce the rules.

"It's fine. She can call us whatever she wants," Helena chuckled warmly.

Claire shook her head with a smile. Helena turned to her and offered, "Claire, why don't you take a break? I can stay with her for a bit."

"Alright. I need to tidy up a few things and get an update from the doctor anyway. I'll come find you later," Claire agreed, nodding.

Gathering her things, Claire left the room to give the mother and daughter some privacy.

Once alone, Hope launched into an endless, animated chatter.

Helena sat beside the bed, listening with a soft smile.

She answered every single one of the little girl's rapid-fire questions with infinite patience and warmth.

"Are you leaving soon?" Hope asked, resting her chin on her hands. "Are you going to pick up Julian?"

"Yes, I have to head to the airport soon. And you need to go to sleep early," Helena coaxed.

"But I want to go home!" Hope grumbled.

"We have to wait for the doctor's permission, sweetie," Helena replied, her voice remaining endlessly gentle.

"Fine," Hope mumbled.

Helena spoiled her rotten with everything else, but when it came to her health, the woman was uncompromising.

Sometimes, even Claire would let things slide.

But never Helena.

"You know, Lena, sometimes I feel like you're more of a mommy to me than my actual mommy," Hope huffed.

Helena froze, a sudden tightness gripping her chest.

She forced a smile, swallowing the lump in her throat without saying a word.

Reaching out, she softly ruffled Hope's hair. "Be a good girl. I have to go now, but I'll come back tomorrow."

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