CHAPTER 398: UNEXPECTED VISITOR

The island was buzzing with celebration. By the following morning.

News of Noel-Blaze’s early arrival swept through family group chats, Instagram, Facebook, email threads, and voice notes like wildfire.

Photos of Blaze cradling his son in one arm and kissing a glowing Amelia on the forehead flooded every device with warmth and awe.

Before long, congratulatory calls started pouring in.

Text and video messages from extended family, colleagues and friends of the couple lit up their phones.

Even enemies of the couple currently serving their jail terms were not left out. The Christmas miracle somehow found its way to them in their darkest cell, reminding them of their vices and the virtues of choosing a life of contentment over greed.

By noon of the same day, visiting friends from all around the world started trooping to the island in their numbers–in private jets, helicopters and cruise boats–all bearing gifts of love.

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Stacy and Nicole squealed the moment they walked into the nursery, rushing toward Amelia with matching ’Auntie Squad’ shirts.

"Hello, mummy." Stacy teased softly, as she perched on the edge of the bed while gushing over the mother and son.

"Hi..." Amelia whispered in a tired voice, smiling. She had been asleep all this time and had just woken up.

"How is our little prince?" Nicole said in a hushed voice, peeking into the peacefully sleeping baby’s face.

"Still napping after keeping me awake most of the night," Amelia said, stroking his soft curls.

"Welcome to the beautiful world of motherhood." Stacy chuckled softly.

"I wish he could open his tiny little eyes," Nicole whispered, touching his cute cheeks.

"Me too." Stacy chimed calmly.

"He has been sleeping for a while now. I’m sure he’ll open his eyes anytime soon." Amelia encouraged them.

"May I carry him?" Nicole looked to Amelia pleadingly.

"Of course." Amelia gently placed the sleeping baby in her arms.

"Aww! So cute!" Nicole chimed like a bell as she carefully held baby Noel-Blaze for the first time. "I love him even more."

"Positively adorable." Stacy gushed over the child.

As if Noel-Blaze had just observed the changes made, he stirred a little and partially opened his captivating light blue eyes.

"Oh my goodness! The little one is awake. He is looking at me." Nicole squealed softly, while rocking the baby gently as his little face twisted in a frown, like he was about to complain.

"Shh... Not so loud." Stacy cautioned, while beaming at the baby. "You don’t want to make him cry."

"Never." Nicole hummed softly, her voice like a sweet lullaby and her eyes glimmering with so much love.

With an approving cute baby smile, Noel-Blaze drifted off back to sleep.

Amelia smiled at both ladies as she observed her son settle calmly in Nicole’s arms. "You’ll both make such amazing mothers." She cooed.

"I know, right?" Nicole pressed her lips on the now sleeping baby’s forehead. "But until then, this is my first godson and I’m going to spoil him rotten," she declared, clutching a soft blue bunny toy close to the sleeping baby.

"Me too," Stacy said with a sniff, already tearing up.

Just then, Kayla snuck into the nursery, hoping to steal a glimpse of the baby and to inform Amelia of an unexpected visitor who was currently being interrogated and scanned by Blaze’s internal security.

"Ugh! You guys are here. Why didn’t you call me?"

"Shh...." Stacy and Nicole chorused.

"He’s sleeping."

Kayla nodded and tiptoed to their side, catching a glimpse of the sleeping baby. "So cute."

"I know, right?"

"Hello, pretty mummy." Kayla crouched beside Amelia’s bed and kissed her on the forehead, causing her to giggle. "You still look tired."

"Yeah... But I’ll be fine before the evening party." Amelia promised.

"Don’t worry.... we’ve got you covered," Stacy promised. "I am personally handling the makeover session."

All four friends laughed softly before Kayla broke the news.

"You wouldn’t believe who came all the way from Salvine City just to see you and the baby," Kayla said, scrunching her face a little.

"Who?" All three friends chorused.

"Joanna."

"Joanna?" Kayla raised a brow.

"Which of the Joannas?" Stacy narrowed her eyes.

"Our former friend?" Amelia asked, completely stunned.

"The one and only." Kayla scoffed. "She arrived at the beach in a helicopter bearing baby gifts."

"What?" Nicole’s eyes widened. "Who told her we needed her stinking gifts?"

"That woman has got some nerves to show up here, after all she had made us go through in the past." Stacy’s expression turned livid with rage.

"Calm down ladies. Let’s not get overexcited." Amelia cautioned.

"That’s not all." Kayla pointed out as Nicole gently returned the sleeping baby to his mother.

"There is more?" Nicole’s brows knitted in disgust.

"Yes. It seemed Miss ’I’m better than everyone’ found herself an unfortunate man to get her pregnant."

"Joanna is pregnant?" Amelia’s eyes widened while the other were rendered speechless.

"Yes... I saw the baby bump with my own eyes while she was being escorted out of the estate. She seems to be around five months or six from what I saw."

"Wow!"

"That’s quick!"

"I have to see her." Amelia declared after a quick contemplation.

"What?!" All three friends chorused.

"You can be serious Amelia." Stacy disagreed.

"There is no way I’m allowing that toxic woman to come anywhere close to my godson or you." Nicole declared.

"She can’t be trusted after everything she did to you, Amy," Kayla warned.

"That’s true, but she can’t hurt me or my child when I have you guys, my husband and my family," Amelia said, her mind already made up. "Moreover, with someone like Blaze and Henry around, she stands no chance of doing anything stupid. My husband can sniff out trouble from ten miles away."

"But, I’m still of your opinion that this is not a good idea." Stacy tried to dissuade Amelia. "That lady joined forces with your enemy to destroy you. Because of her wrong judgment and her meddling, you almost lost your mother-in-law and your husband’s affection. She even caused a rift between your dad and your husband. She doesn’t deserve your audience, nor does she deserve forgiveness."

"Exactly!" The other two ladies chorused.

"This is Christmas guys. The season is all about forgiveness." Amelia’s soft voice filled the room. "It’s true she did a lot of bad things to me and my family. But thanks to her, we became even more united. I’m sure she must have learned from her mistake, and I’m sure she regrets her actions. If I could forgive Tina of all people after everything she did to me, why not Joanna?"

A wave of silence filled the room as all the ladies stared at each other in silence.

"If it makes you all happy, you can stand watch while we talk," Amelia added.

"Is that even an option?" Stacy said sternly, taking up her responsibility as godmother number one.

"And if she pulls one of those stupid stunts around here, I will personally shred her to pieces with my bare hands," Nicole vowed and Amelia chuckled.

"I love you girls." Amelia blew kisses to all three of them as she reached for her phone and dialled Blaze’s number.