“Amber, I’ll take the stuff upstairs. My phone’s on the table- office? I didn’t get a chance to check it earlier,” Hudson said.

    can you message Alex

    for me

    me and let her know I won’t be bgoing /bback to the

    Amber rocked a ck sweater and a pair of jeans, the outfit making her look even taller band /bmore striking.

    “Alright, got it,” she replied with a small nod.

    Rowena cheerfully hooked her arm through Winifred’s. “Hurry up, hurry up! Sienna’s already called me a bunch of times. It’s time for dinner–this is the New Year’s Eve dinner, you know!”

    Winifred looked a bit embarrassed, dragging bher /bfeet as she walked. Rowena practically had to drag her along to get her moving.

    When they got to the door, Winifred stopped and gave Rowena ba /bdeep, searching look. “bRowena/b, I’m still kind of bnervous/b.”

    Rowena gave her a knowing smile and wrapped her arm around Winifred’s shoulders.

    “Come on, what are you so scared of? It’s not like they don’t already know,” she said.

    Look who’s here the big star! Thorn teased when he saw them.

    Winifred shot him ba /bre, but Thorn just kept peeling grapes, unfazed.

    He peeled a grape and fed it to Rence.

    Renee opened her little mouth wide, eating them one after another.

    Caleb scampered over, all eager. “Uncle Thorn, I want some tool

    Thorn rolled his eyes. “Go away, kid.”

    Caleb wailed, “bDad/b, you were right! Uncle Thorn’s such a cheapskate!”

    But when he turned around, he realized his parents had disappeared. He’d been tricked–Julian bhad /bsnatched Sienna away from him

    again.

    “Uncle Thorn, just peel one for me, bplease/b? Matthew pouted, trying to act all cute,

    Thorn shot him a squinty side–eye. Renee bwas /bstill munching on her grape, but Thorn made ba /bshow of popping the freshly peeled one into his own mouth right in front of Caleb.

    “Ugh! Uncle Thorn, you’re such a cheapskate! I’m not talking to you anymore Caleb huffed.

    “Brat, like I even want to talk to you. As if, Thorn snorted.

    Caleb snorted, “Uncle Thorn, I saw you hiding something in your cabst night! I’m gonna go dig it out and show Dad!”

    With that, he dashed upstairs.

    Thorn’s heart nearly leapt out of his chest. In a panic, he scrambled after him. “You little rascal, get back here right now!”

    Renee blinked her big eyes, bwatching /bthem.

    “Renee.” Hearing someone call her bname/b, Renee turned around–it was Liam.

    Liamb, /bGodmother, Wayne Renee called out sweetly.

    “Oh my, whose little girl is this? She’s just too cute! Come here, let me cuddle your” Nora couldn’t help but want some snugglesb. /b

    Renee looked bover /bat Wayne, “Wayne, give me a hug!”

    “Sure.” bWayne /bsmiled.

    Nora let out a cold snort band /bshot bWayne /ban annoyed re.

    b1/3 /b

    b11:27 /bAM c c

    Out on the balcony, Julian wrapped his arms around Sienna bfrom /bbehind. They could hear Thorn scolding Caleb upstairs on the second floor, mixed with theughter and cheerful voices of Vivian, Amberb, /band the others.

    The Hart family house was buzzing with life.

    “Still worried about Winifred?” Julian asked

    Sienna’s eyes showed a trace of helplessness. “They’re bstill /bso young. There are bound to be all kinds of problems ahead. It’s not like Rowena is the only person Winifred could be with, right?”

    Julian lowered his voice band /bwhispered in her ear, “But that’s their path to bwalk/b. They have to figure things out on their own.

    “Vivian and Nathan basically control the business world in Varis, and Winifred’s binfluence /bhas grown a lot over these years. Amber is the youngest math professor and the president of one of the world’s top academic societies.

    “They’ve all got the ability to protect themselves now. And even though Hudson bis /bba /bbit older, he can always support and ept Amber for who she is.”

    Sienna

    bgave /ba

    faint smile, took his hand, and turned to face him, “What about you? What do you want?

    Julian’s heart raced He gazed at her with deep affection and leaned in to kiss her.

    “Whatever you give me, that’s what I want,” he bsaid /bsoftly,

    Sienna yfully pushed him away. “You bonly /bget one shot, you know. Remember, you said you didn’t want anything.”

    Julian’s heart skipped a beat. He hugged her tight, blurting out, barely able to contain himself, “I want to marry byou/b! Really, marry you!”

    Sienna couldn’t help butugh. “Alright, I’ll give you what you bwant/b.”

    “Really?” Julian was practically bouncing with excitement.

    Sienna wrapped her arms around his neck, bgave /bhim a quick kiss, then pushed him away with a yful smile:

    “No. I was only kidding, she teased.

    Julian hurried after her. “Heyb, /bbwait /bup, mydy! I just did a quick fortune–telling–turns out tomorrow is the most auspicious day for a wedding!”

    Sienna grinned. “Wow, didn’t know you were into fortune–telling

    Julian was rendered speechless.

    Downstairs, Thorn was still chasing Caleb. “Caleb, you better not let me catch you! When I do, I’m so gonna bspank /byou so hard, your butt’s on fire!”

    “Uncle Thom, you’re a cheapskate! You can’t catch me!” Caleb taunted, making a face.

    Thom was furious. “Caleb! You’re so doomed!”

    “Renee, want to go by /bwith me?” Liam said, taking her bhand/b.

    “Okay!” Renee chirped.

    “No!” Matthew appeared with a stern face, giving Liam a cold bre/b.

    “Winifred, let me do your hair, bRowena /bsaid.

    Winifred nodded and bsat /bstill, letting her handle it.

    ZELL

    Hudson said, “Amber, you’ve got that speech at the university in Frandell next month. I’ll make all the arrangements ahead of time.”

    Amber replied. “I’m not going. I’ll go visit your hometown with you instead.”

    Hudson was over the moon. He leaned in, nibbled her earlobe, band /bwhispered in her ear, “Thank you, honey.”

    bNathan /bsaid, “Vivian, after the New Year, let’s go on a trip for a few months. I’ve got everything sorted out at thepany

    bVivian /bbshot /bhim a look. “Oh, really? Not being stingy this time?”

    Nathan replied, “There you go, teasing me again. Last time at the beach, they sold me a floral shirt for twenty bucks–so overpriced! Can’t I just notin for once?

    Vivian sighed. “Seriously, why do you even bother saving money? You brake /bit in every single bday/b.”

    Nathan said with total confidence, “To buy you presents, obviously! Didn’t you say that pink diamond was gorgeousst month? I looked it up–it’s literally the only one in the bworld/bb. /bIt was supposed to be 63 million dors, but I paid 65 million for it. It’ll be here tomorrow.”

    Sienna walked downstairs just bas /bfireworks exploded outside, filling the night with a festive glow. bEveryone /bturned to look out the window, taking in the lively scene.

    Julian looked at Sienna with a fery gaze, slipping his arms around her waist from behind.

    “Tomorrow’s an auspicious day to get married,” he murmured.

    “Okay,” Sienna replied.

    1.

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!