85

ADELINE’S POV

The door opened, and my grandmother walked in. I still felt awkward calling her "Grandmother," so I just called her by her name, Lucy.

"Adeline, how are you doing today?" She asked, her voice gentle

"I'm good," I replied, trying to match her warmth. "Just enjoying the garden."

She smiled and sat down beside me. "That’s wonderful. I’m glad you’re feeling at home here."

I nodded, feeling a bit shy. "Thank you for everything. I really appreciate it."

She placed a hand on mine. "Of course, dear. We are so happy to have you here. We’ve missed so much time with you."

I looked down, feeling a bit emotional. "I

happy you brought me here too."

She cleared her throat softly. "Adeline, I wanted to talk to you about something important."

I looked up, curious. "What is it?"

She smiled reassuringly. "We’ve been planning a ball for you. It’s to formally introduce you to society, to the business world. It’s a big event."

My eyes widened. "A ball? For me?"

"Yes, dear. It’s strictly by