Felicity Thompson chimed in, “With how stingy you are, if you didn’t steal something on his birthday, he’d think you had changed.”Vermont ground his teeth. “You’re heartless! I might be stingy with others, but when have I ever been stingy with you or my bros?”Felicity gave an example, “Did you forget how you tricked both me and your bros, getting me to cook for you for a month without spending a penny?”Vermont defended himself, “As a middleman, can’t I make a bit of a margin? I just got a few meals out of it, is that so bad?”“Shameless!”As they bickered, they reached Keegan. Vermont handed Keegan a gift box, “Happy birthday, bro. When you fell into the water, I thought I’d be visiting your grave for your birthdays. Luckily, the heavens didn’t want you yet. So today, I solemnly promise that as long as I outlive you, I’ll celebrate your birthday every year.”Felicity elbowed him. “Watch your mouth! It’s his birthday, no talk of death!”Vermont slung an arm around her shoulder
Stella hesitated briefly, then Keegan whispered something in her ear, and she didn't object anymore.When Felicity faced difficulties in Rivera, Stella provided considerable help. Florence, Felicity's mother, always remembered this act of kindness. So, when Felicity requested funds to assist with Rainee Spade's medical expenses, Florence promptly transferred a million without hesitation.Keegan had overheard Vermont mention this and kept it in mind. Without fanfare, he redirected all procurement for the Vinci Rivera Group's subsidiaries, holiday gifts, and partnerships with supermarkets to Florence’s company, Deron Holdings.Florence was loyal and principled, but she was also a savvy businesswoman. She would quickly deduce the origin of these orders and understand that her daughter's friend, from a prominent family in Rivera, was quietly supporting her business. She wouldn’t hesitate to return the favor, nurturing a mutually beneficial relationship. It also boosted her daughter's re
Initially, Stella thought it was accidental, so she stepped aside on her own. After the model car circled around her once, it "accidentally" bumped into her foot again.She frowned and glanced upstairs. The second floor was empty, with no sign of Keegan.When she was angry, Keegan really got on her nerves. She thought, "You're not content with teasing me yourself; now your darn machine has to join in too?"Deciding she'd had enough, she stood up, grabbed her jacket, and went out for a walk. To her surprise, that oddly shaped model car tagged along.Wherever she went, it followed like a little puppy, and Stella was thoroughly annoyed. She wanted to kick it away, but then she remembered it cost more than her handbag, so she forced herself to endure.Finding a seat, she sat down. The contraption then used its mechanical arm to place a bottle of water at her feet.Stella glared at the ugly contraption, lifted her hand, and tossed the bottle away. The "ugly thing" turned around, actin
The bottle was adorned with a circle of dots and dashes. Stella wondered where he had found such an ugly bottle.She drank the water, tossed the bottle away, and after her temper had cooled a bit, she bid farewell to the kids and headed home.Upon her return, she noticed Keegan sitting upright on the sofa but didn't acknowledge him. She went straight for a shower and then to bed.In the dead of night, someone suddenly reached out and touched her waist. Stella jumped, raised her hand, and slapped out.Her hand landed on Keegan's head, prompting him to cry out in pain, "What are you doing!"Stella shouted even louder, "That's what I should be asking you! What are you doing? Acting like a hooligan in the middle of the night?"Keegan's expression shifted unpredictably. After a while, he gritted his teeth and said, "Didn't you drink that bottle of water?"Stella was taken aback. "Did you drug me?" So he came in the middle of the night to be her antidote?Keegan's expression turned s
The "ugly thing" was a creation personally modified by Keegan. Stella remembered when he first completed it; Keegan used it to fetch a package for her via remote control. As he handed it to her, he carefully watched her "surprised" expression, finally curling his lips with a proud look.It was something Keegan loved, treasuring it so much that he would personally wipe off any dust that settled on it. If he had been there, he certainly wouldn't have wanted the "ugly thing" handled by these rowdy children.Perhaps her words were too direct, as the relatives all wore somewhat displeased expressions.Dahlia felt even more offended by her words, instantly changing her expression, "Even if it's repaired, it's still spending the Kane family's money. There's no reason for you to get involved!"This was quite an insulting remark, completely not treating her like family. Stella's expression turned sour, but she stood her ground.The relatives probably thought things had gotten ugly and soon
"Stella."Keegan turned to look at her, his throat tightening as he struggled for words. "When did you order it?""Probably when you stayed up half the night, sneaking into the storage room to check on the 'ugly thing'," Stella smirked. "I thought to myself, poor thing, like a little puppy. So, I thought I'd pamper you."Keegan chuckled, but tears welled up in his eyes.He reached out and hugged Stella tightly, remaining silent for a long time, though Stella could feel him trembling slightly.She gently patted his back, lightening the mood. "You don't have to be so touched. I used your money, remember? DC is such an old fox; he asked for an exorbitant price."Keegan was speechless.After the emotional moment, Stella spoke softly, "Back then, when your mom said the thing was broken by me, did you ever doubt me?"In reality, it was Dahlia who first told Keegan about the "ugly thing" being smashed, but according to Dahlia, Stella was the culprit.Keegan didn't pursue the matter t
Stella was completely taken aback. She smiled at Keegan and asked, "How did you even come up with such a method?"Keegan appeared slightly uneasy and took his time before responding, "Wasn't there a trend online about romantic gestures from science students? I thought I'd give it a shot."Vermont chuckled, "Haha, trying out your science-student romance in front of us liberal arts folks? Good thing you didn't use this to confess your love, or else you'd be stuck with me for life!"Felicity remarked, "You're a bit of a slacker academically, so of course, you wouldn't get it. Stella's a top student; this is top-student romance."Stella quickly waved her hands. "No, no, I won't get it either."Afterward, she worried about when Keegan might pull another "romantic gesture of a science student" on her and cautioned him, "I don't like these science student romantic gestures. I prefer the tycoon-style romance."Keegan paused for a moment, still not reacting. Vermont jumped in, "Instead of
Keegan suddenly felt nervous and uncertain.When he first learned Stella was pregnant, he simply thought their family would welcome two children who shared his blood. He felt a responsibility to love them and guide them into adulthood, but the connection felt abstract, lacking the natural bond mothers have from carrying a child for nine months.It wasn't until this moment, feeling the movements under his palm, that he truly sensed these two lives. They were his flesh and blood, intertwined with his beloved's, carrying their hopes, destined to enter the world and grow up in his care, calling him "dad."In an instant, Keegan's heart softened. He leaned closer to Stella's abdomen and whispered softly, "Hey, Daddy's here."As if in response to his touch, the little ones inside her settled down.Keegan looked up at her and asked, "Do you think they heard me?"Stella was about to say, "At this stage, what could they hear?" but seeing Keegan's gleaming eyes, she softened as well and sai