"Okay," the children agreed, making their way to their designated area and settling down.The table was full of snacks, fruit, and pastries, with lots of toys around. Nolan and Lana kept their friends entertained, eating and playing together.Meanwhile, the grown-ups sat on the couches in the living room."I didn't think you both would make it," Nicole said, glancing at Benjamin and Maximillian."On a day this fun, we wouldn't miss it for the world," Benjamin and Maximillian replied, smiling.Even though the younger ones tried to keep the birthday party a secret from them, once they found out, there was no way they wouldn't come. Not only did they show up, but they also brought gifts for Nolan and Lana."Yeah, your dad and I were thinking of just telling them, but so many people ended up coming. Good thing we were ready," Gloria said, smiling at the crowded room.The plan was for a simple celebration with close family, but the enthusiastic turnout made the party even more fun.
The younger adults gradually joined the kids' area, drawn by the infectious laughter and joyous sounds.Preston and Ellar quickly became one with the children, engaging in a lively game of hide-and-seek. With a cloth covering his eyes, Ellar tried to catch the others within a set boundary.Sean and Jane leaned against each other, watching everyone play with joy. Sally snuggled in Steve's embrace, her hand on her abdomen. "Steve, our child will be like them too, right?""Yes, they'll be just as happy and joyful," Steve replied, kissing Sally lightly on the temple.Sally blushed, smiling shyly, her cheeks flushing.Spencer, Lulu, Samuel, and June stood with Nicole and Jared, watching Nolan and Lana with amusement."Looks like they're having a blast today," Spencer said."Yeah, they seem really happy," Samuel added.Lulu nodded, smiling. "This is probably the happiest they've been since they got back."Nicole smiled warmly. "It's been a great day, hasn't it?"Jared squeezed Nico
"He didn't come, but he prepared gifts for you," Nicole explained."Oh." Nolan's gaze returned from the window to the box in his hands, his expression hesitant.Nicole touched his head gently. "You can choose to open it or not."It was clear that Nolan was still somewhat resistant, likely still upset about Lawrence's actions from before."Let's open it and see," Jared's voice chimed in.Nolan looked up at Jared, murmuring, "Dad, I...""It's okay. It's a birthday gift he sent you, and I think it's something you'll like," Jared said softly.After all, Lawrence knew Nolan and Lana well, so the gifts he chose were surely ones they'd enjoy. Jared could sense Nolan's uncertainty and inner struggle; it's tough for anyone to accept being used by someone they trusted, especially for a child.But Nolan's emotions for Lawrence were genuine, as was the care Lawrence had shown him, which probably made Nolan's inner turmoil even more complicated.Nolan hesitated to open the gift box, sensin
[Alright then. Get some rest.][Goodbye.]After signing off, Nolan stepped away from the computer desk. Catching Nicole's gaze, he said somewhat awkwardly, "I'm going to take a shower.""Sure thing," Nicole replied with a smile, finding her son's sudden bashfulness endearing.Once Nolan had finished his shower and climbed into bed, Nicole made sure he was tucked in before switching off the light and leaving the room.Lying in bed, Nolan gazed into the darkness of his room. His eyes, glimmering faintly in the dimness, held a whirlwind of emotions that gradually settled into peace. There were many things he didn't fully understand yet, but he found solace in knowing that his mother was always there for him, and in that, her decisions were his as well.****Meanwhile, Lawrence sat staring blankly at his computer screen."Sir, Nolan has logged off," Ian murmured softly, breaking the silence that had enveloped Lawrence.Snapped back to reality, Lawrence glanced at Ian. "You can go
Glancing at Nicole, Jared awkwardly excused himself. "I'm going to take a shower, " he said.Nicole chuckled softly, amused by his clear devotion as a doting father. She could only imagine the long road ahead for any boy who fancied Lana, wondering just how exceptional they would have to be to earn Jared's approval.The next day dawned bright and sunny.Nicole arrived at the office as usual. Despite a day's worth of work pressing down, thanks to Nicole and Lulu's efforts, the workload left for Nicole wasn't overwhelming."Ms. Riddle, it's unusually quiet on Everett's end. Could there be something amiss?" Patricia whispered cautiously.Nicole's eyes narrowed slightly. Her voice turned cold as she said, "Keep an eye on him."It seemed out of character for Everett to stay quiet; Nicole felt there had to be something brewing. After the recent events, Everett would likely be more cautious, making him harder to deal with."Got it," Patricia replied."Nicole, do you think Everett will
Biting her lip, Patricia left with a slightly awkward demeanor, muttering, "I'm off to work."Watching Patricia's hurried departure, Lulu couldn't help but laugh. She could see that Patricia clearly cared a lot, yet Patricia pretended to be indifferent.Back in her office, Patricia leaned against the door, biting her lip in embarrassment. It seemed her feelings had been inadvertently revealed; she did care about Ellar and wanted to know about him, concerned for his well-being.****Meanwhile, at BayCorp, "Achoo!" Ellar sneezed loudly and rubbed his nose. "Did I catch a cold?"He glanced at the air conditioning; the temperature was fine.Knock, knock, knock.Someone knocked on the door, and Ellar responded, "Come in."His assistant entered with a serious expression. "Mr. Riddle, that car is back at the front of our office building again.""Again?!" Ellar clenched his teeth, his expression darkening.The car had been showing up for three days straight now. There was always some
When Ellar realized Doretta was crashing his home to get settled in San Joto, he thought, 'Having an extra person hanging around is gonna be a bit of a hassle. Finding her a job might help her move out sooner.'"Got any job preferences? I could lend a hand with the search," Ellar offered, his brow furrowing."Thanks. I've got a master's in management. Gonna scope out what the local job scene's after," Doretta replied, indicating she wanted to suss out the job market first.Doretta noticed Ellar's expression and laughed. "You didn't think I was looking for a job in housekeeping or caregiving, did you?"From Ellar's reaction, she had guessed his initial assumption. She understood that Ellar probably thought of her as just someone from rural areas. But if she had no skills or qualifications, she wouldn't have bothered coming all the way to San Joto; she could have easily found a job back home.Ellar felt a bit embarrassed; he had indeed thought so initially, but Doretta's education a
"Treat this place like your own home, and don't hesitate to make yourself comfortable," Emma comforted Doretta."Got it. Thank you, Aunt Emma," Doretta responded with a smile."If you're feeling tired after your journey, feel free to rest," Emma said, her concern evident."In that case, I'll leave you guys to enjoy your meal. I'll head back to my room," Doretta said as she stood up."Of course, take your time," Emma said, her satisfaction with Doretta evident as her smile widened.After Doretta left, Dexter quietly cautioned Emma, "Don't set your expectations too high." His advice was meant to temper any potential disappointment."You're not exactly helping by being so pessimistic," Emma replied, clearly unhappy with Dexter's comment."I'm just reminding you, some things can't be forced. You don't want it to backfire," Dexter explained.Emma rolled her eyes at Dexter. "I know. Even if I think Doretta is a good match, we still have to respect what Ellar wants."Dexter felt some