Chapter 75

The same way the Macpherson household bustled with activity, across town in a cozy apartment, another family gathered, their hearts full of excitement and a touch of nostalgia. Alice sat on the plush sofa, her son Charlie nestled in her arms, his tiny fingers playing with a lock of her hair. The living room was a picture of controlled chaos – garment bags draped over chairs, boxes of decorations stacked in corners, and the coffee table covered in swatches and magazines.

Emma, Alice's younger sister, sat cross-legged on the floor, her art school portfolio spread out before her. She was sketching furiously, trying to capture the scene before her – her family, together and happy, on the eve of such a momentous occasion.

"Em, don't you think you should be helping instead of drawing?" Mark, their brother, called from the kitchen where he was arranging a platter of snacks.

Emma rolled her eyes but didn't look up from her sketch. "This is helping. Alice will thank me later when she has a bea