"How is that any of your business?" Evan asked coldly. Adam was about to speak, but Draco hit the table and placed his glass heavily on it. He shouted at Evan, "Do you still have any manners in you?""Father, Evan is just lively. It's normal for him to have a strong personality. Please don't get angry," Casey said calmly.Casey's comment only infuriated Draco further.He glared sternly at Evan. "We'll never have peace in this family as long as you're here!""I'm returning the favor, just as it is. I believe this family is tainted as long as Casey is a part of it," Evan retorted with a scoff.Draco's anger flared, and he slammed the table again. "Get out of here, you piece of shit!"Evan stood up and slowly buttoned up his jacket. "It's clear that I won't share a meal with a sex offender at the same table."Without looking back, Evan walked out of the dining room.However, as he walked away, a coffee pot was hurled at his back, soaking the back of his outfit in scalding coffee
Scott turned to Neil, sensing his gaze, and asked with a faint smile, "What's happening?"Neil hesitated briefly, then spoke. "I need to talk to you.""Sure," Scott replied as they moved away from the dining table to the yard.Neil got to the point, "Tell me honestly, how do you feel about Carol?"Scott adjusted his sweater collar and replied, "Isn't it clear I've been by her side for five years?""But you didn't seem jealous when they mentioned Evan earlier," Neil said, studying Scott closely.Scott grinned. "I'm over 30 now. I can control my emotions."Leaning against the car, Neil remarked, "You seem a bit too casual about it.""I've realized there's no future for Carol and me," Scott said calmly."Why not strive for it then?" Neil asked."If striving worked, we'd have been together already," Scott replied.Neil felt regretful about Scott not being with his sister. It was rare to find a man so considerate toward Carol."Scott, find a suitable lady and get married," Neil
Evan's face grew cold. "Shut up!"Caroline stood up. "Kenny's got a new shirt that's never been worn. I'll show you where you can change.""Yeah, we're pretty much the same size, and I still have many shirts with tags on them," Kenny replied.Evan looked meaningfully at Caroline and followed her upstairs. Caroline located the shirt and handed it to Evan."Change quickly so you don't catch a cold," Caroline advised casually.Evan took the shirt and fixed his gaze on her. "Are you genuinely concerned about me?"Caroline realized she was indeed showing concern for him in both words and actions.Anxiously, she stammered, "H-Hurry up and change. I'm going outside!"Evan grasped her arm. "Do you have a towel? I'd like to take a shower."Caroline nodded. "Yes. I'll get one for you."She withdrew her arm and exited the room, regretting her visible concern for Evan. 'If that's the case, Paige and the others probably noticed it too, right?'Caroline sighed and returned to Kenny's ro
The tipsy Kenny turned to Neil and declared, "Neil, they're up to something indecent!"Neil glanced at Kenny and then at Scott, who remained silent while eating. He sighed and said, "Carol has the freedom to choose. I won't interfere."The three children listened in on the adult conversation from their spot on the rug, where they played after dinner.Liora playfully nudged Tyler and asked, "What are they talking about, Tyler? Are Mommy and Daddy playing a game upstairs?"Tyler and Axel exchanged a glance, and Axel patiently explained, "Lia, they're probably discussing something important."Liora wondered, "Then why is Godmother sneaking upstairs?"Tyler set down the block in his hand. "Lia, you've been wanting to be a big sister for a long time, right?"Liora's eyes lit up. "Can I be a big sister?"Axel smiled. "Do you want a little brother or sister?"Liora replied, "Neither!"Tyler and Axel asked together, "How will you be a big sister, then?"Liora giggled. "I want to be
At midnight, Kenny and Alex set up and lit the fireworks.The crowd of people exchanged smiles as the fireworks illuminated the night sky.Evan glanced at Reuben, who then retrieved three thick gift packets brimming with money from the car. He handed the packets to Evan, who distributed one to each child.Liora touched her gift and beamed, exclaiming, "This is thick. It must be full of money!"Neil and the others walked over and presented their gifts to the three children.After expressing their gratitude, Tyler turned to Caroline and asked, "Mommy, did you prepare gifts for us?"Caroline said, "Don't you already have enough gifts?"Tyler insisted, "Wouldn't you like to give us gifts too, Mommy?"Caroline smiled and began giving her gifts to the children one by one. "Axel, Ty, Lia, Happy Mardi Gras! May you grow strong and healthy!"The three children chorused, "Happy Mardi Gras, Mommy!""Happy Mardi Gras!" Suddenly, Evan's voice echoed from behind.Caroline turned, her face
Neil smiled and said, "Lia looks like me."Caroline chuckled. "I forgot to mention, this is my brother. You remember him, right? You've worked at Xander Residence for so long. You must have taken care of Neil, too."Just as Caroline's voice faded, Tyler suddenly spoke.Caroline turned and followed Tyler's gaze to Liora, who stood there absentmindedly. "Lia? What's going on?"Liora stretched her hand to point at the photo on the tombstone, but she stopped herself, thinking it would be inappropriate."Nothing." Liora shook her head.The person in the photo seemed familiar, but she couldn't recall where she had seen them before.'Was it in a dream?' she wondered.Liora stared at the photo with her head tilted until Caroline finished her visit.Caroline stood up and said, "There's another graveyard next door. Jamie is buried there, and I'd also like to visit her.""Sure. I'll carry you, Axel," Neil replied as he picked up Axel.Axel didn't decline the offer. After all, he was ti
Caroline blushed and thought, 'What was I thinking?'"I'm going with my brother. He's waiting in the car," Caroline informed.Evan remained silent but reached for his phone to make a call.He said, "Follow Caroline's car. I'm going with them."After hanging up, he asked Caroline, "You don't mind me tagging along, right?"Caroline looked at him in shock. He was demanding to come along even though he had a car, and he hadn't sought her approval. Could she still reject him now?They all got into the car, and Evan was visibly surprised to see the three children.Caroline explained, "It's lucky we took the MPV today. Otherwise, you wouldn't have a place to sit. I brought the children so they could visit my parents."She turned to Neil and said, "Neil, he wants to join because he's Axel's father, after all."Neil didn't say much after hearing Caroline's remark.Liora clung to Evan while he played with her. Neil whispered to Caroline, "I didn't expect him to be so patient with chi
After cleaning the tombstones, Neil held Caroline's hand as they placed bouquets of flowers. Neil said, "Mom, Dad, I brought Carol to visit you. I've found her, so you can be at peace now."Caroline felt a connection as she looked at the photos on the tombstones but didn't know what to say. In the end, she softly muttered, "Mom, Dad."Neil smiled at Caroline. "Don't be too tense. I'm sure our parents are thrilled to see you."Caroline didn't know what to say, so she glanced at her children. She waved at Axel and Tyler, then looked at Liora, who was hiding in Evan's arms.She was surprised. "Lia?"Liora's head moved, but she had no intention of showing her face.Evan looked at Caroline. "She's cold."Suddenly, Benjamin's words came to her mind, but she quickly dismissed the strange thought.She took Tyler and Axel's hands and led them to the tombstones.Neil said, "Mom, Dad, these are Carol's children…"Just as his voice faded, a strong wind began to blow, leaves rustled, an