On Grandpa Leonardo’s birthday, Giselle arrived in grand fashion, Knox by her side. Together, they looked every bit the inseparable couple.
It wasn’t until Grandpa Leonardo made his grand entrance that Giselle finally released Knox’s hand. She walked over to stand beside the old man, assisting him in greeting the important guests.
“Why didn’t Milo come with you?”
Grandpa Leonardo’s sharp question hung in the air. For once, Knox pressed his lips into a thin line, his voice calm but steady as he spoke up in my defense.
“Sorry, Grandpa. Milo’s been busy preparing the gift these past few days. He’s exhausted, so I told him to rest a bit and come later.”
Two hours flew by in a blur.
The birthday banquet reached its peak, the moment everyone had been waiting for: the gift-giving ceremony.
And yet, I still hadn’t shown up.
Suppressing the unease that gnawed at her, Giselle stepped into a quiet corner and pulled out her phone, dialing my number.
“The number you dialed is currently unavailable…”
Her frustration flared, but she dialed again, only to be met with the cold, mechanical tone of a busy line.
At that moment, a deliveryman entered the banquet hall, his presence unnoticed until he brought forward the three gifts I had sent.
Grandpa Leonardo smiled warmly as he opened the first gift. Inside was a beautifully embroidered Hundred Gods Longevity Scroll that looked so real, it almost seemed alive.
It was clear to anyone that it had taken me months to create, each stitch made with careful precision.
Moved, Grandpa Leonardo gently lifted the second gift.
Inside lay the heirloom gem, once given to me by the Deveraux family’s grandmother when I married Giselle.
As the gem caught the light, the room fell into a hushed silence.
In high society, returning such a treasured heirloom spoke volumes; everyone understood its significance without a word.
Before Grandpa Leonardo could react, Giselle’s face darkened, her expression as cold as stone.
She silently clenched her fists and moved toward the third gift.
Just as I had anticipated, her face remained frozen, her eyes hard as she lifted the lid of the final box.
