Chapter 545 Like a Tail
So, keeping up with their usual gig, Daniel's fam crashed Michael's place for New Year's Eve again.
Last year, they partied at Michael's crib, and this year, it was Daniel's turn to play host.
The help got the day off, and after the chef whipped up some dishes, he bounced. Linda and Diana took care of the rest, with Mia pitching in too.
Mia grinned at them, "Linda, Diana's looking more and more like you every day."
Linda smirked, "I keep saying she looks like me, but Daniel's always like, 'Nah, she doesn't.'"
"Daniel's not back yet?"
"Nope, he said he wouldn't be home till after five."
Linda felt bad for Daniel, still grinding on New Year's Eve. But hey, after a crazy year, he deserved a break.
This year, Diana was back, and the fam was finally all together. Linda couldn't be happier.
Every year around this time, she missed Diana like crazy.
"By the way, is Diana gonna visit her adoptive parents?" Mia asked, all casual-like.
Diana's adoptive parents didn't have any kids of their own and had only adopted Diana. After Diana left and went back to the Wolfs, they felt chill and headed back to their hometown.
Diana's adoptive parents were cool with her decision to return to the Wolfs. Linda wanted to buy them a house in City B so Diana could visit whenever.
But Diana's adoptive parents were dead set on going back to their hometown, and no one could change their minds.
Diana nodded, "Yeah, I'm gonna go back."
After all, that's where she grew up, and her adoptive parents raised her. She couldn't just forget that, and Linda had already prepped everything for her to take back.
Mia, still curious, asked Linda, "Linda, hasn't Diana's name been changed yet?"
"Nope, didn't need to," Linda said while kneading dough. "From now on, Diana's not just my daughter but also a child of the Scotts."
The Scotts had legally adopted Diana and raised her like their own. Linda couldn't just take that away from them, even if she was her bio mom.
Mia gave Diana a look that made her squirm a bit.
Diana looked down, avoiding Mia's gaze.
Linda didn't catch that and asked, "Is Daisy's due date coming up soon?"
"Yeah, one more month."
They started chatting about Daisy's upcoming delivery.
Daisy was also hanging out at The Wolf Mansion for New Year's Eve. She'd heard Nicholas wasn't going back to The Watson Mansion, so she didn't have to go there either.
"Mom, I'm heading out for a bit," Clayton yelled as he threw on his down jacket and bolted out the door.
Linda heard him and came out.
"Where you going?" Linda asked.
"Gonna see Paul. He's in the hospital, and I might not make it back for dinner."
Clayton grabbed his car keys and took off before Linda could say no.
He was loud enough that Diana, in the kitchen, heard too.
Diana thought, 'Paul's in the hospital!'
She caught that bit, and her mind was already with Clayton.
Paul was bored out of his mind when Clayton called, so he picked up.
When Clayton got to the hospital, he saw the usually hyper Paul lying there all blah and rushed over, freaking out.
"Paul, Paul, wake up, man! You gotta hang in there. You promised to teach me how to date, remember?"
Paul snapped out of his dream, smacking Clayton on the head. "Dude, I'm not dead. Why are you bawling? Are you nuts?"
Clayton felt all kinds of wronged. "Your face is so pale. Do you have some terminal illness or something?"
"Idiot! It's just a stomach bleed. I'll be fine in a few days."
"A stomach bleed is still serious! Paul, you can't keep this from me," Clayton said, jumping up like he'd seen a ghost.
"Jesus, Clayton, are you out of your mind? You want me to have a terminal illness and kick the bucket?"
Clayton quickly waved his hands. "No, no, no, I want you to live forever, Paul."
"Then zip it!"
Clayton clamped his mouth shut.
He sat down quietly, pulled out his phone, and started Googling causes of stomach bleeding.
As he read, his face went from relieved to freaked out, making him even more anxious.
Meanwhile, Paul got up and started changing his clothes.
When Clayton finally looked up from his phone, he saw Paul about to head out.
"Paul, where are you going?"
"To celebrate New Year's."
"Are you heading back to The Watson Mansion? I can drive you."
Clayton trailed Paul like a lost puppy.
Paul dodged the nurses doing their rounds and made it to the hospital entrance, only to remember his car was still at Heights Hill Villa. So, he had no choice but to hop into Clayton's car.
He gave an address.
Clayton frowned. "That's not The Watson Mansion. Where are you going to celebrate New Year's, Paul?"
"A friend's place."
"I'm coming too."
Since starting music school, Clayton barely had time to hang out with Paul.
Now that he was on break, he wanted to make up for lost time.
"No, Caroline doesn't like you."
"What! Paul, you're going to Caroline's for New Year's?" Clayton exclaimed, "You might as well come to my place."
"Stop whining and drive!"
Paul kicked back in the back seat, eyes closed.
Clayton's mind was racing the whole way.
When they arrived, he couldn't help but worry about Paul, so he followed him out of the car and into the elevator.
Paul rolled his eyes, and before he could say anything, Clayton explained, "I'm worried about you. You were in the hospital with no one to take care of you. After dinner, you'll probably need to go back. With me here, I can take you back, and we can celebrate New Year's together."
A shiver ran down Paul's spine listening to Clayton.
Caroline opened the door and saw Paul with Clayton trailing behind, looking puzzled. 'What's going on?' she wondered.
Paul grinned, "Caroline, I'm here for dinner."
Caroline was silent.
"I couldn't shake off Clayton. He insisted on coming."
Caroline couldn't just turn Paul away.
But if she let Paul in and not Clayton, it wouldn't be cool either.
At the dinner table, what was supposed to be a cozy family gathering now included Paul and Clayton, making Nicholas's face darken.
Paul gave Nicholas a pitiful look.
Nicholas stayed silent.
Paul always played the pity card. 'Doesn't he feel any shame?' Nicholas thought.
"Josie," Paul said, picking up Josie and placing her on his lap.
Josie curiously looked at Clayton, who stared back wide-eyed.
The two locked eyes in a silent standoff.
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