Chapter 611 I Only Like Mrs. Kingsley's Scent
"This crystal sculpture, isn't it Marc? What a thoughtful gift! The carving is so lifelike, it looks just like Marc!"
"Yeah, the craftsmanship is amazing. Must be from a real pro. Mr. Kingsley, you're too kind."
Miguel's smile was so forced it was almost painful. "It's rare for Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley to be so considerate! Susie, thank them for him!"
Susie, trying to appear gracious despite knowing the sarcasm, accepted the gift with a smile. "Thanks, Brooklyn. Thanks, Sebastian."
Brooklyn examined the crystal sculpture. While crystal was beautiful and delicate, it was also fragile. Giving it to a child meant it could easily break. If Erik shattered the sculpture of Marc, the thought alone was distressing.
Susie must be feeling quite anxious.
"Susie, no need to be so polite. Just remember, crystal is fragile. Make sure Erik doesn't break it."
As soon as she said that, Erik reached out to grab it. His small hands trembled, almost dropping it, which made Susie shiver. "Alright, I'll put it away for now."
"Why the rush, Susie? It's Erik's toy. Let him play with it until he gets bored."
Susie's face darkened. The sculpture of Marc, in a way, represented Marc himself, and it was being called a toy.
It was a blatant insult.
Brooklyn raised an eyebrow. Sebastian, ever the schemer, had given a child a sculpture of his father. 'Well played, Sebastian. You win.' She thought,
"Mrs. Jordan, the second gift is for Flynn. You can open it for him. The third gift is specially prepared for you, Mrs. Jordan. You can open it after the party." Sebastian emphasized the last sentence, making Dione's heart skip a beat. Knowing Sebastian's style of gift-giving, she was truly apprehensive.
"Thank you. I'll accept the gifts. I don't have anything to give in return, so please enjoy the food and drinks tonight."
Sebastian casually twisted his wedding ring, his cold smile making anyone who saw it feel uneasy.
"Mrs. Jordan, aren't you going to open Flynn's gift?" Brooklyn reminded her, her eyes fixed on the box. She was genuinely curious about its contents.
Dione bit her lip and smiled awkwardly. "Maybe later. Let's eat first, and I'll show it to him afterward."
"That doesn't seem fair. Erik got his gift, but Flynn didn't. Look, Flynn is about to cry." Brooklyn held Erik, who was happily playing with the "Marc" sculpture, laughing.
Susie was on edge, ready to catch the crystal if it fell.
Miguel's voice was icy. "Open it now. Give Flynn his gift."
Dione had no choice but to comply. Nervously, she untied the ribbon and slowly opened the box. Inside was another crystal sculpture.
But...
"How thoughtful. This sculpture... isn't it Mr. Jordan?"
Catherine leaned in for a closer look. It was clearly not Miguel, butCatherine squinted. "This person looks familiar. Wasn't he in some TV show recently? What's his name..."
Susie blurted out, "It's Jesse Turner! He played a minor role in a time-travel drama recently. He was the third male lead, had an affair with the second female lead, and got killed by a barrage of arrows. I watched that show."
Dione's mind went blank.
How did Sebastian get a sculpture of Jesse? And with Susie's comment, it felt like her heart was pierced by arrows.
Her face turned pale, and cold sweat formed on her forehead. She held the sculpture, trembling.
"Mrs. Jordan, are you alright? You don't look well." Brooklyn, though unaware of who Jesse was, found Susie's explanation vivid. Sebastian never gave gifts without a purpose.
So, this minor celebrity must have an unusual connection with Dione.
"I'm fine. I just stood up too quickly. Maybe my blood sugar is low. I'll be fine after a rest."
It was a clear shock.
"Young, handsome actors are popular these days. I heard he's a good idol, so I had a sculpture made. Sorry, Mrs. Jordan. Next time, I'll have one made of Mr. Jordan and send it over." Brooklyn smiled innocently, her eyes seemingly pure but sharp.
She and Dione had their private matters. Others might not know, but a small hint from Brooklyn could touch Dione's sensitive nerves.
"Aunt Brooklyn... I want that..." Erik, losing interest in the toy, turned his attention to the food.
Brooklyn picked up a fork. "Alright, I'll get it for you."
Holding Erik with one hand, she reached for the foie gras with the other. Sebastian took the fork from her. "Let me."
Their harmonious interaction made them a model couple before the meal was even over.
It was a slap in the face for Catherine.
Susie quickly took the "Marc" sculpture and put it back in the box, coaxing Erik. "Erik, come to Mommy."
Erik, with a mouthful of foie gras, shook his head. "I want Aunt Brooklyn to hold me."
"Erik seems to be closer to Brooklyn. It looks like Brooklyn is more charming than his own mother."
At the long dining table, with dozens of people, the atmosphere shifted smoothly, keeping things from getting awkward.
Sebastian, seeing Erik clinging to Brooklyn, worried her arm might get tired, so he took Erik into his own arms. Clearly, Sebastian was not used to holding children.
His movements were awkward, and after a while, he handed Erik to the nanny, leaving with a faint smell of milk.
Sebastian frowned, making Brooklyn laugh.
"Don't like the smell?"
"I only like your scent." His eyebrows arched, his smile deepening.
Brooklyn was speechless.
Miguel tapped his cane on the floor. "Alright! It's getting late. Everyone, please enjoy your meal!"
Catherine checked the time, wondering why her father hadn't arrived yet.
She had planned for him to back her up tonight, but he was nowhere to be seen. She was furious.
"I want to be held too!"
As soon as Erik left, Flynn reached out towards Brooklyn.
Dione's eyes widened. "Flynn, be good! Mommy will hold you!"
"No... I want Aunt Brooklyn to hold me. I want Aunt Brooklyn to hold me." He insisted, pouting and about to cry.
A guest laughed. "Kids are like that. They want what others have. You should let Mrs. Kingsley hold him for a bit, or he'll keep crying."
Sure enough, Flynn, seeing Dione's reluctance, squirmed in her arms, unable to be soothed.
"Alright, alright, be good!"
Dione, reluctantly, handed Flynn to Brooklyn.
Brooklyn raised an eyebrow, then smiled, gently pinching Flynn's cheek. "Alright, I'll hold you. But you can't call me Aunt Brooklyn. You're Erik's uncle."
That only made things more awkward for Dione and Susie, and Miguel wasn't pleased either.
"Ha! That's right, Flynn is Erik's uncle."
Flynn was stubborn. "I want to call you Aunt Brooklyn! Erik calls you Aunt Brooklyn, so I will too!"
Adults couldn't argue with a child. Brooklyn gave Flynn some dessert, which he happily ate.
Flynn was lighter than Erik, so Brooklyn didn't mind holding him, one hand supporting him, the other playing with him.
But when Brooklyn felt Flynn's pulse, her expression changed.
Flynn's heart rate was irregular. After a moment, she confirmed it was problematic, similar to Sofia's condition. Early stages of arrhythmia, which could worsen.
It seemed Dione's genes were problematic, with both children having the same heart condition.
If not treated promptly, it could be life-threatening.
Catherine clutched her purse. The medicine she had prepared might not be needed after all.
But where was her father?
Just then, Catherine's phone rang.
She quickly answered. "Dad! Where are you?"
But it wasn't Bruce on the other end. "Ms. Cooper, it's me. Mr. Cooper had a heart attack. I just took him to the hospital. You need to come quickly!"
"What! Okay... I'm on my way!"
Catherine hurriedly put her phone away, not bothering to close her purse, and stood up. "Mr. Jordan, my father is unwell. I need to go to the hospital immediately!"
"That sounds serious. You should go!"
With Catherine gone, the remaining guests felt it was time to leave and began saying their goodbyes.
Brooklyn moved her chair and walked over to Dione, handing Flynn back to her.
Flynn's sculpture slipped from his hand, falling onto the thick carpet.
Dione's heart skipped a beat. "Did it break?"
Brooklyn smiled. "No, it's fine. I'll pick it up."
Brooklyn bent down to pick up the sculpture and noticed a white packet where Catherine had been sitting. She discreetly slipped it into her hand.
"Mr. Jordan, I have some matters to attend to. I'll take my leave." Sebastian's goals for the evening had been achieved. It was time to leave gracefully.
"Alright, no need to see you out."
Dione and Susie were filled with resentment, but with their secrets in Sebastian's hands, they couldn't openly oppose him.
They could only watch as Sebastian and Brooklyn, the picture of a loving couple, left, their backs enviably beautiful.
The event, filled with hidden agendas, ended. Sebastian and Brooklyn left the Jordan Villa before the other guests.
The atmosphere inside had been stifling, but outside, the air was refreshing, the breeze gentle.
Brooklyn relaxed her shoulders. "Sebastian, the scenery in Aqua Vista City seems nice. Will you take me for a walk?"
Sebastian adjusted her coat. "Of course, I'd be delighted."
Brooklyn looked up at the starry sky. The stars twinkled, sometimes bright, sometimes dim. "It seems the weather in Aqua Vista City isn't great."
Sebastian, holding her waist, lifted her chin. Reflecting on the evening, he felt a warmth in his heart. "Brooklyn, smile for me."
"Smile? Why? Didn't I smile enough at the party?"
"You did, but those smiles weren't for me."
Unable to resist, he leaned in, kissing her deeply in the Jordan Villa's garden, the shadows of the flowers creating a dreamy scene. Their kiss lingered.
"Someone might see us."
Reluctantly, he pulled away, their noses touching, his warm breath on her face. "The weather might not be great, but with you by my side, everything is perfect. Your smile brightens my day."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
