Chapter 132 The Grand Gathering
"Thaddeus, it's about time you change this old car; it's nearly falling apart and could be scrapped," Lillian remarked with little kindness in her tone, her words laced with disdain.
Thaddeus simply laughed it off and patted his old car with affection. "I've been planning to, but after ten years, it's hard to part with it."
"Why be sentimental over such a vehicle? It's simply too dangerous. Clara used to be a delicate lady from a well-to-do family. But later, she underwent hardship with you," Lillian mumbled with slight discontent; her hostility toward Thaddeus was apparent in her sharp words.
Kevin felt his mother-in-law's words dampened the once convivial atmosphere, and to alleviate the tension, he promptly invited his uncle and the rest to come inside. "Let’s go in. It's too hot out here; let's go inside where it's cool, with air conditioning and fruit."
"Hello, Kevin. It's been a while since I last saw you. I hope you've been doing well lately." Thaddeus affectionately patted Kevin on the shoulder. Sharing the same surname and both married into the Foster family, Thaddeus had always felt a special kinship with Kevin and had treated him exceptionally well.
"Pretty good. Things are getting better," Kevin replied with a smile.
“Hello, Kevin,” Hannah, shy but affectionate, called out to Kevin from behind him, her bright eyes flickering.
Hannah longed to be close to Kevin but held back due to a mix of shyness and a feeling of inferiority, timidly greeting him instead.
"Hannah, how have you become so distant in just half a year? Last year, you had no hesitations with your sister and me. You're not pretending not to recognize me, are you?" Kevin teased her warmly, ruffling Hannah's hair.
"No! I think about you and Scarlett, Sofia, and Natalie all the time. I've wanted to come over again, but Mom wouldn't let me come here," Hannah explained excitedly. This young girl was remarkably innocent, unable to discern even the jests made by Kevin.
"I know you've been busy with your high school exams. How do you feel about this test?” The middle school entrance exam was over, and the results hadn't come out yet. That was why Kevin asked that.
"Yeah! It should be fine." Speaking of the results, Hannah's face, tinged with shyness and a hint of inferiority, immediately lit up with a touch of confidence.
Kevin knew Hannah had a natural gift for studying, perhaps even surpassing Natalie, and what mattered even more was that she was far more diligent.
"That's great. Which high school are you aiming for? The Silvercrest High School is the best in your area, right?" Kevin prodded gently, knowing that despite being the top school in Hannah's county, it couldn't compare to the good schools in Harborview Metropolis.
"Our local schools aren't very good. I'm hoping to get into Maple Leaf High School in Harborview Metropolis," Hannah murmured, a trace of dejection in her quiet voice.
"If you want to get in, just aim for it, you silly girl. If you make it to such a good school, I will give you a grand reward. Do you have any difficulties?" Kevin asked, sensing Hannah's despondency.
Hannah hesitated, about to share her concerns with Kevin, when a series of sharp honks interrupted their conversation.
Turning toward the road, they saw a brand-new Mercedes C200L and a BMW X1 come to a stop nearby.
"It's my Aunt Victoria and her family," Sofia said with a smile.
As Victoria's family alighted from the vehicles and caught sight of Clara's family, their demeanor immediately conveyed pride and vanity.
"Clara, you've also come. It's really lively here today," Victoria said with a beaming smile as she walked up with Cody and Lily.
Upon seeing Clara's classic car, Victoria's sense of superiority soared, and she put on an air of haughtiness, smiling at Clara.
"Yes, it's my sister-in-law's birthday, so we came for a meal." Clara forced a smile and said nothing more.
Victoria's family's circumstances were much better than the Foster family's, which made Clara's family always feel inferior in front of them, and despite occasionally meeting at family gatherings, there was little genuine interaction between the two families.
"Lillian, happy birthday! Kevin seems to have put some thought into it this time. I heard he booked a birthday banquet at the Pansea Hotel. I've never eaten at such a luxury place before," Victoria said with a smile as she walked up to Lillian, speaking intimately.
While Victoria's words were polite, Kevin noticed that Victoria's family had come empty-handed.
Conversely, Clara's family, with comparatively fewer resources, had bought many gifts this time, and they were not inexpensive items. Kevin estimated that such a large pile of gifts must cost at least two to three thousand dollars.
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