Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

"Absolutely."

"Alva, thank you so much!" Raven said as she took the gift and set it aside, planning to open it later.

Alva Cole, however, took the initiative to say, "It's a diamond bracelet. If you don't like the style, you can exchange it."

Abbey let out a low whistle, "Alva, always the generous one, gifting a diamond bracelet..."

Alva raised an eyebrow, a hint of pride in her expression, but she humbly replied, "Oh, come on, what haven't you seen before? This is nothing for you."

"We're all family here, but if you have something for the eldest, what about you and Madge?" Abbey half-joked, half-serious. "You're a bank manager, always dealing with big clients. You know how to handle these social niceties, don't you?"

Alva was not one to indulge her: "So, Abbey, you want a gift too?"

Abbey's smile remained, "Who wouldn't want a diamond bracelet? Madge, do you want one too?"

The conversation turned to Madge, with Abbey and Alva both looking her way.

Madge was at a loss for words.

"Come on, Madge, say something?"

At the critical moment, Norris spoke up, "She's not fond of jewelry. She never wears the pieces I give her."

what a bumpkin, not

not like it, but I do!" Abbey shamelessly pushed, "Alva, you wouldn't play favorites, would

you host a dinner for everyone at

place was no mansion; it would be

at a nice restaurant?" Alva seemed to

tables? And it couldn't be just any restaurant; it had

just joking,

Alva just smirked.

we eating or what?" Abbey changed the subject to

clearly made things

you eat breakfast? Are you

Abbey was speechless.

glanced at the clock on the wall. At this point, anyone still making people wait was either genuinely

voice

isn't the meal

descended the stairs, dressed in a polo shirt

and sporting a bit of a beer belly, his face still showed signs of his youthful handsomeness and

her eyes, thinking: Without

husband

smiled and went up to him, explaining, "We planned to start, but everyone wanted to wait for you. It's the holiday season, after all, and

for me?" Maddox frowned. "Letting everyone go hungry? What about mom and dad,