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."

thought to herself, what a bumpkin, not appreciating

like it, but I do!" Abbey

replied, "Sure, Abbey, if you host a dinner for everyone at her place, there'll be plenty

was no mansion; it would be cramped

dinner at a nice restaurant?" Alva seemed to know what she was thinking

tables? And it couldn't be just any restaurant; it had to be somewhere decent, or it

just joking, Alva took it

Alva just smirked.

eating or what?" Abbey changed the subject to ease the

comment clearly made

darkened. "Didn't you eat breakfast? Are

Abbey was speechless.

wall. At this point, anyone still

a voice came

the meal

stairs, dressed in a polo shirt paired with light-colored

a beer belly, his face still showed signs of

thinking: Without

husband

wanted to wait for you. It's the holiday season, after all, and it's more meaningful when everyone's

wait for me?" Maddox frowned. "Letting everyone go hungry? What about mom and dad, at their age, can they handle being this