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."

to herself, what a bumpkin, not appreciating diamond

Abbey shamelessly pushed,

a dinner for everyone at her place, there'll

darkened. Her place was no mansion; it would

treat everyone to dinner at a nice restaurant?" Alva seemed to know what she was thinking and cut off any attempt at refusal before Abbey could

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

just joking,

Alva just smirked.

we eating or what?" Abbey changed the

that comment clearly

darkened. "Didn't you eat breakfast?

Abbey was speechless.

on the wall. At this point, anyone still making people wait was either

a voice came from

isn't the meal

the stairs, dressed in a polo

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

this, Abbey secretly rolled her eyes, thinking: Without

husband finally

start, but everyone wanted to wait for you. It's the holiday season,

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