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."

herself, what a bumpkin, not

I do!" Abbey shamelessly

for everyone at her place, there'll be plenty of gifts to go around,

no mansion; it would be cramped

nice restaurant?" Alva seemed to know what she was thinking and cut off any attempt at

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

was just joking, Alva took it

Alva just smirked.

two, are we eating or what?"

clearly made

matriarch's face darkened. "Didn't you eat breakfast? Are you that

Abbey was speechless.

At this point, anyone still making people wait was either

then, a voice came from

isn't the meal

a

belly, his face still showed signs of his youthful handsomeness

rolled her eyes, thinking: Without you, who dares

her husband

to him, explaining, "We planned to start, but everyone wanted to wait for you.

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