The Queen's Back

Chapter 359

Albert and Haley walked into the kitchen and saw Maxwell frying vegetables while Mona stood beside him, assisting him.

Looking at the two figures, they seemed exceptionally well-matched.

Haley greeted Mona and said, "Albert says that he wants to apologize to you."

Albert had been unsure how to start, but with Haley's words, he no longer felt anxious. It felt much easier to speak up. "Mona, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pressured you to apologize carlier."

"Oh," Mona replied calmly.

Mona had always wanted Albert to get to know the real Barbara, but there had never been an opportunity. On top of that, Barbara had purposely allowed Albert to witness the moment she scratched Barbara's hand. Mona felt that perhaps she and Barbara held equal standing in Albert's eyes, which explained why Albert demanded that she apologize to Barbara. Mona understood his perspective.

What she was not sure about was whether Albert would see through Barbara's hypocrisy after this incident. However, it seemed unlikely, as Albert did not tend to think in that direction at all.

"Mona, don't be angry with me. It's not good for your health." Albert did not know whether Mona was still angry with him when he saw how nonchalant she was.

"It's Christmas. I didn't take this to heart at all. Regardless of whether you believe me or not, I told Barbara that I didn't need her help, yet she insisted on approaching me. I didn't even move the peeler at all," Mona said.

After thinking for a bit, Mona decided to explain the incident to Albert once more. She had said clearly that she did not move, yet Barbara got injured. The only possibility could be that Barbara had deliberately cut herself. She wondered if Albert understood what she meant.

"I believe you, Mona. Then this matter is over. It's Christmas, it's not good for you to be angry!" Albert grinned.

Mona mentioned that Barbara had scratched her own hand on

Albert's response, that what she said had not really registered with him. This was something Albert would have to see for himself. "Alright,

relieved after knowing that Mona was not

It was about time to have lunch. Haley was so hungry that she

of the dishes were already on the table when Bernard stepped outside with a lighter to set

fireworks signaled that the meal was about to begin-an-annual tradition

was full of delicious food. Mona was the first to capture the moment with a photo, reflecting on how last year, with Bernard in the hospital, Christmas hardly felt like a holiday. Today marked her and Maxwell's first true

wishes for Christmas. Everyone raised their glasses in a toast, signaling the official start of

Dec 16

Chapter 359

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joyous, with Albert and Haley adding a

continued to serve Mona throughout the meal. With just a glance from her, he could instantly pinpoint and serve exactly

+5

trouble. The family sat down to make pastry puffs. There was a special one which had 20 cents hidden inside. If anyone managed to eat this among the many pastry puffs, it meant that they would be lucky next year. Since childhood, Mona had never gotten the lucky pastry puff with a hidden coin inside. She did not hold

how are you the lucky one this year? You only have a few pastry puffs in your bowl. You're so lucky!" Albert looked at the

said, "Maxwell handed me this. He's the lucky

the smile on Mona's face and felt that it was indeed a wise

knew she wanted it. When placing the puffs in the pot, Maxwell gave that one an extra squeeze along the edge, leaving a slight fingerprint mark so he could spot it among the others. Sure enough, he managed to serve that exact pastry puff to Mona's bowl. "It's not that I'm lucky; it's destiny that brought this pastry to you, Mona," Maxwell said with a smile. And indeed, it was a little destiny he had made

that her family would stay healthy and well. What she wished for the most