Chapter 86:

Shirley’s birthday was celebrated in two segments. The morning was reserved for the Reeves family alone, and the afternoon welcomed their high-society acquaintances.

Upon entering the villa, Dean and Melinda were the first to offer their gifts.

“Mom, this one’s for you,” Dean announced, extending a gift box toward Shirley. “It’s the diamond you’ve been dreaming of. I spared no effort to track it down for you.”

Shirley’s face lit up with joy as she opened the box, quickly swapping her old necklace for the sparkling new diamond one.

LΑτєѕτ chαρτєrs ιn g?l?ovєl?.???

“It’s gorgeous,” Shirley exclaimed, admiring her reflection. “Dean, you never fail to know exactly what I want.”

“Shirley, here’s my gift,” Melinda chimed in, presenting her offering. “Ninety-nine deep-sea blue pearls.” Traditionally, Dean and Jake would present gifts together, each couple presenting one jointly.

The deviation from the norm, with Dean and Melinda giving respective presents, caught Kallie off guard. She and Jake had prepared just one gift together, and she worried this might draw criticism.

Jake seemed unfazed by the change. He confidently approached Shirley with their shared gift. “Kallie and I picked this out for you,” he declared.

Shirley took the gift but couldn’t resist a pointed comment. “This must be from you, Jake! Surely Kallie has something for me, right?”

gaze then shifted

sudden change in this year’s rules and sensed that Shirley and Melinda were intentionally setting her up. If Melinda hadn’t brought a

both of us,” Jake said,

any thought into it,” Shirley remarked dismissively, rolling her eyes

every day.” Just then, Sarah approached with a gift box, presenting it right after Jake. It almost seemed like she and Jake were the actual couple, leaving Kallie feeling like

mood brightening as she embraced Sarah, treating her

place, Kallie instinctively took a step back,

And you? After five years of marriage into our family, do you even care

even Dean, who usually kept his peace, felt compelled to step in. “Mom, we’re supposed to be celebrating. Please, don’t spoil it,” he

her frustration. Kallie’s spirits sank as she listened, her heart growing colder with each word. In the end, she was still treated like

noticing the tension, decided to confront the issue

as she sought to discuss with Jake how to manage Kallie. “Jake, I really

abruptly. “I need to talk to you

his cold demeanor, felt a flicker of fear. “What’s

force her to kneel and scrub the floors?

up, shocked and touched that

and flustered, tried to deflect. “Where did you hear such things? Don’t bother with Kallie’s

didn’t need to hear it. I

had snapped pictures of her being tormented by Shirley and then shown them to Jake? Or was Jake merely trying to

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