Wedding My Ex’s Uncle

Chapter 325 Epilogue: Kayla and Calvin XIV

Brenda had thought Damien was finally catching on, but his next words hit her like a cold splash of water. “Kayla picked it out at her shop. Said it’d suit you. Seems she was right–you like it, don’t you?”

Brenda’s face darkened, her mood souring in an instant. “You paid for it?”

Damien shot her a scowl. “What, you think I’d mooch off my own niece?”

Kayla had no clue that this one dress had upset Brenda so much that she stayed holed up in her room, too furious to come downstairs for a whole week.

*****

The boutique had hit its stride. For two months straight, customers kept coming, and some of the wealthier ones even spread the word, bringing in new faces.

It wasn’t a goldmine, but Kayla was over the moon. Truth be told, she was pulling in more cash than she ever had as an

actress.

One day, she gathered her family. “Mom, Dad, Mark,” she said, eyes sparkling with excitement, “I’m thinking of taking a trip. Probably gone for about two weeks.”

No one batted an eye.

Mark leaned in, curious. “Where are you headed? Want me to tag along?”

Kayla laughed, waving him off, “No way, Mark. I’m not a kid anymore. I don’t need a babysitter for everything.”

But to them, Kayla would always be their little girl, no matter how grown she was.

“I’m going to the Rockies this time,” she added with a grin. “Not too far. I’ll snap some awesome snowy mountain pics and toss them in our group chat.”

Mark, always the protective brother, mulled her words over a bit longer than their parents did.

“Kayla,” he said, squinting at her, “you’re not going on this trip with Calvin, are you?”

*****

Kayla

had bought a full set of ski

hers alone–no one else

hills and layered peaks stretched out before her. Her

brain for ways to steal a few

by Kayla’s shop, her business partner Amy gave

game was garbage today!” John grumbled,

at the board, shaking his head. “That move was straight–up awful. A kid

smile, his heart clearly not

track down where Kayla had gone–only that she

herself, there were no flight records

leaving him completely

at John across from him. He pressed his lips together before speaking, “Sir Lewis, any chance you

eyebrows flicked up, his sharp gaze locking onto Calvin. A knowing

his scattered focus, was all because of

mood lifted in

to know where Kayla’s off

leaped to pour him a fresh cup of

on the steaming mug, taking his sweet

tell me. Aren’t you worried about her

with her, she’ll have someone to watch her back, right?

wry smile creeping across his face. “You with her? That’d make

enough. Just don’t you dare

like his life depended on it. “Not a word. I swear. If she asks, I’ll say it was

and said, almost casually,

already on his phone,

Lewis, I’ve got to run–something came

watched his frantic retreat, chuckling to himself and shaking his

way too

partner for a while.

Calvin, but

child, a top–tier university grad,