Chapter 50: New members

"By the way," Jace added without turning around, "you might want to get someone to fix the lights. You’re already enough of a menace without the added atmosphere."

The door closed behind him.

Victor remained where he was, staring at the empty doorway.

Slowly, the charming smile slipped from his face, leaving behind an expression of pure astonishment.

He hadn’t expected to be scolded like an unruly child and abandoned without so much as a backward glance.

Victor leaned against the wall and a small, genuine smile tugged at his lips.

"How interesting," he murmured.

...

A few days later, Magnolia Crest was lively with guests for a small gathering, the spacious hall filled with conversation as Jace, Leon, Sienna and Callahan stood together near the entrance.

Ava had barely stepped inside before she caught sight of the magnificent interior.

She stared at the sweeping staircase and the elegant chandeliers overhead, then grabbed Sienna’s arm and pulled her aside.

"Hold on. You’re telling me you’ve been living here?" she whispered, looking as though she had just discovered a national secret.

"I thought Callahan was the heir of Hawke Corporation, but even he has to answer to his grandfather, doesn’t he? What kind of power does he have to own this place? Not just anyone can get in here."

On her first day here, Sienna was shocked too. But Callahan never acted like it was a big deal so she also normalized it.

"So mysterious..." Ava whispered.

"You make it sound so deep," Sienna poked her forehead, "He must have his ways."

Ava slowly turned to her, eyes widening with delight. "Oh, my God. You’re already defending your husband."

Sienna shot her a scathing look, "Do you want to be kicked out?"

Ava grinned, entirely unrepentant. "I’m just saying, Kira acquired a luxury apartment and threw a party for half the socialites. My co-actress was there too.

She even had the media making a fuss about the mysterious heiress who’d bought one of the city’s most exclusive properties. If she knew you were living here, she’d probably choke on her own publicity."

"Oh."

"You didn’t know?"

Sienna thought about it for a second before she said, "She did tell me she got a better place than mine."

Ava’s grin disappeared, "Your penthouse?"

Sienna nodded, "At first, she wanted it.’’

"You don’t need to tell me the rest. I’m certain your family probably went at it, getting you to hand over your place to her," Ava looked outraged, "Does your family think your name is Free Real Estate?"

Sienna couldn’t help laughing at that.

The sight of her friend ready to wage war over an old injustice, warmed something in Sienna’s chest.

Their talks were interrupted by footsteps approaching the hall.

Victor entered with his usual effortless elegance, his attention moving over the gathering until it landed on Jace.

Then his steps slowed.

Across the room, Jace had turned at the sound of his voice.

The moment their eyes met, his expression shifted with unmistakable recognition, and Victor’s charming smile grew just a fraction more interested.

Sienna, unaware of the silent exchange, went forward to greet him, "I thought you might be too busy to come."

"How could I miss the fun?" Victor beamed.

Ava made a strangled sound beside Sienna. "Wait. Victor Adams? The mayor of Amethyst City is here too?"

Victor turned toward her with a gracious smile, "At your service, Miss Rivers. It’s a pleasure to meet one of the country’s most celebrated actresses in person."

Ava’s hands flew to her mouth, "You know who I am?"

"Of course. It would be rather embarrassing for a mayor not to recognize someone who can command an audience more effectively than most politicians."

Ava looked ready to float off the floor, "He knows who I am, Sienna."

"I heard him."

A low, unimpressed voice interrupted them, "What’s so special about a pretentious fox?" Leon was a short distance away, looking thoroughly put out.

Jace quietly moved to Leon’s side, visibly on the same page as the man.

Leon glanced at him.

Jace shrugged innocently.

Meanwhile, Ava had settled beside Leon, still watching Victor with undisguised admiration.

Leon’s face darkened, "Miss Rivers, wipe that drool."

She looked at him indignantly, "Excuse me? He’s the sort of man every girl has a teenage crush on. I’m allowed to be a little flustered."

Leon glanced at her, "Now you make me wonder how you look when you are truly flustered."

Ava looked at him but the man had already looked away as he engaged in some conversation.

In no time, food and the first round of drinks were already served by Aunty Jane. And the atmosphere had turned lively.

Sienna appeared from the adjoining room carrying a small cardboard basket lined with a soft blanket.

Three tiny heads peeked over its edge, each pair of curious eyes taking in the unfamiliar crowd.

"Since everyone is here today, I suppose it’s time I introduced the newest members of the Hawke family."

The conversation stopped almost immediately.

Victor looked at the kittens before glancing at Leon. Leon snuck a peek at Callahan and nodded at Victor with a resigned look on his face.

Victor looked at his friend with amusement, "They are adorable."

"Indeed! When did you get these three?" Ava was the first to rush over, though she wisely kept her hands to herself until Sienna lowered the basket onto the sofa.

The orange-and-white kitten stretched its neck toward her, while the grey-and-white one curled deeper into the blanket.

The black-and-white kitten watched the gathering with such solemn suspicion that Jace leaned forward to get a better look.

To Ava’s question, Sienna glanced at Callahan, "We adopted them a few days ago."

Leon turned to Callahan, "Is the Hawke Family still adopting?"

"Not taking wildlings," Callahan deadpanned.

Leon: "_"

He had merely played a prank with the charity gala but the past few days, he had been made to work his ass off.

Yet, it looked like Callahan was still holding a grudge.

"What did you name them?" Victor asked.

Sienna laughed, "I’ve been calling them Orange, Grey, and Black. Hence, this gathering."

The people in the room: "_"