Chapter 285: The Revelation

Kristine, dressed like Belle in a beautiful golden gown, stood on one side of the stage with Kat in her arms. The little girl wore a miniature matching gown, complete with delicate golden details.

Morgan stood proudly with Kit in his arms.

Father and son were both dressed like princes.

Pierce and Judy were standing beside Kristine while Julian and Leanne stood beside Morgan, their faces filled with the unmistakable pride of grandparents.

And beside them stood Isobel.

Unlike the lavishly dressed Morgan and Kristine, Isobel wore a simple, elegant gown. Judy was dressed just as modestly.

Neither woman seemed interested in competing with the family’s extravagance.

They were there simply to celebrate the children.

But not everyone was pleased to see Isobel standing on that stage.

Katherine, dressed like Cinderella, stood below the stage with an increasingly sour expression.

Her eyes were fixed on Isobel.

The longer she stared, the more irritated she became.

"What is she doing up there?" Katherine muttered.

Her mother glanced toward the stage.

"What do you mean?"

"I couldn’t even get up there."

Katherine’s lips curled into a sneer.

"And yet she gets to stand beside the Foster family as if she’s one of them."

Her mother studied the stage before lowering her voice.

"Didn’t you go up there?"

"I did," Katherine snapped. "But someone told me that everyone else would get their turn later. They said that, for now, they were only taking family photographs."

She paused. Her eyes narrowed.

"Then why is Isobel up there?"

Her mother frowned.

"I don’t know."

Katherine’s expression hardened.

"Perhaps it’s because she’s the twins’ wet nurse."

The older woman remained silent.

Her gaze returned to Isobel.

There was something about the way the Foster family had positioned her on that stage that bothered her.

It seemed almost too natural. Too familiar. As though Isobel belonged there.

The older woman’s frown deepened.

Could it really be that simple?

Or was there something else about Isobel’s place in the Foster family that they had yet to discover?

...

Henry and Mary Dalton were both puzzled when they saw Isobel standing on the stage with the Foster family.

Mary immediately tried to catch Kristoff’s attention, hoping to ask him why she was up there.

But then she noticed where his attention was. Kristoff’s eyes were fixed on Isobel.

Mary’s brows furrowed.

Interesting.

Before she could question him, something else caught her attention.

Alexander.

The little boy was squirming restlessly in the nanny’s arms, his eyes fixed on the stage. He stretched both chubby arms toward Isobel, his tiny fingers opening and closing as if he were desperately trying to reach her.

Mary’s expression softened.

For a moment, she forgot about Isobel and focused entirely on her grandson.

She walked toward the nanny and held out her arms.

"Alex, come to Na-ma," she coaxed, mimicking the adorable way Alexander had called her earlier.

Henry, who had followed closely behind, rolled his eyes.

Why is she acting this childish? She is already so old.

"He’s not going to turn you down," he muttered.

Alexander finally looked at his grandmother.

Mary’s face immediately lit up.

"There you are!"

She happily reached for him, and the nanny placed the little boy into her arms.

But instead of settling down, Alexander immediately turned his head back toward the stage.

His little mouth opened.

A string of babyish sounds escaped his lips.

"Na-ma..."

Mary smiled.

"Yes, Na-ma has you, my sweet grandson."

Alexander wriggled in her arms and stretched one tiny hand toward Isobel again.

"Na-ma want Mommy..."

Mary’s smile froze.

Henry’s eyebrows shot up.

For a few seconds, neither grandparent said a word.

Mary slowly looked at the little boy in her arms.

Then she looked toward Isobel.

And finally, she looked back at Henry.

Henry cleared his throat, struggling to hide his amusement.

Mary’s lips twitched and her face soured.

"Well," she muttered, "apparently I’m not his favorite anymore."

...

Suddenly the entire banquet hall erupted into a chorus of Happy Birthday.

Music filled the air as colorful lights shimmered across the ceiling, making the floating cotton-candy clouds and clusters of pink and blue balloons seem almost enchanted.

Then, as if straight out of a fairy tale, costumed characters appeared from different corners of the hall.

Cinderella twirled in her sparkling blue gown.

A prince in a gleaming white uniform waved to the children.

A cheerful gingerbread man bounced onto the stage, followed by a pair of mischievous-looking elves and a towering storybook bear.

They danced their way toward the stage, encouraging everyone to sing louder.

"Happy birthday!"

"Sing louder!"

"Happy birthday to you..."

The children’s voices rose until the entire hall seemed to vibrate with laughter and music.

Kit and Kat could barely contain their excitement.

When the characters began performing a playful dance in front of the stage, the twins burst into delighted giggles, clapping their tiny hands along with the music.

The other children quickly joined in.

Even the adults couldn’t help smiling.

For a few precious minutes, the banquet hall no longer felt like an extravagant gathering of powerful families.

It felt like a magical kingdom where everyone—children and adults alike—had been invited to forget the outside world.

Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for.

The candles were lit.

Kit and Kat leaned forward, their eyes sparkling as the tiny flames flickered against the enormous birthday cake.

"Blow!"

"Make a wish!"

With the help of their parents, the twins blew out the candles together.

Cheers erupted.

Confetti burst into the air like a shower of shimmering stars.

Cameras flashed from every direction as photographers captured the smiles, laughter, and chaos of the celebration.

The twins’ first birthday celebration could not have been more perfect.

As the applause gradually faded, Julian Foster stepped forward.

The host was still smiling when Julian calmly took the microphone from his hand.

The moment the distinguished patriarch of the Foster family took the stage, the atmosphere subtly changed.

Conversations died down one by one.

Guests turned toward him.

Even Morgan’s expression became curious.

Julian looked across the banquet hall, his gaze sweeping over the gathered families before finally resting on the people closest to him.

He raised the microphone.

"I have a very important announcement to make..."

The cheerful music stopped.

The room fell completely silent.

And then Julian said something that made several faces instantly change.