Chapter 0889
Marcus and Valerie were getting ready after the exhausting task of dressing the twins. John was now warthing over them carefully with Camille.
“Dad, do I really have to go?” John asked while chatting remotely with Ethan.
“Yes, it’s very important. The whole family needs to be together. I know you’re not into these types of events, but one day, when you’re an adult, you’ll understand why they matter,” Marcus said as he fixed his hair in the mirror.
John sighed dramatically. Adulthood sounded exhausting
“Remember, your sister is getting married. We need to be there to support her,” Marcus added in a more reassuring tone.
“But you don’t even like Alden! How can you be so calm about this?” John asked, his Innocence cutting straight to the point.
Marcus turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow. “Who told you I don’t like Alden?”
“Well… you did. Every chance you get, you say you don’t like him. But I think he’s awesome,” John said enthusiastically.
Marcus squinted his eyes, feeling an odd chill–not anger, but something else. He couldn’t let his son’s words get to him, so he just smiled and said, “Go check on Albert and Caroline. Make sure they don’t mess up their clothes.” He gave John a gentle push toward the door.
“Daaad, that’s so boring…” John groaned.
“Go on! Watch your little siblings,” Marcus insisted, secretly thinking of it as a minor punishment for thinking Alden was “awesome.”
As soon as John left, Valerie walked into the room, holding the zipper of her dress and asking for help. Marcus tumed–and was left speechless.
She looked stunning
After her last pregnancy, her body had changed, but those extra curves had settled in all the right places, and he wasn’t complaining.
She had chosen a fitted, long–sleeved, olive green dress with a sweetheart neckline. The elegant style accentuated her figure beautifully. She had pulled her hair into a chic bun, leaving her neckline exposed. And for the first time. in a long while, she had decided to wear statement earrings–delicate, shimmering pieces that perfectly complemented her slender neck.
Marcus took a deep breath and grinned.
“Well, damn, you really are aging like Keanu Reeves.
“What?” Valerie asked, confused.
“Nothing… You still look like the woman I met 17 years ago.
“Marcus, you’re only saying that because you’re my husband.”
“I’m just stating the facts. Look at me—I look older every day at 54.”
“And I think you look more attractive every day.”
Marcus smirked, sliding his hands around her waist. “If we didn’t have that dinner tonight, I swear I’d kidnap you
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Chapter 0839
for a few days… and we’d probably end up with another set of twins.”
“Marcus!” Valerie blushed, swatting his arm.
+25 BONUS
At the Palmer residence, Ethan was already dressed. After John had abruptly ended their call, he had no choice but to get ready and look his best.
Serenity was also ready. She had chosen an emerald green, rapless, body–hugging dress with a sweetheart neckline, which highlighted her gray eyes and her growing baby bump, making her look absolutely stunning.
Tonight, she had left behind her carefree attitude, opting for elegance and maturity.
She had also decided to wear a special piece of jewelry–a necklace her father had given her, with a heart–shaped pendant.
But despite how good she looked, she was a bundle of nerves.
Tonight, she was meeting her future mother–in–law.
Now she would finally understand how Alden felt every time he had to face her father.
At least Peter always treated her like a daughter, even if he didn’t remember her. His attitude toward her was warm and kind. But Alden’s mother? There was no guarantee she’d be the same.
Serenity stood in front of the mirror, rubbing her belly, trying to calm herself down.
“Alright, baby girl… Everything’s going to be fine. It’s all going to be fine,” she whispered. “Everything will be okay. Everything will be okay..
Alden had been listening from the doorway. Unable to resist any longer, he walked up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and whispered in her ear, “Everything will be okay. Relax. I think even our little girl is getting overwhelmed.”
“You’re right,” Serenity sighed. “If something’s going to go wrong, it’s going to go wrong no matter what. There’s really nothing that crazy about this dinner… it’s not like we invited all three of my dads, plus your dad, my mom, your mom, and their girlfriends-”
Alden raised an eyebrow. “When you put it that way… it does sound like the perfect recipe for disaster.”
“Now do you understand my stress?”
“Yeah, but stressing over it won’t change anything. Remember, this is our night. We should enjoy it—even if Marcus and Maximus end up throwing sarcastic jabs at each other while my father laughs at both of them.”
“That’s if he has time. Have you even considered what’s going to happen when your mother meets Celeste?”
Alden’s face fell. “Oh, God.”
“See? Welcome to my anxiety club,” Serenity teased.
And she wasn’t wrong. A few rooms down, a very peculiar situation was unfolding.
“Celeste, my love, you’ve tried on so many dresses. They all look gorgeous on you. I don’t understand why you don’t like any of them,” Peter said, watching her pace back and forth.
“No, no, no! None of them fit right! I look huge! They’re all too tight! No, forget it–I’m not going downstairs. Actually, you shouldn’t go either. No, you have to stay here too,” Celeste declared dramatically.
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Peter took a deep breath, summoning every ounce of patience he had.
Of all the days Celeste could have had a full–blown meltdown, she had to pick this one.
The floor was now covered in a mountain of discarded dresses, and nothing seemed to satisfy her.
“Celeste… the guests will be arriving soon. We need to hurry.” Peter said, trying to keep his voice calm.
Celeste froze, slowly turning to glare at him. If looks could kill, he’d be dead on the spot.
“Oh, so you’re in a hurry, huh? You can’t wait to be downstairs? Is that it?!” she snapped, throwing a dress straight at his face.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0890
Chapter 0890
