Gwh Langford let out a small sigh of resignation. "Chris, Celia, how about we check out that exhibitter?"


    She''d promised to spend time with them, but it kept getting pushed back. Celia, still very much a child, had already forgotten about being upset.


    "Sure!" Celia beamed, grabbing Gwh''s hand and looking to Chris. "Are youing?"


    Chris tried to keep up his aloof act, managing a dismissive huff. Itsted all of three seconds before he obediently trailed after them.


    Watching the three kids together, Victoria Turner noticed how much brighter Gwh''s smile had be.


    "Have you noticed how much Gwyn has changed sinceing back with Hawthorne?" she remarked.


    Thorpe Langford sat on the sofa, sipping his tea, nostalgia softening his expression. "I have. She''s different, isn''t she?"


    Victoria settled beside him. "He''s the one you mentioned the family friend''s son she was promised to as a child?"


    Thorpe nodded, his tone distant. "I wanted to wait until Gwyn was home to talk to her about it. But honestly, I was never sure it would work out. McNeil made some reckless choices when he was younger-almost cost my old friend his family''s entire future. After that, how could I have the nerve to bring up an old engagement? And now my friend''s gone, I didn''t even make it in time to say goodbye... Ah."


    What Thorpe didn''t say was that the vi he gifted Gwh and Hawthorne had actually been bought years ago by the old family friend, back when the Langfords were nowhere near as prominent as the Everharts. The old man had taken a shine to young McNeil and Victoria''s daughter, calling her clever and bright. McNeil''s father had scoffed at the idea, saying the man was too ambitious- leading to more than a few arguments between the two patriarchs.


    In the end, Thorpe agreed to the arrangement, but never bothered telling Victoria about it. She and McNeil had enough on their tes, and Thorpe had little interest in stirring up more unrest by bringing up childhood engagements.


    Times changed. The old guard in Starfall City looked down on such


    arrangements, but the Everharts were different—a family with deep roots and real substance. Gwh, too, needed to face some challenges; the shallow, restless city was never going to be the ce for her to settle.


    Victoria was pleased. Hawthorne''s calm steadiness was a perfect match for Gwh, who''d always been fiercely independent. Even Victoria herself couldn''t get close to her daughter''s heart, but somehow, this man had be someone Gwh could truly rely on.


    The way Gwh looked at him—there was no faking that kind of affection. Victoria felt her eyes sting. Her daughter was grown now and would eventually leave. The thought made her ache with pride and sorrow.


    "Does Hawthorne know about the arrangement?" she asked, realizing it was probably a pointless question.


    Thorpe shrugged. "Hard to say. That boy''s even harder to read than McNeil ever was."


    Victoria shot him a skeptical look. She''d never fully trusted Thorpe''s so-called wisdom. Gwh brought a man home, and before she even had time to process it, the two had already registered their


    пой


    marriage-and now Thorpe was dropping another bombshell.


    She figured she could get along with just about anyone in life-except perhaps


    this old fox. If she wasn''t careful, he''d corrupt her too.


    "As long as he''s good to Gwyn, that''s what matters," she said atst.


    Anything else was best left alone.


    Hawthorne didn''t seem like the type to walk away or shirk responsibility. Afterst night, she suspected Gwh might already be expecting-another reason for her mixed feelings.


    Victoria had few regrets in life; most of her worries centered on Gwh.


    Chris and Celia, thankfully, were both thoughtful and motivated. Chris, especially, was diligent-aware that the future of the Langford Group rested on his shoulders. He took his responsibilities seriously, never giving Victoria or Thorpe cause to worry.


    Celia was a rare gem


    herself-diligent in her studies,


    focused on self-improvement, never keeping badpany or picking up bad habits. Victoria often joked that unless Celia nned to stay single, the only sensible option would be finding her a strong, capable man to marry, someone worthy of her trust.