Wasn''t Leonie usually the first one to jump into the middle of any excitement? Gwh recalled how she''d beenining endlessly about being bored at home, desperate to get to Starfall City to grill Hawthorne about the wedding. When was it? Had they set a date? Why the dy? Her barrage of questions had been relentless.


    Gwh had already nned to have Leonie stay with Celia once she arrived. Celia was far more mature and would surely keep Leonie out of trouble, which was a relief since Gwh would be too busy with wedding preparations to keep an eye on her. She didn''t want to neglect her sister-inw and have her feel left out.


    Mrs. Everhart sighed helplessly. "I don''t know what''s gotten into that girltely. She''s out from dawn till dusk and won''t listen to a word I say. When we told her toe for your and her uncle''s wedding, she just said she had something important she couldn''t get away from. She promised she''d exin it to you herself and told us toe on ahead."


    Gwh was speechless. She couldn''t imagine what could possibly be more important than the wedding she''d been so excited about.


    "It''s alright," Gwh said. "I''ll call herter and see what''s going on."


    Gwh offered a gentle, innocent smile. Standing next to Hawthorne, they looked like a couple destined to be together.


    Mrs. Everhart added in a hushed tone, "Now, don''t you dare tell her I was the one whoined. You know how she gets."


    Gwh squeezed Mrs. Everhart''s hand, her smile warm and her eyes filled with an envious affection for their mother-daughter bond. "I won''t," she promised.


    Mr. Everhart chimed in gently, "We''re here for a wedding, dear. Stop making excuses for her. She needs a firm hand, and her new aunt is just the person to provide it."


    Just then, an aide presented the gifts from Mr. and Mrs. Everhart and their children. It was a beautiful, antique-style wooden box, its craftsmanship hinting at the precious contents within. A member of the household staff stepped forward to receive it.


    "Brother, please,e in," Hawthorne said, his voice warm. He stood tall and distinguished, his ck suit entuating his lean, powerful frame.


    Victoria greeted the Everharts with incredible warmth and courtesy. As the three of them were led into the main hall, they finally saw the legendary patriarch of the Langford family Thorpe. Hismanding, presence immédiately inspired a sense of profound respect.


    "You must be Hawthorne''s brother and sister-inw. Please, have a seat," Thorpe said, his voice resonating with authority. The patriarch was an excellent judge of character, and he could see the inherent goodness in both Mr. and Mrs Everhart their sons


    beside them, was handsome and possessed a refined, schrly air. It was clear that a child raised in such a family was a worthy match for a Langford.


    He felt a pang of regret that his old friend had passed away too soon to witness this union between their families.


    Once both families were seated, they began to discuss the details of the wedding. Gwh listened quietly, while Hawthorne asionally chimed in with ament or suggestion.


    As Hawthorne''s older brother and sister-inw, Mr. and Mrs. Everhart naturally took on the role of his parents in the proceedings. Here in Starfall City, Thorpe was overseeing everything, while Victoria managed the staff and handled all the legwork.


    "Gwh is the eldest great-granddaughter of the Langford family," Thorpe announced, his gaze fixed on Hawthorne. "Today, I entrust her to you. I hope you will cherish each other and grow old together."


    ve


    The patriarch gestured for an aide to bring forward a satin-lined gift box. Insidey a key crafted from solid gold. Standing beside Thorpe was his personalwyer. Victoria recognized the man instantly, she had seen him twice before the first time was after Chris was born, and the second was after Celia''s birth. On both asions, the patriarch had sent him with transfer agreements for fifty percent of the Langford family''s corporate shares.


    Gwh wondered why a stranger was present for this family moment, but Victoria knew exactly what his appearance signified.


    Thorpe continued, addressing Gwh directly. "Years ago, I gave your mother fifty percent of the family''s shares. That was for your little brother and sister. But I always kept your portion-your wedding gift-in reserve. For this very day."


    With that, thewyer stepped forward and presented Gwh with a simr portfolio. It was a stock transfer agreement, granting her a twenty-five percent stake in the Langford corporation.