<b>Chapter </b>99


    <i>ra’s </i><b>POV</b><b>: </b>


    :


    ra had spent the early part of Christmas day at Gloria’s parents‘ estate along with Casey. She informed them she would be going to the Taylorster that afternoon and


    then home.


    <i>“</i>You <i>don’t </i><i>have </i><i>to </i><i>go </i><i>home</i><i>! </i><i>Just </i><ie </i><i>back </i><i>here</i><i>!</i><i>” </i>


    Gloria protested as she ate some of the chocte cake ra baked.


    55


    “<i>Well</i><i>, </i>I’m <i>not </i><i>sure </i><i>how </i><ite </i><i>I’ll </i><i>be</i>, <i>this </i><i>was </i><i>I </i><i>won’t </i><i>have </i><i>to </i><i>worry </i><i>about </i><i>disturbing </i><i>anyone</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>


    Oh, okay, I understand. If you change your mind though just call me! Otherwise, we’ll be


    to pick you up tomorrow.


    ra smiled brightly at her friend. After Christmas gifts were exchanged, ra received a text from Ethan letting her know he was on the way to get her.


    <i>‘I </i><i>thought they </i><i>were </i><i>going </i><i>to </i><i>send </i><i>a </i><i>rideshare</i>. Hmm.‘


    ra assumed they didn’t want to bother anyone one for the holidays. ra brought gifts for her best friends and extended family. In return they all also got gifts for her. She smiled brightly; the past few years Christmas has been amazing now that she was celebrating with them.


    She remembered all the years she’d spent Christmas alone in her previous life, from the time her mom passed and after her marriage, it was always about Sophie. She would spend many of the holidays working in theb, not once did Jason or father even care to reach out. Now, her life was so much more different, it was overwhelming how happy she


    was.


    Ethan arrived at exactly 4:30pm. After introducing himself to Gloria’s parents and family, he gifted them with a bottle of expensive wine and whiskey. After saying their goodbyes, ra followed him to his Maybach.


    “So, <i>did </i>you <i>enjoy your </i>Christmas <i>day</i><i>?</i>”


    Ethan looked over at ra, she couldn’t help but notice there was something different about him. Though she wasn’t sure what it was, for some reason, it made her heart


    flutter.


    <i>“</i><i>Yes</i><i>, </i><i>it </i><i>was </i>lovely. <i>I </i><i>got </i><i>a </i>lot <i>of </i><i>gifts</i><i>.</i>”


    55


    ra chuckled as she thought about the twins arguing over who would give her their gift


    first. Ethan smiled at ra.


    “<i>That’s </i><i>good</i>. <i>You </i><i>deserve </i><i>it</i>.”


    ra blushed.


    “<i>What </i><i>about </i><i>you</i><i>?</i>”


    <i>“</i><i>It’s </i><i>been </i><i>amazing</i>, <i>maybe </i><i>a </i><i>little </i><i>overwhelming </i><i>too</i>. <i>Almost </i>my <i>entire </i><i>family </i><i>is </i><i>here </i><i>this </i><i>year</i>. <i>This </i>is <i>the </i><i>first </i><i>Christmas </i><i>Maria </i><i>has been </i><i>home </i><i>in </i><i>over three </i><i>years</i><i>. </i><i>She’s </i><i>usually </i><i>in </i><i>the </i><i>hospital </i><i>around </i><i>this </i><i>time</i>.<i>” </i>


    ra smiled brightly. Hearing those words filled her heart with so much joy.


    <i>“</i><i>I’m </i>so <i>d </i>to <i>hear </i><i>that</i><i>!</i><i>” </i>


    As they pulled into the estate, Ethan parked the car and paused for a moment. As she


    was about to open the door, Ethan reached over to stop her.


    “ra, <i>wait </i>a <i>moment</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>


    ra turned her head to see Ethan’s face was right at hers. Her face instantly heated up. He was so close. She could smell his cologne on his neck, <fn81f3> Th?s chapter is updated by FιndNovel</fn81f3>


    Intoxicating.


    Ethan’s ears began to redden, he hadn’t meant to get that close to her. His Adam’s apple


    bobbed as he swallowed.


    :


    <b>55 </b>


    “<i>Um</i>, <i>I </i><i>just </i><i>wanted </i><i>to </i><i>warn </i><i>you</i><i>. </i><i>Everyone</i><i>…</i><i>well</i>, <i>they </i><i>are </i><i>really </i><i>excited </i><i>to </i><i>meet you</i><i>. </i><i>So</i><i>, </i><i>if </i><i>you </i><i>feel </i><i>yourself </i><i>getting </i><i>overwhelmed</i><i>, </i><i>send </i><i>me </i><i>quick </i><i>text </i><i>and </i><i>I’ll </i><i>rescue </i><i>you</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>


    His breath was fresh like a cool winter breeze, ra could feel her thoughts heading in a dangerous direction, but she couldn’t stop herself. Her face inching closer to his, the electricity in the car was dancing to their own private music.


    Suddenly, a loud tap on the window broke the moment. Irritated, Ethan rolled his


    window down to see who the asshole was that ruined his moment!


    His mother. <i>Crap</i>.


    ra nervously opened the car door jumping out, Ethan then opened his door. His mother, unaware of what happened, smiled brightly at ra.


    <i>“</i><i>Ethan</i><i>! </i><i>What </i><i>took </i><i>you </i><i>so </i><i>long to </i><i>let </i><i>her </i><i>out</i><i>?</i><i>” </i>


    Ethan looked at his mother with slight irritation.


    <i>“</i><i>I </i><i>just </i><i>wanted </i><i>to </i><i>prepare </i><i>her </i>for <i>the </i><i>hurricane </i><i>she </i><i>was </i><i>about </i>to <i>walk </i><i>into </i>too.”


    Aughed out loud, an apologetic look on her face as she hugged ra.


    <i>“</i><i>Well</i><i>, </i><i>he’s </i><i>not </i><i>wrong</i>. <i>The </i><i>entire </i><i>family </i><i>is </i><i>here</i><i>, </i><i>and </i><i>they can’t </i><i>wait </i><i>to </i><i>meet </i><i>you</i>. <i>I </i><i>apologize </i><i>in </i><i>advance</i>.<i>” </i>


    An empathetic smiled appeared across ra’s lips.


    <i>“</i><i>Not </i><i>to </i>worry Ms. <i>A</i><i>! </i><i>I </i><i>understand</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>


    As the made their way into the mansion, A and Ethan weren’t kidding.


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