via gazed at the two-story house with a long sigh. The luxurious house that had been her second home for eleven years once again made her feel ufortable. For the past five years, the ce always made via nervous.


    Carrying a paper bag with clothes she had intentionally chosen for this asion, via walked in following dwin. Instead of using the front door, they opted to enter through the side door that led directly to the kitchen. The housemaid who already knew her greeted her warmly.


    “Is Mom already here?” via asked, ncing towards the interior of the house.


    “Yes, Miss. Mrs. ire is in front of the house with Mr. Antony,” replied the housemaid, acknowledged by via with a nod.


    “And Abigail?”


    “She’s upstairs. Getting ready, she said.” via nodded again and chose to walk up the stairs to her friend’s room. The room they always shared when they gathered there.


    via knocked on the door as a form of courtesy. She never wanted to open the door directly, fearing that her friend might not be decently dressed.


    “Come in!” ordered the room’s owner. via peeked for a moment and smiled. “Guess who.” Abigail teased and returned to her makeup.


    “Mind if I take a quick shower? I feel a bit stinky,” via said, cing her bag on the bed.


    “Not going home first?” Abigail asked, looking at via’s slightly dirty appearance due to her activities at the foundation.


    “Uncle kicked Tobby out of the orphanage,” via said briefly, instantly receiving a sharp look from Abigail.


    Uncle dwin?” Abigail asked in disbelief. via nodded. “Why did he kick Tobby out?”


    via shrugged. “Dr. Freddie suddenly couldn’te to the orphanage because his child is sick. Somehow, uncle dwin became his recement.”


    Abigail squinted her eyes. via knew her friend was having a monologue in her mind, contemting what scenario might be happening between them. Abigail was like that-despite her fierce appearance, she was the mncholic type, immersed in the melodramas she created.


    “Alright, no need to think too much. I’ll take a shower. Wait for me, don’t go down first,” she requested, and her friend nodded.


    via wasn’t someone who liked to spend a long time in the bathroom. It only took her five minutes to clean herself, another five minutes to apply body lotion, and five more minutes to fix her hair and makeup. So fifteen minutester, they were already on the ground floor, heading towards where the event was being held.


    “Lho, did youe together?” Mrs. Julie Hampton, Abigail’s grandmother and also via’s step-grandmother, asked as she saw her two granddaughtersing down the stairs.


    “No, grandma. I took a shower upstairs,” via replied, kissing the elderly woman’s cheek.


    “Where’s the leading man?” Abigail asked as she grabbed some food from the table.


    “He’s here, chatting with his acquaintance,” Julie nodded toward the living room, where dwin was talking to a woman. They couldn’t see clearly as they were in a side view. “What do you think?” their grandmother asked them. via looked at Abigail, puzzled.


    “Think about what, grandma?” Abigail asked casually, aware of her grandmother’s intention to seek their judgment on their uncle’s potential ‘match.’


    “What do you think about them as a couple? I heard they’ve known each other for a long time.”


    via and Abigail nced at the person simultaneously. After getting a clear look at the woman who happened to turn her head, they exchanged nces again.


    “Isn’t that…” Abigail hesitated.


    “She’s also a doctor. My friend’s daughter,” Julie replied enthusiastically. “I think they look good together. Their ages are not too far apart.” Julie eximed with a radiant face. via smiled, responding to Julie’s words with a nod. “Well, if you want to eat, go ahead.” Julie said, then walked away, leaving the two of them.


    via chose to walk to the kitchen, with Abigail trailing behind. “I never expected that via already found her match,” her friend said suddenly.


    “What do you mean?” via furrowed her brow.


    “Yeah, that Dr. Phoebe Madsen. She’s definitely a toughpetitor. It’s been years, and she’s still faithfully pursuing Uncle dwin.” Abigail grinned mischievously. “Don’t let her beat you. As long as the wedding ceremony hasn’t taken ce, you still have a chance to be with Uncle dwin.”


    “What are you talking about? Be careful with your words; people might get the wrong idea,” via cautioned.


    “Wrong idea how? Isn’t it a fact?” Abigail sat on one of the barstools, and via sat beside her.


    “Abby…” via warned again.


    “Okay, I apologize. I won’t bring it up again.” Abigail replied with a guilty expression. “But, Via, I genuinely support your rtionship with Uncle dwin. I’m at the forefront of supporters for both of you.” Abigail said with a sweet smile.


    “Abby!” via reprimanded her friend and cousin.


    “What, love?” Abigail teased. She gently stroked via’s head in a maternal manner. “My dear, what do you want? Shall I feed you? Aaa…” Abigail offered food to via. via squinted but still opened her mouth, and they bothughed together.


    “Wow, you two are really close.” The voice of a woman behind them made Abigail and via turn around. dwin and Phoebe were walking towards them. “It’s so nice to see a friendship like yours,” the woman said warmly.


    via smiled, but Abigail didn’t. “We’re not just friends, but also family,” she replied tly. “Long time no see. Thest time we met was when I attended your wedding.” She added with a sharp dig. via looked at Abigail; she had no idea that the woman next to her uncle was already married. “But why are you here alone? Where’s your husband?”


    “Ah, um…” Phoebe seemed flustered.


    “Abby, get me a drink, please,” dwin requested, more to break the awkwardness.


    “Spoiled, just asking for a drink. Before long, you’ll want to be spoon-fed,” Abigail grumbled, but despite herints, she got up from her seat and walked towards the kitchen.


    dwin sat beside via, taking Abigail’s ce, and Phoebe automatically sat on via’s left side, making via feel sandwiched between the couple. via was about to get up from her seat, intending to follow Abigail, but dwin held her hand. via nced at dwin and saw him subtly shaking his head. As a result, via could only straighten her back and stay in her ce.


    “I heard you’re working as a model now?” Phoebe started the conversation as Abigail ced a ss in front of dwin.


    “Yes, something like that,” Abigail replied casually.


    Since the only remaining barstool was next to Phoebe, Abigail chose to stand across the table, facing via. “Auntie, where are you working at the hospital now?”


    Phoebe mentioned the name of a prestigious hospital. “But I’ve also opened my own obstetrics clinic,” she replied with a slightly proud tone.


    “Oh, so you specialize in obstetrics?” Abigail asked again, and the woman nodded.


    “You…” Phoebe frowned, looking at via.


    “via, Auntie,” via said with a smile on her face.


    “Yes, sorry. I forgot. Well, it’s been a long time since we met. How are you? Working already?” Phoebe shook her head, trying to regainposure.


    via shook her head. “I’m still a frencer, Auntie,” she replied, still smiling.


    “Ohh…” Phoebe responded with a mocking smile that didn’t escape Abigail’s notice.


    “Don’t underestimate yourself, Via.” Abigail waved her hand in front of via. “via tends to downy herself, Auntie. Even though her cover looks like a teenager, she’s actually a sessful businesswoman.” Abigail said with pride. She didn’t want her best friend to be mocked by someone like Phoebe.


    “What do you mean?” Phoebe looked at Abigail and then at via.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    “Oh, Auntie forgot? When we first met five years ago? We met at via’s younger sister’s birthday celebration.” Abigail reminded her. Whether Phoebe didn’t realize who via really was or the woman thought via was just a ‘good friend’ to Abigail, like Haisley, who was at the event earlier. “via is the stepdaughter of Uncle dwin’s twin sister. She is the eldest daughter of Antony Quirino, the owner of Coskun Company. Auntie knows Coskun Company, right?” Abigail stared at Phoebe. The woman looked unbelievably shocked. In Abigail’s heart, she smiled triumphantly. ‘You lost big time,’ she thought. “And her family has been a donor to several charitable foundations and hospitals.” She continued with the intention of mocking the woman.


    “Is that true?” The woman uttered with a pale face.


    “Yes.” Abigail replied with the same tone as Phoebe’s earlier statement.


    “You?!” The exmation made all four people there turn to the owner of the voice. ire with her bulging belly was waving her hand. “Come here, let’s start the eating ceremony.” All four nodded. Abigail took via, leaving the two adults behind to follow them.


    “What’s going on with you today, Abby? You’re acting strange.” via questioned with a soft whisper.