Celine arrived at the restaurant with Be, and before long, Hailey showed up.


    Three years had passed, but Hailey hadn''t changed much. Her sleek ck hair flowed effortlessly over her shoulders, and her delicate oval face was bright and full of warmth. She had the undeniable grace of a woman born into privilege.


    "Celine! Be!" Hailey called out excitedly as she ran over.


    Celine and Hailey embraced tightly.


    Be giggled. "Wow, Hailey is even prettier than thest time I saw her!"


    Hailey crouched down and nted a cheerful kiss on Be''s cheek. "Be, I''m


    your Auntie Hailey! You can''t just call me by my name-you have to call me Auntie Hailey!"


    Be grinned mischievously. "You''re so pretty! If we walk together, people will think you''re my elder sister!"


    Haileyughed. "You little charmer! That sweet mouth of yours is going to spoil me. Look what I brought you!"


    She pulled out a delicate diamond bracelet and carefully fastened it around Be''s tiny wrist.


    Celine raised a brow. "Hailey, this must''ve cost a fortune. Be''s still a kid- there''s no need for such an expensive gift."


    Hailey waved her off. "Celine, only the best for our Be! Plus, I designed this myself."


    Over the past three years, Hailey had be a well-known designer andunched her own studio. Her life was flourishing.


    Be''s eyes sparkled as she admired the bracelet. "Wow, it''s so pretty! I love it! Thank you, Hailey!"


    She leaned forward and gave Hailey a big kiss.


    Hailey waspletely smitten. She scooped Be up and turned to Celine. "Celine, I already reserved a table. Let''s eat!"


    Celine smiled. "Sounds good."


    After the three of them settled in, Celine said, "Hailey, it looks like you''ve been doing well these past few years. That makes me happy."


    Three years ago, Hailey and Den had broken up abruptly. After that, Den vanished without a trace. Celine had been worried that Hailey wouldn''t be able to move on.


    Hailey scoffed. "Celine, don''t


    underestimate me! Who says


    women need a man to survive? If anything, we should thrive on our


    own so no one ever dares to look down on us."


    Both of them had done exactly that. They weren''t the kind of women who faded


    into the background.


    Celine lifted her ss. "You''re right. Cheers!"


    Their sses clinked.


    Celine then asked, "By the way, Hailey, where''s Aileen? You should''ve brought her along."


    Celine had always liked Den''s younger sister, Aileen.


    At the mention of Aileen, pride lit up on Hailey''s face. "I wanted to, but she''s been busy. She made it into the national research team and working on a ssified rocket


    elmet


    Celine smiled. "Aileen''s working on rocketunches now? That''s amazing! But


    let''s be real her sess wouldn''t have been possible without you."


    Aileen had always been exceptional, but for the past three years, Hailey had been taking care of her. Things were naturally different now that Aileen had officially been adopted into the Lambert family.


    "Aileen is my sister. I''m so proud of her," Hailey said warmly.


    Celine watched her for a moment, then asked, "Hailey, has Den note back at all these past three years?"


    At the mention of his name, Hailey froze for a split second. Hershes fluttered slightly before she met Celine''s gaze. "No, he hasn''t."


    "That''s strange," Celine mused. "No matter what, Aileen is still his sister. Has he really note back even once to see her?"