Chapter 726 Be proud of yourself, Aisha
Amelie settled onto the sofa beside Gabriel. “Mom and Dad are with Noah,” she told them. “He’s in good hands.”
She glanced at the tray of rose tea and snacks laid out on the mahogany table before turning her full attention to Carlos. “Why did you leave in such a rush? You had us all terrified.”
Carlos lifted his cup, inhaling the floral steam before taking a sip. “To find answers about myself,” he replied simply.
“And what exactly did you find?” Amelie pushed a plate of buttery cookies toward him, her eyes searching his for any hint of the truth.
“A lot,” was all he offered.
Gabriel signaled a servant to pour a cup for Amelie, but his attention suddenly shifted toward the arched entryway of the living room. He felt the presence of his sister.
“Kate is here,” he informed Amelie.
The living room was suddenly flooded with the vibrant energy Katelyn always brought with her. Sage followed in her wake, looking every bit the patient husband-to-be as he balanced several high-end shopping bags in his arms.
Amelie was the first to reach her, the two women embracing with a chorus of compliments. “You look so beautiful, Kate!” Amelie exclaimed, pulling back to admire her sister-in-law.
“And you look like motherhood is treating you perfectly,” Katelyn replied with a wide grin.
“Congratulations on the marriage. I am truly so happy for you,” Amelie added softly.
The warmth of the reunion spread as Gabriel and Carlos stepped forward. They greeted Sage, offering firm handshakes and brotherly hugs.
“Kate,” Gabriel said. He held out his arms for her. “You’re stepping into a significant new Chapter. I have no doubt you’ll be a wonderful partner to Sage.”
Katelyn didn’t hesitate, throwing her arms around her elder brother and squeezing him firmly. “Yes, I’ll be a good Luna and a great wife to Sage.” She pulled away and looked at Sage.
“We brought gifts for everyone,” Sage announced.
“Including Noah! Where is my favorite little man?” Katelyn asked, her eyes darting around the room as she practically vibrated with excitement.
“He’s finally asleep in his room,” Amelie explained with a soft laugh, guiding her sister-in-law toward the seating area. “We took him shopping today and the poor thing was completely worn out. Why don’t you two sit for a moment?”
Gabriel draped an arm around Sage’s shoulder, steering him toward the plush sofas. “Congratulations, Sage. The big day is only a week away. Are you nervous, or just ready to finally get it over with? Just make sure you keep my sister happy, or you’ll have me to deal with.”
Sage smiled warmly with genuine affection. “You know me, Gabriel. I’ll do whatever it takes,” he said, settling onto the couch beside Katelyn.
Katelyn looked over at Carlos, her curiosity piqued. “Carlos! When did you get back to San Ravendale?”
“Only about an hour ago,” Carlos replied, offering a polite nod.
“Well, the timing is perfect. I’m just glad you’ll actually be here for the wedding,” she said, before diving into the mountain of bags.
She began distributing the gifts with enthusiasm, not just for the family, but thoughtful tokens for the servants as well, ensuring that the entire household felt part of the celebration.
~~~~
Aisha stepped through the rotating glass doors of the office building and spotted Karmen immediately. He was leaning against the car. He was dressed in a trench coat and glasses that caught the evening light.
She hurried across the pavement toward him, surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“I thought I’d pick you up,” Karmen replied simply, reaching out to open the passenger door for her.
Aisha smiled and settled into the passenger seat. Karmen shut the door firmly before walking around to the driver’s side. Once buckled in, he merged smoothly onto the main highway.
“You’ve been working since dawn,” Aisha noted, clutching her bag on her lap. “You should have gone straight back to your house to rest for a while instead of coming all this way.”
“If I had done that, I wouldn’t have seen you,” Karmen replied, his gaze fixed on the road. “Besides, I only have fifteen days left to get an answer from you. I can’t afford to waste a single second. I want to make every moment count.”
Aisha glanced at his profile. Karmen wasn’t one for grand gestures, but his persistence was becoming harder to ignore. Aisha realized his presence was becoming a constant in her life, a thought that brought a quiet sense of comfort.
“Do you want to have dinner together?” she asked.
“At your home?” Karmen arched an eyebrow, glancing at her briefly before returning his focus to the road.
“Yes,” she confirmed.
“What about your elder sister?” Karmen asked, considering the implications. “Will she be comfortable with me there?”
“She’ll be happy to have you,” Aisha assured him. “Ever since I mentioned you, she’s been eager to invite you over. Don’t worry, she hasn’t told anyone else in the family about us yet.”
“In that case, I’d be honored to have dinner at your home,” Karmen agreed, his voice softening.
Aisha smiled and turned to look out the window as the city lights blurred past. “Spring will be here soon,” she whispered, almost to herself. “I love that time of year. The weather is perfect, and it feels like the earth is finally reviving again.”
“Do you want to go the spring blooming season that will start starting next week?” Karmen inquired.
“I would love to,” Aisha agreed promptly, turning her head to look at him. “Thanks, Karmen,” she suddenly said.
“Huh? What’s with this sudden thanks?” Karmen asked.
“You changed my life in a way I didn’t imagine. I am beginning to enjoy my life again,” Aisha asserted.
“I’m glad I could become that person for you. However, more than my indulgence, it was on your will to change. You weren’t stubborn and decided to step out of a zone where you were stuck. You’ve fought for this life too when we parted ways, promising not to look at each other. You did everything alone during that time. So, be proud of yourself, Aisha. You’re happy because you wanted to.”