“Mom, I brought you here tonight to meet Lyse. You said you missed her justst night, didn’t you? You


    can meet her here tonight.”


    “Yes. I need to meet Lyse.”


    Her eyes lit up as she called out, “Lyse! That’s Lyse!”


    Jameson quickly turned to see Alyssa walking toward them. Touched, he smiled at her.


    “Lyse!” Lily eximed.


    “Mrs. Schmidt!” Alyssa greeted her and immediately held her hand with a delighted smile.


    “I thought you wouldn’t show up! I’m d you made it.”


    “I’m happy to see you too.” Lily took a liking to Alyssa and gave her a big hug.


    Then, she grabbed a handful of chocte candy from her bag and stuffed them into Alyssa’s hand.


    She


    urged, “Have some candy! I noticed you really liked chocte thest time you dropped by. Look, I


    brought some for you!”


    “Thank you for thinking of me,” Alyssa replied, feeling touched as she held the candy. Perhaps she had


    experienced too many life-changing events as well as the brutality of the battlefield in her life. Nothing


    could faze her anymore, except for the tiny, heartwarming things in life.


    “You look gorgeous tonight,” Alyssa praised Lily.


    “Is it?” Lily blushed like a young girl.


    “My son picked the dress for me. I only wear loose clothes at home. I feel a little awkward in formal


    wear


    today.”


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    “You look really great, Mrs. Schmidt.”


    Alyssa smiled at Jameson and remarked, “Jameson has great taste.”


    Jameson’s breathing quickened when she smiled at him, and his heart raced.


    “The other Schmidt family members are here. Mr. Victor Schmidt is seated with my dad. I’ll take you


    over,


    Alyssa offered.


    n


    She was about to lead Lily away when Jameson suddenly interrupted, “Lyse, wait a minute.”


    She turned around with a confused look. “Hm?”


    “You know our family dynamics. My mom and I lost our roles and shares in Schmidt Group, and Dad


    shipped us off to Kontina for 15 years without a chance of return.


    “I was very young back then, and my mom’s health was in decline. You can imagine how hard life was


    for


    the two of us,” he said with a bitter tone.


    Alyssa listened silently, her heart going out to the young boy who’d had to take care of his ailing


    mother.


    Jameson continued, “That’s why I refuse to sit with my family members. I don’t want my mom near


    them.”


    He mistook Alyssa’s silence for rejection. He smiled wryly, saying, “If you feel uneasy inserting


    outsiders.


    at your family’s table, just forget about what I said.


    “You’ve met my mom, and we’ve handed over our gift for Madam L. That should suffice. We’ll go


    home.


    Please enjoy your night.”


    “Jimmy, you’re overthinking,” Alyssa responded warmly. She couldn’t possibly turn him down after what


    he had shared.


    “Let’s go. We’ll share a table. Today’s party is just a family gathering. Please make yourself at home.”