he banquet ailel mall. Christopher was not overdressed dikekebis onight, the workle wore a dark gray


    tailored suit andbad nisis His gole manic rimmed sses added a bookworm took to nisis


    eves.


    hy don’t we go hang home? in scared.” Timid, Sophie tugged omn


    er’s sleeve eve


    plied her up tonight.cich, ting her in a valuable fuchsia dress à a touch of ss with esiti: a million-


    dor hairpiece in her


    s updo.


    pre a matching pearl ne and earrings, but the pearl it, more expensive than dianan


    diamonds, was custom-made for


    amily of Sentania.anis


    he only family for Christopher topher.


    stopher wanted only the best for hin mo this mother.


    tenderly at his mother and held berhanter hand tight. “Don’t


    prn. I’m here.”


    ought you here tonight to see Be. Weren’ wotent your just talking yesterday? I thought you missed


    ner. Well, you’ve to get to see


    I want to see Be.”


    Chiiret KEL


    Sophie’s eyes lit up, and she cried, “Be! It’s Be!”


    Christopher turned around as Be approached. Tearing up, he curled


    his lips.


    “Be.”


    “Mrs. Iverson.”


    Be went up to hold Sophie’s hand with a bright smile. “I wasn’t


    expecting you, but it makes me so happy to see you.”


    “I’m so happy to see you, Be.”


    Fond of Be, Sophie gave her a big hug before grabbing a handful of


    chocte bonbons from her clutch to give to Be. “Here you go. I


    remember you love chocte, so I brought you some.”


    “Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts, Mrs. Iverson.” Feeling


    touched, Be cupped the chocte in her hands.


    That was the type of person Be was. She had seen too much of life,


    both the good and the bad.


    Instead of grand gestures, it was the simple things in life that she


    was grateful for.


    “You’re so beautiful today,” Beplimented.


    “R-Really?”


    Sophie blushed like a teenager. “My son chose the outfit for me. I


    usually wear something loose at home. I don’t feelfortable


    wearing such a formal dress.”


    “Yes, you are, Mrs. Iverson.””


    Be smiled and turned to ChristoareChris has good taste.”


    Christopher’s breathing turned paragaced and emotions went through


    him like a roller coaster when Bel signated at him.


    “The rest of your family has arrived. irman Lance is sitting with


    my dad. I’ll take you there now.”


    Be was about to help Sophie there whared Ciststopher stopped her.”


    Wait. Be.”


    She looked back in confusion. “Huh?”


    fog should know our family’s situation. My momo arandit lost our


    annng and shares to the iverson Group years sa..why father sent


    sscovere in: Sentania, stopping us from ever returning foror 15 years. I asycoond, and my mother


    wasn’t in the best of heatdi. Yoou can navane # 7 was tough on us to get by on our own.”


    Christometer’s voice


    as so good raspy.


    elia a dicityly distened to his story while imagining a young oo


    are ofhin sicickmother. The image did not sit well with hare


    lo i don’t want to sir with the other members of the iverson ran


    pn’t want my mother to sit with thern either.”


    ith Be fng siselet, Christopher thought she had refused his quest and said whywy smole, “If you


    don’t feelfortable


    tting with an ouro


    teeme, then just forget it


    We have met you and toss a gut or Mrs. Celeste. We have gotten


    hat we came here for


    “We should head back and get out of your hair.”


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Chris.”


    At that point, Be could not possibly say no. She said tenderly,


    Come on. We can eat together. It’s just a get-together with my family. Make yourselves at home.”