Sylvia walked along the covered walkway, the sound of her heels echoing softly. Across the koi pond, on the opposite side, Rupert and his entourage approached.

    Rupert led the group, as always. He wore a perfectly tailored ck suit, his posture straight and elegant, his striking features almost impossibly handsome- like someone sketched out of a charcoal portrait.

    He was as cold and crisp as fresh-fallen snow, asposed and mysterious as the midnight sea.

    His gaze slid right past Sylvia, not lingering even a second. In fact, he seemed to pick up his pace, heading straight for Reese.

    Getting engaged to someone you love-of course you''d be eager.

    Sylvia and Rupert passed each other, moving in opposite directions, their stories no longer intertwined.

    When the sound of party poppers burst behind her, Sylvia knew Rupert had met up with Reese.

    The Family Room.

    Sylvia and Naomi arranged the offerings for the family''s annual remembrance. When footsteps sounded behind them, they instinctively stepped to the side.

    Tristan was the first to enter.

    It was a surprise when, ncing around, he praised Naomi right in front of everyone. "Naomi, you did great. Get involved in family affairs more often and you''ll get used to it."

    With just those words, the Garcia rtives began eyeing Naomi with newfound respect.

    Naomi straightened up and smiled. "It''s what I should do."

    Tristan nodded, and as he took his seat, his eyes lingered on Sylvia with a look she couldn''t quite read.

    A strange tightness gripped Sylvia''s chest, a faint sense of unease-but Tristan said nothing further, so she forced herself to let it go.

    As long as she kept her head down today, she figured Tristan wouldn''t have reason to find fault.

    A few minutester, amotion stirred at the entrance.

    Rupert entered, hand in hand with Reese. Everyone''s faces lit up as they walked in, grinning from ear to ear.

    If Sylvia hadn''t seen it for herself, she never would have believed the Garcia family could all smile like that.

    She found herself smiling, too, swept up in Reese''s infectious joy.

    Reese wore a long red velvet dress, herughter warming the entire room.

    After a long, drawn-out round of speeches, it was finally time for the candle- lighting.

    Naomi was already prepared to go forward when Tristan spoke up.

    "You take it up," he said, pointing at Sylvia.

    Sylvia froze. Naomi hastily interjected, "The candle-lighting includes a blessing, and Sylvia''s not used to that."

    "It''s just a blessing-can''t be that hard to say a few nice words, right?" Tristan frowned.

    "Alright."

    Sylvia took the candle, walking slowly to Rupert and Reese.

    "Wishing Uncle Rupert and Ms. Sanford happiness and a long, joyful life together," she said with a calm smile, her voice surprisingly steady-so much so that a few people seemed taken aback.

    Even Rupert''s hand paused as he took the candle, his eyes flicking over Sylvia as

    if searching for something.

    She turned away without another nce.

    But she could feel eyes on her back long after.

    When the family rite ended, Sylvia linked arms with Naomi and left the room. She even made polite small talk with the rtives who came

    over t@ingratiate themselves.ne

    Naomi, acting as if the earlienevents meant nothing to her.

    "Sylvia."

    Someone called her name from behind.

    She turned. "Mr. Sanford."

    Naomi, spotting Lester, greeted him quickly before slipping away-dragging a few others with her.

    Sylvia knew exactly what Naomi was up to and tried to hide her embarrassment

    as she faced Lester. “Sorry, Mr. Sanford. About being your datest time—my mom kind of got the wrong idea."

    "Or maybe she didn''t," Lester said with a small smile.

    "What?" Sylvia blinked in surprise.

    "Nothing."

    Lester looked her over-a pale pink dress with delicate embroidery, making her already striking features even more unforgettable. He wasn''t the only one who''d noticed; even his friends had been whispering about her earlier.

    Lester''s usually calm eyes softened as he stepped closer.

    Sylvia, caught off guard, only realized how near he was when he closed the

    distance—but before she could move away, he reached out and gently pulled her

    in.