Tanya, where have you beenb? /bI’ve been looking for you everywhere! Paige called out loudly when she saw Tanya sneaking back in.

    When she spotted bTanya /bcreeping in, she raised her voice and questioned her.

    Tanya quickly grabbed her mother and shut the door behind them.

    Paige looked at her, confused. What are byou /bdoing, acting all bsneaky/b? Did your steal something?‘

    “Mom, I’m fine. I’m just super thirsty band /bstarving I need something to drink and eat

    Tanya hurriedly poured herself a ss of water, then started digging through the fridge. The moment she spotted some strawberries, she grabbed a handful and shoved them straight into her mouth.

    “Hey! bYou /blittle brat, what bare /bbyou /bdoing? Could you be bany /bhungrier? At least try to be a little hygienic bPaige /bscolded, snatching the strawberries right out of Tanya’s hands.

    She took them straight to the kitchen to give them a proper rinse.

    Come on, Mom! Hurry up, I’m seriously about to die of hunger here!” Tanya whined.

    Paige set the washed strawberries on the table, her face cold as ice. “I told you to go find Sienna and move into the Hart residence. Did you do it?

    At her mother’s words, Tanya almost choked on her strawberry.

    She bshook /bher head in terror. “No, no, no! I’d rather die bthan /bgo to the Hart residence! Never!”

    Just thinking about being locked up in bthat /bpitch–ck room again was enough bto /bscare her out of her wits.

    “What’s wrong with byou/b? The Hart family is bloaded /bbnow/b, band /byou’re her cousin. What’s so bad about bmoving /bin with bthem/bb?/b” Paige basked/b.

    Tanya shook her head like bcrazy /b“bMom/b, bI’m /bnot going, no way! If you want to live there, you go. I heard you were basically chased out after getting a beatingst time anyway. You’re tough as nails and can take a hit, bso /byou go ahead.”

    “You little brat, what nonsense are you spouting now?” bPaige /bsnapped, raising her hand as if to smack her.

    Tanya clutched the strawberries and dashed upstairs.

    “Mom, hurry up and make dinner. I’m starving!” she shouted.

    In the Hart residence, when Winifred beard that Sienna was pregnant, her mind was inplete turmoil. She just couldn’t calm down.

    ‘Sienna’s actually pregnant? For real? Is the baby Julian’s? she thought, still in disbelief.

    “Winifred, Winifred! What’s up with you? Dinner’s bready/b.” someone in the family called out.

    bThat /bfinally snapped Winifred out of it. She got up and walked over to Sienna. Sienna, for breal/bb? /bYou’re really pregnant? I’m gonna be an aunt?”

    It was the first time Winifred bhad /bever grinned so bgoofily/b.

    Amber huffedb, /bba /blittle put bout/b. “It’s not like you’re the only one bing an aunt. I’m gonna be an aunt btoo/b, you know,”

    “Alright, let’s dig in, Sienna said.

    Vivian was still working overtime at the office, buried inpany matters, when bNathan /bcame in with a food container in hand.

    The towering office building was bdark/b, with only Vivian’s office light still bon/b.

    “Vivian, work will always be there,” Nathan said. “Take a break and have something to eat. I specially got a few of your favorite dishes. Have bsome /bbwhile /bthey’re still hot.”

    11:24 AM bC /b

    Vivian was buried bin /bher work, not even ncing up from her desk.

    Without missing a beat, she muttered, “I’m not hungry. You may have it.”

    bNathan /blet out a helpless sigh, set the food container down, then walked over and gently covered her eyes with his hand

    b“/bCome on, eat something first. You know what they say–food is fuel. You won’t have the energy to keep going if you don’t eat,” he coaxed.

    Nathan pulled her up band /bbled /bbher /bover to the bss /btableb. /bHe opened each container one by one, and the mouthwatering aroma of fresh rice and savory meat hit her all at once, making her stomach rumble in spite of herself,

    Not finished yet. Will make it

    up

    tomorrow.