"Almora!" Aunt Bia's voice broke through the air. Almora turned, surprised by the call. Her aunt was approaching her, an expression of mixed emotion on her face. Bia took Almora's hand gently, and Almora's eyes followed the gesture, looking from their clasped hands back to her aunt.
"I'm sorry," Bia began, her voice trembling. "I'm sorry for how I've treated you all these years. I never treated you like a daughter. I wasn't there for you the way I should have been. Can you ever forgive this selfish aunt of yours?"
Tears welled up in Bia's eyes, and she broke down, unable to hold them back any longer. Almora, equally overwhelmed, felt a single tear escape her own eye. Everything felt like a dream—first her cousins, and now her aunt. The day was turning out better than she had ever hoped.
Without a second thought, Almora pulled her aunt into a tight embrace. "I was never angry with you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "All I ever wanted was your love. Now that I have it, I need nothing else from you."
"Thank you, Almora. Thank you for forgiving me," Bia said, her voice thick with shame.
Almora gently broke the hug to look her aunt in the eyes. "No, Aunt. You're not selfish. If anything, everything I went through has made me stronger, more confident. So, don't call yourself ungrateful."
Bia cupped Almora's face in her hands, her eyes full of affection. "I love you, my dear niece," she said softly.
"I love you too, Aunt," Almora replied, her voice steady, and they embraced once again.
The scene was so touching that everyone watching, even Lance, found themselves wiping away tears.
Suddenly, Almora blinked, opening her eyes to find herself back in reality. The touching reunion she had just experienced was nothing more than a vivid daydream. She sighed, her fingers absently stirring her smoothie. "My imagination is really running wild these days," she murmured.
Chris, sitting beside her, chuckled softly. "Care to share, little fish?"
Almora glanced at him, her face betraying a hint of embarrassment. "I imagined Aunt Bia and her kids apologizing to me, realizing how unfairly they've treated me," she confessed with a wry smile.
Chris shook his head with a fond smile. "That's quite the imagination, little fish."
Almora sighed again, this time with more resignation. "I know it's foolish, but a part of me wishes things could be different. I just want them to see how much they've hurt me."
Chris's expression softened as he reached out, squeezing her hand gently. "It will get better, Almora. You're stronger than you think," he said, his voice reassuring.
Their quiet moment was interrupted by the creaking sound of the front gates opening. A sleek black car rolled up the driveway, its presence immediately commanding attention.
"They're here," Chris said, his tone shifting to seriousness. His gaze turned to Almora, concern written across his face. "Are you okay?" he asked, studying her closely.
Almora bit her lip nervously, her fingers fidgeting. "I'm a bit anxious," she admitted in a soft voice. "I haven't seen him since... the incident. I don't know how I'll handle it. But I just need to get through dinner."
Chris nodded, his eyes full of understanding. "You've got this," he said, his voice steady. "I'm right here with you."
Outside, Albert approached the car that had just parked. "Mr. Huxley," he greeted with a warm smile, embracing the man as he stepped out.
"It's a pleasure to meet you and your lovely family, Mr. Rencia," Mr. Huxley said, returning the hug.
The rest of the Huxley family climbed out of the car, one by one. Mr. Huxley, beaming with pride, introduced them. "This is my wife, Mrs. Huxley," he gestured to the graceful woman at his side, "and our children: Dario, Evans, and little Ines."
Albert nodded, clearly impressed by their poise and grace. "What a beautiful family," he said sincerely, before adding with a smile, "Now, let me introduce you to mine."
Chris and Almora exchanged glances as they joined the group, walking toward the rest of the family. Chris leaned in slightly, his voice low. "Are you sure you're ready to face him?"
Almora exhaled deeply and nodded, her resolve firm. "Yes. I'm ready."
Almora and Chris made their way over to join the rest of the family. The atmosphere buzzed with a mixture of anticipation and formality. Albert, standing tall with a proud smile, gestured toward his wife. "This is my wife," he introduced warmly, he gestured pointing over to her.
"Welcome to our home, Mr. and Mrs. Huxley," Mrs. Rencia greeted with a genuine smile that radiated warmth. The Huxleys, ever polite, bowed their heads slightly in acknowledgment, their expressions mirroring the same formality that filled the room.
Albert had already introduced the extended family members, but as Chris and Almora approached, he shifted the focus to his children. "And here are my children, Chris and Almora," he announced with unmistakable pride.
Both Chris and Almora bowed their heads in a respectful greeting. But as Almora straightened and lifted her gaze, her eyes locked with Evans for a split second, she darted her eyes away immediately.
Mrs. Huxley, ever observant, smiled as she made her way toward Almora. "So, this is the beautiful Red daughter we've heard so much about," she said warmly, her eyes taking in Almora with a mixture of admiration and curiosity.
"Yes, that's my pride and joy," Albert chimed in, his voice brimming with affection. "The apple of my eye."
Mrs. Huxley continued, clearly intrigued by the connection she was trying to make. "I've heard you attend the same school as our Evans " she remarked, her tone inviting.
Almora responded politely, keeping her voice steady despite the unease she felt. "Yes, I do," she replied, glancing briefly in Evans's direction before looking away again.
Mrs. Huxley nodded, as if connecting invisible dots. "Then you must know Evans quite well. He's just a year ahead of you at school."
Almora opened her mouth to answer, but before she could speak, Evans smoothly interjected, his voice carrying a mix of certainty and mischief. "Yes, we know each other very well," he said with a slight smile, his eyes still on Almora. "She's my girlfriend."
Almora's heart skipped a beat, her breath catching in her throat. She hadn't expected that—least of all from Evans. The words hung in the air like a bombshell, and for a moment, she wasn't sure how to react. She felt the eyes of everyone in the room shift toward her, waiting for her response.