Watching Kristin place the family medallion around Isaac's neck, Estrella couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“In this family, we don't stand on ceremony,” Kristin said, teasing Isaac, “Right, Isaac?”
At that, Isaac giggled, lighting up the room.
Meanwhile, Jason's aunts were whispering to each other, noting how much Isaac resembled a young Jason. They were so convinced that they started digging through old family albums to find proof.
Isaac, having greeted everyone for the new year, was showered with gifts and red envelopes stuffed with money. Even Angel prepared a special envelope and a gift that made Isaac so happy he wouldn't leave her side.
Jason’s cousin teased with a laugh, “Estrella, looks like Isaac has a thing for older gals. Better brace yourself for a future of him dating older women.”
Estrella shot back, “As long as he doesn't fall for his brother, we're good.”
Everyone burst into laughter, their bellies aching from the humor, though Keith's face darkened, and he said seriously, “Such things don’t happen in the Nelson family.”
Angel, still holding Isaac, joined in the laughter, then reminded Isaac, “We haven’t greeted Great-Grandpa yet. Shall we do that first?”
“Okay.”
Once Isaac agreed, Angel set him down. The moment his feet touched the ground, Isaac knelt before Keith.
The room erupted, “Grandpa, with such sincerity from Isaac, you've got to make your gift count.”
Keith quickly pulled out an envelope, “Already on it, had it prepared from the start.”
As the laughter continued, Isaac, not quite understanding but happy to be part of the joy, innocently wished Keith, “May you have many more sons.”
The room fell silent for a moment before bursting into laughter. “Dad, Isaac just wished you more sons,” Jason’s aunts laughed so hard they could barely breathe. Considering Keith was already in his eighties, the wish was hilariously impossible, leading even Angel to double over in laughter, charmed by Isaac's adorable mistake.
Estrella couldn't help but join in, thinking Isaac must've picked that up from watching TV with Autumn.
As Keith looked around at his laughing descendants, he couldn't help but smile at Isaac's innocent blunder, “Just like your mother, either silent or shockingly blunt.”
Isaac, still kneeling, looked up at Keith with a silly grin, oblivious to the joke but happy to see everyone laughing.
Kristin sat next to Isaac, taking care of him, watching him eat with the same refinement as Jason, even their postures and gazes eerily similar. Kristin found herself mesmerized.
She couldn't help but recall the rumors Paula had spread a few days ago.
"Isaac is such a good boy, so much like his dad," Kristin said, wiping a crumb from Isaac's cheek, her eyes filled with adoration.
She couldn't help but cling to the hope that what Paula had insinuated might actually be true.
Seeing how much Kristin adored Isaac, with eyes practically glued to him, Jason's aunt turned to Estrella and asked, "Estrella, Paula mentioned something a few days ago. What did she mean by that?"
From the moment they saw Isaac, they were struck by his resemblance to a young Jason. Now, seeing Kristin's affection for Isaac, Jason's aunt couldn't help but inquire.
What if it was true? What if Estrella confirmed it? That would be a cause for celebration for everyone.
The question from Jason's aunt shifted all eyes towards Estrella in an instant.
With the rumors Paula had spread just days ago, everyone was eager to hear a definitive answer from Estrella. Given the close relationship between Estrella and Jason, everyone was curious if Estrella might actually have a secret to share.

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