At the sight of Benson's change in attitude, Sophie's eyes flickered. She reached out and gently touched her stomach, thinking, "As long as you're born safely, this entire Gray family will be yours."
"Grandpa, Uncle Theo." Benson greeted everyone at the table one by one. However, when he got to Sierra, he hesitated for a long time, unable to bring himself to greet her formally.
His voice carried deep emotion as he greeted, "Cee."
The atmosphere shifted instantly. Those present exchanged subtle glances, their expressions changing slightly.
Sierra could feel their gazes and cursed Benson deep down for his lack of restraint.
Just then, Theo took her hand, and the two of them stood up together. He pulled out an envelope from his pocket and handed it over. "This is a token of your Aunt Sierra's goodwill. Take it."
Benson stared at the envelope with a complicated expression.
Sophie reached out and accepted it without hesitation. "Thank you, Uncle Theo, Aunt Sierra."
Finally, Edward smiled. "Alright, now toast the other elders properly."
She tugged at Benson's arm to pull him away—though his reluctant gaze lingered on Sierra.
The Gray family had an extensive network, so making the rounds for toasts took the newlyweds nearly three hours.
By the end of it, Benson was thoroughly intoxicated, barely able to gauge his directions.
Since Sophie was pregnant, she had only been drinking water, but standing for so long had left her exhausted.
With Edward presiding over the event and Theo and Sierra accompanying them, no one dared to make things difficult for the couple.
By the time the last guest was seen off, it was already past 7:00 pm.
Theo and Sierra escorted Edward back to the Gray Manor, and by the time they returned to their own home, it was already 9:00 pm.
…
Gazing at Sierra's sleeping profile, Theo's eyes were filled with tenderness. He bent down and carefully scooped her into his arms.
She might have been uncomfortable in her sleep because her brows furrowed slightly. Just as he thought she was about to wake up, she buried her face against his chest.
Through his shirt, Theo could feel her warm breath against his skin, and his entire body instantly tensed. It was only after confirming she was asleep that he slowly relaxed and carried her inside.
"What are you thinking about?"
Before she could figure it out, Theo's deep, husky morning voice sounded as he pulled her closer into his embrace.
"I was wondering how I got back last night." Still blurry from sleep, she blurted out whatever came to mind.
Amused by her drowsy state, Theo chuckled and ruffled her hair. His voice was low and slightly raspy. "Take the day off and sleep a little longer."
Under his coaxing, she drifted back into sleep. When she woke up again, it was already 10:00 am. Sitting up in bed, she ran a hand through her hair.
After freshening up, she went downstairs and found Theo seated on the living room couch, working on his laptop.
Noticing her, he gestured toward the dining table. "Have your breakfast."
"Why didn't you go to the office?" She was surprised.
Walking toward him after grabbing a sandwich from the table, she caught a glimpse of his screen by accident. Then, she quickly averted her gaze.
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