Charlie suddenly flashed back to the days when the four of them lived here, to when he taught her how to charm the one she fancied. She shot back with a cheeky retort, "As if I'd like you!"
Even though times had changed, that jab still irked him!
He sighed and said with mock resentment, "Fine, you're all thicker than thieves, and here I am, the odd one out!"
Kya shouted with childlike enthusiasm, "Daddy, I'll be the odd one like you!"
Laughter filled the room.
Charlie's eyes twinkled with affection, "That's my girl Kya, daddy's little princess!"
"Quit your bellyaching and get on with peeling the potatoes!" Jonathan dragged him back to the kitchen.
In the living room, Emily handed her homemade pastry to Estelle, "Is everything sorted out? I was so worried when I was abroad, but Charlie told me to trust you and Jonah's competency! And sure enough, as soon as you two got back, all the problems just dissolved. I'm seriously in awe!"
Estelle replied with a gentle smile, "They were but lies easily torn apart."
Emily said gravely, "The Crawleys had their agenda, but it was when the Macclains struck at you that I really felt a knot in my stomach. Being betrayed by family, nobody gets it more than I do. When I came back last night, I wasn't worried about anything else, but I dreaded the Macclains coming to you, begging for mercy!"
The pain of being abandoned by kin, then witnessing their tearful pleas, was a heart-wrenching torment!
Estelle paused for a moment before speaking softly, "Even children know that misdeeds come with consequences; adults should understand even more that evil actions have their price. If tears and begging could always earn forgiveness, then there'd be no stopping them from recklessness in the future."
Emily nodded, her gaze filled with warmth as she looked at Estelle, "Whether you forgive the Macclains or not, I'll support you and stand by your side because I understand the reasons behind any choice you make."
Estelle's eyes were clear and resolved, "Yeah, I know what needs to be done. The Macclains are rotten to the core; it's time for a new deal."
Emily gave a soft smile, "There's always something I can learn from you. I hope one day I can have your kind of courage."
Estelle shook her head, "Everyone's journey is different, no need to emulate me. You are already the best version of yourself."
After Magdalen returned home, she called Sylvia, "Darling, been keeping busy?"
Sylvia, who had just taken on the planning of a corporate product launch, replied with a light smile, "Not too bad, got something for me, Ms. Sampson?"
Magdalen chuckled, "Today's not about business, just checking in on your personal life."
"My personal life?" Sylvia raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah. Got a boyfriend yet?"
"No time for that. I've been traveling for work, and coming back to a mountain of tasks!"
"Well, how about I set you up with someone? A friend's brother, tall, handsome, absolutely divine. Interested?" Magdalen offered.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)
Dear author Lucy, may we please have updates. Thank you....
There's a song currently playing via YouTube and TikToc by LowDii "Touch Me Softly" that makes me think of Norah and Xavier (Gonzalez). Please, I'm looking forward to updates. Thank you for your writing....
May we please have updates. Thank you....
As the plot thicken. Adrian is done for and he can't try to control Norah, so he'd probably tattle to Janice who's gone for two weeks. Thank you soooo much for the updates....
These updates were too funny. Thank you so much for the updates....
I forgot to add Amy to the group of pregnant women,since she was the first. Emily and Sylvia better be careful since pregnancy is in the air....
Wow! This is great, both Estelle and Magdalen are pregnant at the same time and I hope that Xavier is Norah neighbor. Thank you for the updates....
Author Lucy you're a blessing. Thank you so my for the updates. I hope that Norah's neighbor is Xavier she gets her memory back....
May we please have updates. Thank you....
Looking forward to reading your updates....