Old Mr. Quintin glared, his voice resounding through the living room, "You said at lunch you were the man of the house."
Old Mr. Jarvis, puffing out his chest, retorted, "You really think I'm the king of the castle just because I wanted someone to play chess with?"
Old Mr. Quintin fell silent, a grunt his only reply.
Old Mr. Jarvis chuckled, "It's not that. You know how stubborn Gab can be. Aren't you worried about Evelyn getting the short end of the stick?"
"Not one bit. Marrying her into your family, I'd sleep like a baby." Old Mr. Quintin snorted.
"Just got Nora back and you're already looking to marry her off? What's your angle?" Old Mr. Jarvis asked with a suspicious sneer.
Old Mr. Quintin quickly said, "I'm just setting things up for Nora. No rush on the wedding bells."
"Don't worry, my boy's single and ready to mingle. Better have Vivian come back and get that paternity test done pronto." Old Mr. Jarvis chimed in.
The mention of Vivian silenced Old Mr. Quintin.
Upstairs, Evelyn, dressed in her newly bought outfit, overheard their conversation. She bit her lip thoughtfully and, with a flicker in her eyes, turned back upstairs.
After sending Gabriel the message, Sylvia took a bath, soaking in the warm water. When she emerged and saw no reply from Gabriel, she poured herself a glass of wine. Curled up on the couch, clutching her unicorn plushie, she alternated between sipping her drink and playing mobile games.
After losing two rounds and finishing her wine, she tossed her phone aside, intending to head to bed. But just then, the doorbell rang.
Sylvia hesitated before heading to the door.
Opening it, she found Gabriel standing outside, exuding a frosty aura that matched the chilly night air. Clad in just a champagne silk nightie, she shivered and quickly stepped back, "Come in, it's freezing."
Gabriel entered, and Sylvia fetched the slippers he'd left last time.
The wine glass on the coffee table was empty and the tea had cooled, but the scent still hung in the air, refusing to dissipate.
Sylvia, responding eagerly to his kisses, tore at his shirt, her hands climbing his strong arms, pulling him ever closer to her.
His body still carried the chill of the night, which she kissed away, warmth meeting cold.
At the Royal Mansion
Jonathan had someone buy ointment for Estelle's bruised hands, along with a bunch of scar removal creams.
He teased her, "You could start a pharmacy with all these."
Estelle shrugged nonchalantly, "Lucky for me, I don't scar easily. Otherwise, I'd be a map of battles past."

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)
I love it, I love it! Thank you for the updates....
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....