Hannah, with a warm smile, nudged the fruit platter forward. "Help yourselves to some fruit. I'm going to make a quick call upstairs, see if Brooke has arrived yet."
Norah made a mental note that Xavier's blind date was named Brooke.
Once upstairs, Hannah found Yvonne in her room. "Mom, I forgot my moisturizer. I'll just use yours for now."
"Sure," Hannah murmured, pulling out her phone to call Carol.
Carol said she'd be there in about thirty minutes.
After hanging up, Yvonne complained, "Mom, why are you so obsessed with his love life? He's always been so bitter towards us. No matter what you do, he won't be touched. Why bother, especially during the holidays? You're just making things uncomfortable for yourself."
"You don't understand," Hannah said, sitting gracefully in her chair with a soft smile. "Your father is determined to bring him back into the fold. Sooner or later, he's going to settle down, and if he ends up with someone who doesn't get along with us, where does that leave us in the Hanson family?"
"That's why I have to be the one to find a wife for Xavier. If I can keep his woman under my thumb, I'll still run this household."
Hannah was putting in a lot of effort to find the right wife for Xavier. She couldn't pick someone too influential, to avoid them ganging up against the Franco family with Xavier.
But she couldn't choose someone too ordinary either. After all, the Hanson family's reputation was at stake.
Yvonne nodded. "You do what you think is best. But I doubt it'll work. Xavier's resistance towards us is strong. He's unlikely to like anyone you choose."
Hannah's smile didn't waver. "If this one doesn't work, there'll be another. As long as your father sees my effort, that's all that matters. Besides, if it keeps failing, your father will eventually be disappointed in him, maybe even think he's not interested in taking over the Hanson family."
She stood up to smooth Yvonne's hair. "Human hearts are delicate. Guide them gently in the direction you want, and they'll follow without realizing it."
Yvonne's thoughts drifted to Jonathan, her voice tinged with sadness. "Some hearts are as hard as iron."
"That's because you haven't found the right approach. Do you think it was easy for me to win over Simon Hanson, who was so cautious? In front of men, you need to show vulnerability, not always trying to outdo them, and certainly not let them think you're opposing them."
Norah wanted to disappear.
Calling him uncle!
Now that Henson had said it, was she supposed to follow suit?
She suddenly remembered her first visit to the Lamont family with Estelle, where she had to call Jonathan. Now, it felt like karma.
As Norah hesitated whether to stand up and greet him, Xavier asked, "Waiting for me? Is there something you need?"
Henson replied, "Originally, my sister and I wanted to ask you out, but Grandpa Hanson mentioned you had a blind date at home today. We got curious and decided to stay and keep you company."
Xavier, "...".

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)
This is so beautiful and captivating to envision. Thank you for your updates....
Thank you for bringing in all the past elements to bring continuity to Jonathan and Stella love journey. I loved it....
Just smiling and smiling and smiling reading the proceedings of this story. Loving it to the max...
Excited for all the events leading up to Jonathan getting his bride. Thank you for the updates....
Beautiful how everything is flowing together. Thank you for the updates....
Appreciate the storyline and direction.. Nothing seems rushed and patiently focusing on each and every character of the story, leaving no stone unturned. Even more intresting to read by the day...
And the plot thickens…thank you for the updates....
Ooooo, thank you thank you thank you for continuing to update the novel 🤩...
Ooooo, thank you thank you thank you for continuing to update the novel 🤩...
No updates??...