Queen of Wild Cards novel Chapter 288

"Make sure you set an alarm," she warned. "We cannot oversleep. Don't we have that banquet tonight?"

She had committed to making an appearance at Wilfred Vaughn's birthday gala. More importantly, she was supposed to formally introduce Julius to the old man.

"Relax. I've got it covered. We need to swing by the precinct for your statement this afternoon, and your gown for tonight is already laid out. Just close your eyes." With that, he silenced her with a deep, consuming kiss.

Having been starved of her presence for days, his restraint snapped. By the time they reached the bedroom, her cheeks were flushed a deep, rosy red.

...

That evening.

Astoria Grand Hotel, Crane Hall.

Stella nudged Julius to carry an exquisite tea set. "Careful with that, it cost a fortune."

"How did you know the gala I'm attending tonight is a birthday? You even prepared a gift. That's incredibly sweet of you," Julius noted, holding the delicate box.

He didn't recall ever mentioning the specifics of tonight's event to her.

"Hold on, this isn't for your event," Stella quickly corrected. "Once I'm done being your arm candy, you're coming with me to meet an elder. It's his birthday tonight, and I promised to bring you."

"No problem. I'll follow you anywhere."

Julius was thrilled. They had been married for four months, and this was the first time she was introducing him to her personal connections. He just wished she had given him a heads-up so he could have prepared a lavish gift of his own to make a good impression.

They took the elevator up to the sixth floor.

Stella frowned slightly. What a coincidence. Wilfred's banquet was also on the sixth floor.

She glanced at the plaque above the massive double doors: Crane Hall.

"Julius, are you entirely sure this is the right room?"

"Positive. Crane Hall. Why?"

Stella shot him a deeply suspicious look. Were they actually crashing the exact same party?

For months, his grandfather had been hounding him about setting him up with some extraordinary girl. Even when Julius insisted he was legally married, the stubborn old man refused to believe it until he saw the bride with his own eyes.

Stella stared, absolutely gobsmacked.

Grandpa?

Wilfred Vaughn was Julius's grandfather?

Talk about a painfully small world.

Wilfred erupted into a booming laugh. "Little Star! Do you remember that brilliant young man I kept insisting you had to meet?"

Stella pointed a trembling finger at Julius. "Please don't tell me you were talking about him."

So the "amazing prospect" Wilfred had been relentlessly pitching was his own grandson.

"Hahaha! Spot on! He's my eldest grandson! Well, looks like my matchmaking services aren't needed after all. You two are already married! Oh, this is pure fate. I always knew you'd make a perfect match!"