The Coldest Man in the Room Melted Only for Me novel Chapter 495

About forty minutes later, the car arrived. Riley buckled Alora into her car seat, and they were driven from the bustling city center out to the serene, quiet suburbs, eventually pulling through the imposing gates of the St. John Manor.

The estate was awash in festive crimson. Massive red lanterns hung everywhere, and gold-embossed prosperity characters adorned the main doors. Evergreen branches were decorated with small holiday envelopes and golden ornaments that tinkled softly in the winter breeze.

On the immaculate lawns, illuminated trees sparkled with red and gold string lights, casting a magical glow over the grounds.

The holiday spirit was palpable, wrapping the entire property in a welcoming warmth.

As Riley took it all in, her own spirits lifted. The moment the car stopped in front of The Manor House, she saw Eleanor beaming brightly, walking out to greet them. Riley immediately felt a pang of concern. "Eleanor, it's freezing out here. Why are you waiting outside?"

Mrs. Higgins, who was supporting the older woman, smiled. "She missed Alora so much she insisted on waiting by the driveway. I couldn't stop her!"

According to Mrs. Gable, she and Alora ran into Eleanor at the shopping mall almost every other day. Did she really miss her that much? It seemed the more time they spent together, the deeper Eleanor's affection grew.

"Oh, my precious angel! Come here, let Great-grandmother hold you." Eleanor reached out to take Alora from Riley's arms.

Riley froze. Great-grandmother?

Wasn't that a bit too intimate?

But then she rationalized it: Alora was Pierce's daughter, and Pierce was Sebastian's cousin. So technically, calling Eleanor "Great-grandmother" made perfect sense.

The group moved out of the cold and into the grand foyer of The Manor House.

The sprawling coffee tables were laden with fresh fruits, exquisite pastries, and seasonal drinks. Sebastian had told her that the entire St. John family—aunts, uncles, and cousins—would all gather here for the New Year's Eve dinner.

Because she had arrived so early, the rest of the family hadn't shown up yet.