Year Five The Perfect Goodbye Plan novel Chapter 62

“What proposal?”

As soon as Silvia spoke, a gentle woman’s voice drifted in from the hallway, interrupting Finn as he skimmed through the document.

Lola had just come back from shopping. She stepped through the front door and immediately caught the word “proposal.” On a day like today, even the slightest hint was enough to catch her attention.

Silvia glanced at her mother, exhaled, and explained, “Mr. Parsons and I have agreed—we’re holding the engagement party in three days.”

Finn nearly spat out his water. He wiped his mouth, eyes wide with disbelief. “Silvia, when I joked about you getting married as soon as you came home, I didn’t mean you should actually rush into an engagement! Three days? What kind of party can you even pull together?”

Silvia was the Ashford family’s little princess. There’s no way she should be treated so casually.

“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s a good thing Silvia’s settling down early. Not everyone wants to end up your age and still single,” Lola chided, though she wasn’t particularly surprised. She took Silvia’s hand, her gaze soft and reassuring. “Kent’s worked with our family for years. Your father and I have met him plenty of times. We both think he’s a wonderful young man.”

Silvia nodded in agreement. She truly did think Kent was a good person.

“Mom, it’s only three days. How are we supposed to organize a proper engagement party? It’s just not right—it’s disrespectful to Silvia,” Finn protested. He knew their parents were still a little upset over Silvia being away for three years, and they wanted her to settle down quickly. The partnership with Kent was just the cherry on top. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Silvia wasn’t going to run off again. This time, she was home for good.

Whatever happened, after all the hardships his sister had endured growing up, she deserved to be cherished. If she was getting married, her fiancé needed to show he truly cared.

Lola shot Finn a look, then plucked the proposal from his hands and waved it at him. “This is Kent’s plan for the engagement party. Do you really think he’s cutting corners with Silvia?”

Finn leaned in with Lola to look through the plan. The more he read, the more serious his expression became.

Luminova City.

Shipley stumbled through the doorway, reeking of whiskey after a business dinner. He shrugged off his suit jacket, raising his voice, “Sweet Silvia, come help your big brother air out this jacket, would you? Smells like a distillery in here.”

He stood by the door, suit dangling from his hand.

A few moments passed, then Shipley glanced up the stairs, fixing his gaze on the master bedroom. “Sweet Silvia, if you don’t come down soon, your big brother’s going to get angry.”

The master bedroom door clicked open. A woman appeared at the top of the stairs, dressed in a silk nightgown, one strap slipping off her shoulder. She was all sultry elegance as she descended and stopped in front of Shipley.

Vianne took the jacket from his hand and tossed it aside. Draping her arms around his neck, she looked up at him, her eyes glinting with something unreadable. “Shipley, it’s me, Vianne. Silvia… she’s still mad at you, giving you the silent treatment.”