Chapter 142: THE BIRTHDAY PARTY 2
"Oh my isn’t it my lovely lady," he spread his hands wide for her, as she embraced him so tight.
Mr Jerkins always sent him her pictures and all so he recognized her at one glance.
She didn’t miss how Julian gazed at her for long like he was trying to know where he knew her from.
"Happy birthday," she cooed and he let out a big smile. Everyone stared at them in shock, still wondering who she was.
Maren on the other hand moved closer, her attention already captured by this beauty.
She is imdiately in love with her body and beauty, she feels she is familiar but she is still staring at her body to check in deeper at her features.
Astrid disengaged from the hug and then Mr. Jerkin handed a gift box to her.
"What if I didn’t co back today, I found out late it’s your birthday today." She complained and Donald let out a bustling laugh surprising everyone.
He is a cold man and could hardly be pleased so they were surprised with the pay. Just a little gesture from her ahead made him laugh out loud.
"A small ergency gift from ," She murmured and he accepted with a pleased heart. This little one before him reminds him so much of her mother.
"Grandpa..." Astrid heard Mattie’s voice as she was still left in shock at this beauty."
"Who is she? A business partner?" Astrid glanced at Mattie.
"Hey Cousin, how co you forgot
so quickly?"
Astrid asked, now having a sly smirk on her lip, Mattie’s eyes widened in shock.
"Co... cousin?" She asked, still staring at her, "I don’t have any cousins aside from...." Her words stopped midway when Maren turned Astrid to face her.
"I am not hallucinating, right? Astrid?" Maren called and she let out a small smile.
"I am offended you are not the one who t
at the airport." Astrid fired at her even though she knew how busy she was to check her ssages.
Maren’s hands flew to her lips clamping them in shock. "Oh my goodness! Astrid, you are the one! You are back!" She yelled as she embraced her so tightly.
"I missed you so much!" She cooed and imdiately murmured and went around, guests still wondering who she was.
Mattie’s eyes flicked to Julian, who stood frozen in shock. She hadn’t expected Astrid to return so soon, and her stunning appearance only added to Mattie’s growing unease.
Despite her best efforts, Mattie had struggled to get close to Julian since Astrid left.
He had beco increasingly distant, his anger and coldness towards her, he was no longer the Lulian she once knew.
She also didn’t miss when Astrid walked into the room, the subtle change in Julian’s deanor.
The coldness in his eyes seed to dissipate, replaced by a hint of warmth and interest.
"No, she won’t take you back," Mattie thought to herself. "I will make sure of it."
Maren’s voice cut through her thoughts as she kept praising Astrid.
"You look stunning, gorgeous... in fact, out of this world!" Astrid smiled, her eyes sparkling with amusent.
But Maren’s expression quickly turned stern. "You did take my advice to co back as a new person, but you ignored my calls and texts!" Astrid’s smile faltered, and she glanced around nervously.
"People are around," she murmured "Besides, I texted you last yesterday." Maren rolled her eyes.
"We so have a lot to talk about," Maren leg out kike an older sister.
Donald stepped forward, a warm smile on his face. "Everyone, this is my granddaughter... recently discovered to be the daughter of my older daughter, Elizabeth. Isn’t she beautiful?"
The room erupted in a chorus of agreent, with Becky walking forward to envelop Astrid in a warm hug. "Astrid..." she whispered, her voice trembling.
"I miss you so much!" She mumbled and Astrid retorted her words. She has been another outsider with a good heart that cared so much for her.
The family all ca together, "You did prove your worth!" Desmond announced and she smiled.
"I am not making you regret taking the decision you took just for ."
"I am so proud you never leave
disappointed. I know I didn’t make a mistake, to choose you," he announced and Julian scoffed.
He didn’t even know how to get close to her, he could only admire from afar until Rowan tapped his shoulder.
"You... why are you here?" He asked this ti the party had continued with different pole chattering as Adam, Gilbert, and Logan chatted happily.
Everyone kept leaving a beautiful remark and this made Mattie rage. She can’t help but add up an evil plan in her head already.
"I didn’t think you needed to ask
a question because soone invited
to this party." looking at his way with an amusing smirk.
"The last ti I checked this was the Gilbert birthday party, not yours," he added.
Julian’s irritation grew wider as he glared at Rowan. "The fact that we worked together on a project doesn’t an you are my friends, so get the hell out of my presence before I finally lose it."
Rowan’s smile never wavered, "Actually, we worked together because you left it to have her street, but now I don’t think you have the right to see her anymore."
Julian’s eyes narrowed, his gaze flashing with anger.
"I heard you will be divorced after a year, by my calculation, is more than a year, so I think the best thing for you to do now is to divorce her... oh..." He paused, his finger tapping against his lip.
"I forgot that soone told
she already signed apart, but you are the one refusing to divorce her."
Julian’s face darkened, his fists clenched at his sides ready to attack but at the sa ti, Donald called out to Rowan to their gathering.
"Oh, Chris, you told
you are friends, how co you’re not with her now that she’s back?"
Rowan’s laughter grated on Julian’s nerves, his anger simring just below the surface. "Mr. Gilbert, co on..." Rowan said, moving closer to them.
"I didn’t recognize her at first glance. She now looks more pretty," he said out loud as he strutted toward them.
Astrid’s smile faltered, her eyes flashing with concern as she gazed at Julian’s tense face.
Mattie on the other hand decided to use this opportunity to get closer to Julian.
She dragged him along, pulling him towards Astrid but he didn’t budge.
"Hey Julian, it’s been a while since you have seen her, co on, let’s go talk to her together," Mattie said, her eyes sparkling with excitent.
Julian tried to pull his arm free, but Mattie held tight. "Please," she muttered, and he reluctantly followed Mattie.
As they approached Astrid, Rowan stepped forward, a charming smile on his face. "Astrid, it’s been a while," he said, his eyes locked on hers.
Astrid forced a smile, her eyes flicking to Julian before returning to Rowan.
"Yeah, you look stunning," Rowan added, his voice low and smooth.
Just then Donald pushed Rowan closer to Astrid "Ah, Rowan, should I introduce you to my granddaughter?" He asked with a teasing smile.
Astrid’s eyes widened in surprise, but Rowan just chuckled. "We have already t, we are closer than you think," he said, his eyes never leaving Astrid’s face.
Donald bead with pleasure. "Ah, excellent! I am so glad to hear that. Rowan, why don’t you tell Astrid about your new business venture? And maybe get to know more about one another."
Rowan laughed at this and Julian finally spoke up, his voice low and rough. "Astrid, long ti no see," he said, his eyes locked on hers.
Astrid’s heart skipped a beat as she t Julian’s gaze. Mattie, sensing this, snuggled closer to Julian, her eyes flashing with possessiveness.
Then Donald butted in again, "How’s Julian treating you, Mattie?" He asked, his eyes twinkling with curiosity.
Mattie’s face lit up with a bright smile even though she was clearly hurt and that question hurt her deeply.
"He’s amazing, sir. He loves
so much, and I am so grateful to have him in my life."
Astrid’s eyes narrowed, her heart twisting with pain. Julian’s eyes t hers, and for a mont, they just stared at each other.
"Well, since Julian seems to have found love with Mattie, I think it’s ti for him to finalize his divorce from Astrid. Don’t you agree, Astrid?" Donald announced, making the Logans a bit disappointed.
Astrid’s eyes flashed with anger, but she masked it with a sweet smile. "Oh, I couldn’t agree more, grandfather. So my cousin can finally get married to the one she loves."
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