Melvin was struck dumb, scratching the back of his head with an incredibly awkward chuckle. Well, this was embarrassing.
Ebony Fox shot him a withering glare and silently holstered her weapon. The others exchanged sheepish looks, stifling their laughter.
"I just came in first to give you a heads-up so you wouldn't be too overwhelmed," Shanley said dryly, smoothing his jacket. "She's waiting right outside."
When Coralie walked into the room, she was greeted by a sea of faces. Though her childhood memories were hazy, looking at these people triggered an overwhelming sense of familiarity, exactly like the moment she had first locked eyes with Juniper.
The surprise was immense. The siblings stood frozen, completely overwhelmed by the suddenness of the miracle.
Until Coralie broke the silence.
"Hi, everyone. It's been a long time. I'm Coralie."
"Coralie..." Celine, being the closest in age to her, remembered her the most vividly. It only took one look to recognize the little girl she had lost.
"Celine?" Coralie asked softly, afraid of making a mistake.
"It really is you!" Celine burst into tears, rushing forward to pull her into a tight embrace, her body shaking with sobs. "You're back! You're really back!"
They had worried about her every single day.
"The heavens finally showed us some mercy," Coralie said, her face stained with tears but glowing with a radiant smile. "I'm going to get down on my knees and thank the heavens ten times over."
"We're just glad you're home," Jimmie said, his eyes rimmed with red. "Come, meet the rest of the family."
One by one, the siblings embraced Coralie. When they found out she was the notoriously powerful boss of the Westshore Casino in Caelus, they were universally impressed. Not a single one of the seven siblings was ordinary. Their family genetics were truly unmatched.

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