From Ashes of Scandal to His Embrace (Laurinda) novel Chapter 266

He really was jealous. There weren’t any grandkids in his family around Adolphus’s age. If his wife hadn’t been close friends with Tanya, the Main family and the Lane family probably would have drifted apart by now.

Raines could hear the envy in Jed’s voice and just laughed quietly.

“It’s not like I have any special connections. Adolphus’s girlfriend did our company a huge favor, so Sam got the chance to invite Laurinda to my birthday dinner. That’s the only reason he agreed to come. Everyone knows he hates parties. You really think I’d be the one person he’d make an exception for?”

Raines turned to Laurinda with a warm, fatherly smile and nodded.

“They look great together. Honestly. Eda was here bright and early, showing off that her youngest finally found someone.”

Adolphus just smiled at the teasing and gently squeezed Laurinda’s hand.

“Laurinda, let me introduce you. This is Raines, our birthday star. That’s Jed, and Edna. And this is their granddaughter, Cathleen.”

Cathleen, who had been sitting quietly nearby, looked up in surprise when she heard her name. She gave Laurinda a shy little nod.

Laurinda nodded back and greeted the elders with ease, then brought out the gift she’d prepared for Raines.

Seeing the present in her hands, Felix couldn’t help but twitch his lips. He was dying to know what fancy thing Laurinda was giving away this time, worried she might have picked something priceless from home without even realizing it.

Raines was a little surprised Laurinda had brought him a gift. He glanced down at the box, his smile deepening as his eyes crinkled.

“Can I open this now?”

“Of course. Let’s see if you like it, Raines.”

Raines looked at her with genuine admiration. It was obvious she wasn’t just any girl.

“I’ll gladly accept your gift. You should come visit my place sometime—bring Adolphus with you. I’ve got some treasures you might like to see.”

“I’d love that. When I get the chance, I’ll have Adolphus take me over. I heard from him that your chef is amazing.”

“That’s right. That boy’s favorite thing in the world is my chef’s chestnut pastries. I’ll have Sam send some over for you tomorrow.”

From her seat in the corner, Cathleen watched Laurinda chatting so smoothly with the elders, a flicker of envy in her eyes. She’d been trying so hard, but she just couldn’t manage to be as comfortable as Laurinda.

As more and more guests arrived to wish Raines a happy birthday, Adolphus took Laurinda’s hand and led her away from the crowd.