Mission: From Divorcee to Millionaire

For a moment, Selena found herself hesitating. Everett caught her pause and sent a knowing glance toward their son, Mateo. Picking up on the hint, Mateo leaned against the car window, his voice pleading.

"Mom, come with us," he urged.

Haley chimed in, her little face peeking out from the window. "Yeah, Mom, join us, please."

Selena glanced at her children's eager eyes, then at Everett, who was clearly enjoying the situation. Even though she was well aware of his little scheme, she couldn't say no. Everett, she had to admit, knew exactly how to push her buttons.

Everett opened the passenger door for her, his hand gently guiding her head as she got in. He leaned over to buckle her seatbelt, his touch lingering.

...

Just as they drove off, Blaine's car rolled into the driveway. He walked into the empty house, his brows lifting in surprise. Ava emerged from the kitchen, her face lighting up when she saw him.

"Mr. Bane, you're back!" she exclaimed.

Blaine gave a slight nod and headed to the sofa. "Where's Miss Selena?"

Ava poured him a steaming cup of tea. "She left with the kids and Mr. Everett for the Bennett family reunion. They just left. Didn't you catch them?"

"Oh? Are they back on good terms?" Blaine asked, one eyebrow arching.

Ava chuckled, "Some connections are just meant to be. It was only a matter of time before they patched things up."

Blaine paused, taken aback. Meant to be? He didn't believe in fate; everything he'd achieved, he had fought for. But now, he wondered if such a thing could exist. If it did, where was his 'meant-to-be"?

A face, both loved and resented, floated into his mind-someone ke thought he'd left behind. Maybe it was the holiday season, the family gatherings, that made him think of such an untimely person.

His career was stable now, and with Selena likely to end up with Everett, he'd soon find himself alone again. Was it time to let go of the past and find someone to share his life with?

After a little over an hour, the car pulled up at the Bennett family mansion. Selena stepped out, taking in the house as if seeing a ghost from her past.

The last time she was here for a family reunion seemed like a lifetime ago. Back then, she was always plotting against Everett, trying to slip away, even going as far as to fake a pregnancy.

Who would've thought, after all these years, she would still be caught up with Everett? Was it a cursed bond or destiny?

The family reunion rituals werenoveldrama

BUT

elaborate and lengthy. Selena chose not to attend; Everett took the kids while she waited in his room upstairs. Once they finished, she'd go to the family chapel to pay her respects to Grandpa.

Since Josh's passing, Everett rarely visited, but his room remained spotless.

Feeling a bit restless, Selena wandered over to the bookshelf, hoping to find something to pass the time. Family reunions were long drawn-out affairs, after all.

Everett's shelves were packed with all sorts of books, from historical volumes to Spanish literature, none of which grabbed her interest.

After a bit of searching, she finally found a music scorebook, even though it looked pretty old.

As she pulled it from the shelf, something dropped out, hitting the wooden floor with a clear, sharp sound. Startled, she glanced down, her eyes going wide at the sight.