Janie carefully took a bite and nodded fervently, âWow, this is so good. Itâs so delicious. Itâs the best dim sum Iâve ever eaten.â
Doris was elated to hear that. Her eyes were sparkling with anticipation and excitement.
âThis is all because of you, Ms. Doris,â Emmeline smiled, âJanie, allow me to introduce Ms. Doris to you. She is my pastry teacher.â
Janie extended her hand gracefully. She wore a demure smile on her face, âMs. Doris, nice to meet you. My name is Janie Eastwood.â
âLook at my hands,â Doris spread her hands and smiled sheepishly, âItâs covered in flour. Iâll need to wash my hands first.â
âMs. Doris, youâre really a beauty!â Janie retracted her hand and complimented, âYour smile makes you look even more dazzling than you already are. I have a feeling that I would like you.â
âDonât stand on ceremony,â Doris felt awkward to hear those compliments, âYour compliments make me out to be something more than I actually am.â
âHow old are you, then?â Janie took another bite of the dim sum, âI feel like we are around the same age.â
âNo way, you look much younger,â Doris dismissed her, âI am already twenty-six years old.â
âI am twenty-five,â Janie replied, âYouâre just a year older than me.â
âMs. Louise here looks the youngest among us,â Doris commented, âYou must be twenty-two right?â
âHey, I am turning twenty-four in a few days!â Emmeline chuckled.
âDespite that, youâre the mother of four children,â Janieâs brows cocked up, âThose four children are at least four years old!â It was as if she was bragging about her own children.
âYou gave birth at a young age, huh?â Doris said, âYouâre really a youthful wife. No wonder your husband loves you so much.â
âYouâre right about that,â Janie replied on Emmelineâs behalf, âSheâs the apple of Mr. Abelâs eyes!â
Emmelineâs face immediately blushed.
âSheâs not only Mr. Abelâs favorite, you know. We fancy her as well.â
Another voice suddenly injected.
The three women turned around in surprise.
They saw two young men who were dressed in light-colored suits. They appeared majestic, graceful, and otherworldly.
The three womenâs eyes lit up.
Emmeline immediately jumped, âKenny, Bowie, you guys are finally here!â
The two men immediately grinned ear to ear. They spread out their arms.
âThis is so great!â
Emmeline squealed while she threw herself in their embrace. She hugged Kenny Adelmar followed by Bowie Adelmar.
Only then Janie knew that Robertâs stepchildren were visiting Emmeline.
She had seen these two before the last time she was on Adelmar Island. However, it was just a glimpse, so she had little impression of them.
âIt was Ben who asked us to come,â Kenny said, âHe asked us to help Waylon to prepare for the hospital.â
âI see,â Emmelineâs face was still red, âHeâs the owner of Imperial Palace nowadays.â
Bowie launched into a fit of laughter, âWe heard about that, alright.â
âNo wonder Waylon is on cloud nine of late,â Kenny added, âIt seems that he has a change of taste. He doesnât want to be the owner of the island anymore, but instead, he is the owner of the club.â
The siblings bantered merrily for a while before Emmeline went on to introduce Doris and Janie to them.
She introduced Doris first, âThis is my pastry teacher, Ms. Doris.â
Doris showed her hands which were still covered with flour to indicate that she could not shake their hands.
âMs. Doris, this is my elder brothers, Kenny and Bowie.â
âGood to see you.â
Doris bowed lightly while she secretly thought, Are those from the Adelmar family all she knows? Why are the men who have something to do with Emmeline all from the Adelmar family?
âKenny, Bowie, this is Ms. Eastwood. You guys have met each other before, right?â
âGood to see you,â Janie extended her hand warmly, âMy name is Janie. We met on the island before.â
Kenny and Bowie remembered her. They shook hands with her amicably.
âLetâs have some coffee now!â Sam shouted from the stairs, âThe coffee is ready!â
âLetâs go downstairs!â Emmeline smiled, âI need to have a rest now. I can feel the fatigue now.â
âYouâre tired?â Kenny immediately bent down, âLet me carry you on my back!â