Chapter 654: Chapter 654

Miley’s unexpected return was a delightful surprise for the Taylors. Mandy, Miley’s mother, appeared on the verge of tears, her eyes glistening with joy.

However, she maintained her usual composed demeanor, a skill she had perfected over the years. It had been a long time since anyone had witnessed her shed a tear.

On the other hand, Lyla and Colene couldn’t contain their emotions, and they wept as they embraced Miley. To an outsider, it might seem as if Mandy was Miley’s stepmother.

“Are you done yet?” Winston wondered with a disgruntled look. “It’s my turn!”

Everyone was rendered speechless. Lyla and Colene had no choice but to let go of Miley.

Winston eagerly enveloped Miley in a heartfelt hug, sobbing even louder than his wives.

“Oh, my dear daughter! I’ve missed you so much! I thought you had forgotten all about me after marrying Jeremy. I’ve raised a little rebel, it seems!”

Again, everyone was dumbfounded by Winston’s antics. Alyssa’s lips twitched as she froze on the spot.

Thankfully, the reception was filled with family members only, sparing Winston from embarrassment in front of other guests.

“Dad, I never forgot about you,” Miley reassured him, patting him on the back.

“Look, I’m here to visit you now. I was just very busy. Jeremy has important matters to attend to, and I was campaigning for him every day.

“I only messaged him about coming home when I boarded the plane. You’re always on my mind, so please don’t be upset with me. And I brought you a white porcelain vase. Kontina is famous for them.

I’m sure you’ll love it.”

Everyone felt for Miley. She had gone against Winston’s wishes and married a congressman from Kontina, Jeremy Shields, who was ten years older than her.

After she had moved to Kontina, she rarely had the chance to meet her family.

No one had expected Miley to do well in a foreign country. As a charming and inspirational role model, she was voted the second most popular and respectable woman in the country, just after the queen of Kontina.

Even Alyssa couldn’t match Miley’s stature, and she took pride in her accomplished sister.

Winston quipped, “Where’s the gift?” He looked much like a child who had stopped crying after receiving candy.

“I bumped into Mr. Gorham when I arrived and gave him the gift, along with some jewelry I got for Lyla,”

Miley explained.

She turned to Lyla with a soft smile. “Happy birthday, Lyla.”

“Miley, your presence is the greatest gift,” Lyla replied, her eyes brimming with emotion. She was more sensitive and emotional.

“What about your husband? Doesn’t he have anything for me?” Winston raised an amused brow, always picking at his only son-in-law.

Alyssa rested her chin on her hand and shot Winston a disdainful look.

She teased, “You have heaps of antique items at home, but you refused to run an auction or donate them to a museum. You can’t take that stuff with you to the afterlife anyway, so why hoard them?”

“Hmph! You don’t get it because you’re still young!” Winston huffed and pouted as he straightened his back.

Alyssa clicked her tongue and countered, “You’re just too greedy. If you had lived centuries ago, you would have been a corrupt official.”

Winston raised an eyebrow and retorted, “And what would you have been?”

With a haughty demeanor, she replied, “I would have been Julius Caesar!”

Laughter erupted in response to her witty comeback.

She suddenly asked, “I thought Silas would be here after work. Why isn’t he here yet?”

She checked her wristwatch and said, “I’ll give him a call.”