âMom, I brought you here tonight to meet Lyse. You said you missed her just last night, didnât you? You can meet her here tonight.â
âYes. I need to meet Lyse.â
Her eyes lit up as she called out, âLyse! Thatâs Lyse!â
Jameson quickly turned to see Alyssa walking toward them. Touched, he smiled at her.
âLyse!â Lily exclaimed.
âMrs. Schmidt!â Alyssa greeted her and immediately held her hand with a delighted smile.
âI thought you wouldnât show up! Iâm glad you made it.â
âIâm happy to see you too.â Lily took a liking to Alyssa and gave her a big hug.
Then, she grabbed a handful of chocolate candy from her bag and stuffed them into Alyssaâs hand.
She urged, âHave some candy! I noticed you really liked chocolate the last time you dropped by. Look, I brought some for you!â
âThank you for thinking of me,â Alyssa replied, feeling touched as she held the candy. Perhaps she had experienced too many life-changing events as well as the brutality of the battlefield in her life. Nothing could faze her anymore, except for the tiny, heartwarming things in life.
âYou look gorgeous tonight,â Alyssa praised Lily.
âIs it?â Lily blushed like a young girl.
âMy son picked the dress for me. I only wear loose clothes at home. I feel a little awkward in formal wear today.â
âYou look really great, Mrs. Schmidt.â
Alyssa smiled at Jameson and remarked, âJameson has great taste.â
Jamesonâs breathing quickened when she smiled at him, and his heart raced.
âThe other Schmidt family members are here. Mr. Victor Schmidt is seated with my dad. Iâll take you over, Alyssa offered.
n She was about to lead Lily away when Jameson suddenly interrupted, âLyse, wait a minute.â
She turned around with a confused look. âHm?â
âYou know our family dynamics. My mom and I lost our roles and shares in Schmidt Group, and Dad shipped us off to Kontina for 15 years without a chance of return.
âI was very young back then, and my momâs health was in decline. You can imagine how hard life was for the two of us,â he said with a bitter tone.
Alyssa listened silently, her heart going out to the young boy whoâd had to take care of his ailing mother.
Jameson continued, âThatâs why I refuse to sit with my family members. I donât want my mom near them.â
He mistook Alyssaâs silence for rejection. He smiled wryly, saying, âIf you feel uneasy inserting outsiders.
at your familyâs table, just forget about what I said.
âYouâve met my mom, and weâve handed over our gift for Madam Lyla. That should suffice. Weâll go home.
Please enjoy your night.â
âJimmy, youâre overthinking,â Alyssa responded warmly. She couldnât possibly turn him down after what he had shared.
âLetâs go. Weâll share a table. Todayâs party is just a family gathering. Please make yourself at home.â