The Ugly Wife’s Stunning Comeback novel Chapter 79

Jeremy, Anthony, and Savannah showed up at the hotel one after another, all holding the invitations Felicia had sent them. As they walked in, they ran into Darin and Andrea in the lobby. Darin and Andrea were there for a birthday party, but their event was in one of the swankier halls up on the sixteenth floor. Darin greeted Jeremy with a quick hello, then took Andrea upstairs. After they disappeared, Jeremy, Anthony, and Savannah caught the next elevator.

Meanwhile, over at the Hawthorne estate, today was all about family. The Hawthornes and the Gilberts were getting together for their annual reunion. Last year, they’d gathered at the Gilberts’ house, so this year, it was the Hawthornes’ turn to host. One by one, the Gilberts arrived, filling the living room on the first floor with laughter and chatter. Kids ran around, squealing and giggling, while the adults caught up on life.

By the time noon rolled around, just about everyone had shown up. Max arrived by himself. He made the rounds, greeting each of the elders politely before finding a seat. Once he sat down, Hope realized Luke was missing and turned to Rose. “Where’s Luke?”

Rose replied, “He said he’s going to Felicia’s dad’s wedding today. He won’t be home for lunch.”

The moment those words left her mouth, the room went quiet. Rose suddenly realized she might have said something she shouldn’t have. Felicia hadn’t come today, and her mother-in-law didn’t react, so Rose had assumed everyone already knew. Judging by their faces, that wasn’t the case.

Hope noticed the sudden tension. Her smile faded a little as she glanced first at her husband, then at Max, who just sat there with a blank, almost uninterested look, as if his father-in-law getting married was the last thing on his mind. Hope didn’t push any further. “Alright then.”

Soon, everyone moved into the dining room and took their seats. The reunion vibe stayed warm and lively. Even with two people missing, it didn’t really seem to matter. Still, nobody brought up Felicia or her soon-to-arrive baby. Everyone knew that mentioning the baby would just bring Felicia into the conversation, and her name felt like a live wire at this point.

But kids never pick up on the things adults try to avoid. Mandy looked at Max and asked, “Uncle Max, where’s my baby cousin? I haven’t seen her.”

Wyatt, who was helping Mandy with her food, answered for Max. “She’s not here yet. She’s still in her mom’s tummy.”

Mandy’s eyes got big. “She’s still in her mommy’s tummy?”

The words landed like a stone in the room. Everyone’s expressions shifted. The mood grew tense.

Hope shot her husband a warning look. He just couldn’t help himself. “What are you talking about? It’s supposed to be a happy family reunion.”

Nate let out a grunt. Hope tried to smooth things over right away. “He’s just kidding, Max. Don’t mind him.”

Max gave a faint smile and nodded. “I’ll get going now.”