24 Talia’s birthday party

Camilla Buenviaje was at the party. Victoria Bran was there, too. Sophia and James were present. It was good to see Amalia. Isabella thought she would enjoy the party because Amalia was present. Amalia told Isabella about her and Alfred going out to the latter's surprise. But she said she was happy for her as she knew she needed a "convenient" company.

"Do you remember William and Natasha?" Talia was talking to her group that included Camilla, Victoria and company—Lily, Stella, Aurora, Lucy.

"Romeo and Juliet—the love-hate couple—how are they?" Camilla asked.

"They broke up for good I heard." Talia said.

"C'est la vie," Victoria said.

"One more fatherless child after living for seven long years," Talia said.

"C'est la vie," Camilla repeated the phrase in her own intonation as if to emphasize a point.

"The family doesn't like Natasha. It's a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law feud."

"Hmm… just like my story," Stella interrupted. "They are a pain in the neck."

"A toast to broken-hearted women for having intrusive mothers-in-law," Talia raised a cup.

"…and who think they are the only ones who are right," Stella raised her cup.

"…and for being jealous for their daughters' beauty and attention from their husbands," exclaimed Aurora.

Everyone raised a cup, laughing.

Amalia and Isabella were in one corner. They were having a good time talking about their own personal lives, looking at the visitors, their clothes, Talia's house—the classy furniture. Aaron, who just came, poured wine in their cups.

Later on, everybody was drunk. Aaron and Isabella were drunk. Talia, her friends, and her husband, Sean, had set them up without their knowledge. They knew their story. Make the couple drink a little wine and see if they don't fall for each other. Amalia knew about the plan. Sophia and James were in the plan, too.

The family chauffeur, David, drove husband and wife home. They were very drunk. Sitting at the back of the car, they looked at each other. The car paced slowly towards home; they were close. Aaron felt that sudden surge in his blood. He held Isabella's left thigh and was unable to control himself, he squeezed her slowly. Isabella was shaken; her drunkenness, gone. Aaron was different. She slapped Aaron's arm and jumped out of the car quickly. David was smiling.

That wasn't what she had wanted. She wanted some sweetness, some charm, some gentleness--like he used to. Of course, she wanted it, too. She had missed the intimacy, too. But it wasn't her idea of a middle-age romance.

Oh! That night changed everything for Aaron.