The next day, Alexander Sterling arrived home after a long day at work, his thoughts preoccupied with the evening ahead. Cindy was in the living room, absorbed in her sketchbook, tweaking new designs. She looked up as he entered, a smile spreading across her face.
"Hey, you," she greeted, setting her sketchbook aside. "How was your day?"
"Busy, as always," Alexander replied, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "But I have some news. We're having dinner at the old house tonight. My parents have something they want to discuss with us."
Cindy's eyebrows lifted in curiosity. "Dinner at the old house? Is everything okay?"
Alexander nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, everything's fine. It's just been a while since we've had a family dinner. And I think they want to talk about the annual cruise."