CHAPTER 218

  Ian's POV

  **Song Suggestion: Mother by Ingrid Michealson**

  She looked radiant as usual, smiling and conversing with her family. The surprise party had gone according to plan, with her having no idea what was in store for her. Of course, I needed some help from her dad and Red. Still, seeing her smile the way she did made all that hard work beyond worth it. She was happy and thankfully, her mother wasn't stealing her joy tonight. The interactions between them were tense and slightly awkward as the night continued, but her sisters did a better job than I at diffusing the situation.

  "Mami will warm up to you eventually. Just keep doing what you're doing and don't mind her. We certainly don't," Hortensia said, appearing out of thin air beside me. I caught myself jumping and showing her how much she had frightened me.

  "I doubt it. We didn't have a great first meeting." I shook my head at the memory, feeling my anger rise once more.