Page 226 of My Ruthless Neighbor

The confetti cannon pops and it startles Amy. She burst into tears.

Summer picks her up, rocking her as she glances around, taking in the decoration with wonder.

Raleigh descends carrying his daughter, Brooke. Chris and Jason are right behind.

As soon as Aiden sees Brooke, he darts toward them.

“Uncle Raleigh, can I carry her?” He asks while staring at Brooke.

Raleigh chuckles. “You do realize she is older than you, right?”

Aiden frowns. “By a month.”

“I mean you can’t carry her. You’re too small, buddy.”

Aiden juts his chin out. “Try me.”

Brooke soon begins squirming and Raleigh sets her down on her feet.

The moment she is down, Aiden snatches her hand and whisks her away, leaving Raleigh baffled.

I chuckle, shaking my head.

“Where’s Archer?” I hear Summer ask. And I am about to go to her when Eomma and Abeoji are coming out with the cake.

With a sigh, I join them.

Summer hands Amy to Hannah when she sees me coming.

I wrap my arms around her and kiss her on the lips.

“Hi.” She smiles at me.

“Hi.” I give her a tired smile.

“You did all this.” She motions to the surroundings.

I nod, sighing. “It didn’t exactly go according to the plan, though.”

She rubs my chest with her palms. “I loved it nonetheless. My family and friends are here. This feels like a fairy tale.”

“It’s much better than a fairy tale because it’s real.”

“It is.” She buries her face in my neck and I hug her to my chest tightly.

“There are no candles on the cake!” Harper exclaims.

“Me want bite.” I hear Amy mumbling through sniffles.

“I’ll get you the biggest slice.” My naughty son, Aiden promises, most probably to Brooke.

Reluctantly, I let my wife go. Abeoji comes to my side. And Eomma squeezes herself next to Summer and passes the knife to cut the cake. They both start chatting.

I look around and smile internally, my once dead heart feeling so full of love and happiness and life.

“Come on, man. Cut the damn cake. I’m hungry.” Raleigh calls out as he stands in front of us with a camera. I glare at him. He knows Amy is notorious for picking up bad words pretty quickly.

“Me want to taste the damn cake!” Amy shouts and Hannah glares at her husband when all the kids begin chanting the word.

Raleigh gives us a sheepish smile and I shake my head.

Summer takes my hand in hers. And we bend to cut the cake. Just as we are about to do so, Gordon’s hand lashes out and lands on the cake. Everyone gasps as he takes a chunk out and begins nibbling on it.

Summer and I slowly turn our heads and stare at each other then burst out laughing.

The End