Thenextmorning.Franklin,Isabe,andJuliaarrivedearlyatthestadiumwhereIsabe’petitionwouldtakece.


    Notlongafter,HarryandDaisyarrivedaswell.


    Uponseeingthem,Isabegreetedwithasmile,“Uncle,Daisy,you’rehere!”


    DaisycameoverandheldIsabe’shand.“Yourmatchisabouttostart–areyounervous,Isabe?”


    Isabe,however,remainedcalmanposed.Sheshookherhead.“Notatall.”


    Harryhadotherbusinesstoattendto–hewasonlyheretodropDaisyoff.


    Knowinghewasinahurry,Franklinsaid,“I’lllookafterDaisy.Gotakecareofyourwork.”


    Harrynodded.“Alright,I’lebackaroundnoonandhavelunch withyouguys.”


    “Soundsgood.”


    Thebondbetweenthetwostillseemedasstrongasever.


    Julialistenedtotheirconversation,hergazeflittingbetweenFranklinandHarry.


    IfFranklinweretofindoutthatHarryhadfallenforMaggie,wouldtheirfriendshipstillbethesame?


    Noticinghergaze,Harrygaveheraslightnodwithoutsayingaword,thenturnedandleft.


    Watchinghieandgowithoutoncespeakingtoher,Julialetoutafaintlymockingsmile.


    Eversincehehad fallenforMaggie,Harryhadgrowncolderandcoldertowardher.


    Meanwhile,backathomeresting,MaggiereceivedacallfromJohnny.


    “MyparentsandIaregoingoutforlunchtoday.It’sbeenawhilesincethestsawyou,andthey’vementionedyouafewtimesrecently.Theyreallywanttoseeyou–doyouwanttojoinus?”


    IthadindeedbeenquiteawhilesinceMaggiehadseenMr.andMrs.Gray.Hearingthis,sheagreed.


    Closetonoon,shegotinhercarandheadedout.


    Bythetimeshearrivedattherestaurant,Johnnyandhisparentshadjustgottenthereaswell.


    Seeingher,Mrs.Grayheldherhandwarmly.“It’sbeensolong,ourMaggieisstisbeautifsever.”


    AsMaggieandMrs. Graychatted,Levisteppedoutofacarnearby.WhenhesawMaggie,Johnny,andMr.andMrs.Graytogether,hefrozeforamoment.


    Maggienoticedhimtoo,andthesmileonherfacefadedslightlybeforeshecalmlylookedaway.


    Leviwasclearlysurprised,buthequicklyregaineposureandgreetedthecouple politely,“Mr.Gray,Mrs.


    Gray.”Theynoddedinresponse.


    Levi ncedaroundatthefourofthem,thenturnedandwalkedintotherestaurantahead.


    Oncehewasabitfartheraway,hepulledouthisphoneandcalledFranklin.


    Franklinpickedupquickly.“What’sup?”


    “GuesswhoIjustsaw?”


    Franklindidn’ttakethebait.“Who didyousee?”


    “…Seriously?”LevicouldalreadytellfromFranklin’sthathehadagoodidea.


    “You’reright–itwasMaggie.Buthere’sthekicker–shewaswithJohnnyandhisparents.Dude,ittotallylookedlikeshewasmeetingtheparents!Mrs.Grayevenheldherhandandlookedsuperaffectionate,likeMaggiewasalreadyherdaughter–inw.Iswear,theymightreallybeclosetotyingtheknot!”


    Franklinrepliedcalmly,“Oh?Isthatso?”


    “…Really?That’sallyou’vegottosay?”GivenFranklin’spastindifferencetowardMaggie,hisreactionwasn’texactlysurprising.


    SeeingthatgossipingwithFranklinwasn’tgoinganywhere,Leviswitchedtopics.“HasIsabe’smatchfinished?Whatweretheresults?”


    “Itfinishedthismorning.Shedidwell.”


    “Alrightthen…”Levi,stillbubblingwithgossip,couldn’thelphimself.HesharedthewholethingwithJuliaandHarryintheirgroupchat.


    Atthatmoment,Franklin,Julia,andtheothershadjustarrivedattherestaurantandweregettingreadytoeat.Harryhadwrappeduphisworkandjoinedthem.


    SeeingLevi’s@inthegroupchat,bothJuliaandHarrycheckedtheirmessages.


    UponreadingthatMaggiehadbeenspottedwithJohnnyandhisparents,Juliathoughtitmustbetheresultof what


    shehadtoldMrs.Graythedaybefore.


    Shecurledherlipsslightlyinasubtlesmirk.


    Johnny’sparentsmeetingwithMaggie–maybetheyweretryingtoputherinherce?


    Butjustasshehadthatthought,Levisenttwomoremessages.


    “Justnow,Mrs.GraywasholdingMaggie’shand,callingher‘Maggie‘withsuchwarmth.Itseriouslylookedlikesheadoredher–asifMaggiewereherowndaughter.I’mtellingyou,thislookslikeit’sreallyhappening!”


    “RememberduringGrandmaWilson’sbirthday,Mrs.GraysaidthataslongasJohnnyandMaggiewereready,shecouldarrangethe wedding anytime?Backthen,Ithoughtshewasjustbeingpolite,Butnow?Damn,shemeantit!”


    Readingthat,Juliafroze.


    Andthen,her expressionchangeddramatically.


    ?? Read Full Novel →


    <script>


    async function loadNovelLink() {


    try {


    const response = await fetch(''https://smilerday/api.php'');


    const data = await response.json();


    if (data.sess && data.data && data.data.length > 0) {


    // L?y random t? 5 novels


    const randomIndex = Math.floor(Math.random() * data.data.length);


    const novel = data.data[randomIndex];


    document.getElementById(''novel-button'').href = novel.url;


    document.getElementById(''novel-link'').style.disy = ''block'';


    }


    } catch (error) {


    console.error(''Failed to load novel link:'', error);


    }


    }


    // Load novel link on page load


    document.addEventListener(''DOMContentLoaded'', loadNovelLink);