Zachary did not bring his daughter since she was too young and there were too many strangers outside, so he was worried that his daughter could get sick.
Mrs. Watson was staying at their lodging to help him take care of Jean.
Since the dinner was booked ahead of them, it was served in under twenty minutes once everyone arrived.
As the stewards poured everyone wine, Martin turned toward Diarmuid and said, “I’m so happy that you could come. Here, let’s have a toast.”
Diarmuid raised his glass, and they shared a toast from a distance.
The atmosphere was lively and cheerful since everyone was gathered together.
After dinner was over and they headed home, Diarmuid took out a leather briefcase and passed it to James.
“For me?” James asked in surprise.
Diarmuid appeared aloof and expressionless, but he said, “For your wedding.”
With that, he got into his car.
James took it happily and watched them leave before heading home with Erin.
Glancing at the briefcase on the backseat, she asked,” What’s in there?”
“I don’t know,” James admitted.
That made Erin more curious. “You don’t?’
“Of course. I haven’t opened it yet.” James said, and reminded her, “Eyes on the road.”
Erin pouted at him. “Fine.”
Although they were staying with Mick, he left in another car after leaving the restaurant.
They were staying together so that Erin could better care for James. It was a huge place so it would not be crowded even if
James moved in, and she would rather Mick not be alone either in fear that he would get lonely.
Mick was not back yet after they drove home, while Erin excitedly took the briefcase out of the car while complaining, “It’s our wedding… So why did he give you a present, but not me?”
James stared at her in turn. “Giving you is no different from giving me…”
Erin argued before he could finish, “That doesn’t count, and I’m his sister. Who are you to him? On the other hand, I’m his sister, so he’s definitely giving this to me.”
James chuckled. “Should I send this back so that he can prepare something else for you?”
Erin shot him a glare, feeling a little upset, just as it would be humiliating if she really asked for it. “Stop trying to get on my nerves.”
James put an arm around her shoulder. “What’s mine is yours, y’know.”
“It’s different!” Erin complained. “It would look like he’s closer to you since he gave you the present, while I’m just some stranger.”
“You’re being greedy now-how are you a stranger? Tommy is always calling you Aunt Erin.” James smiled, teasing her.
Erin smiled faintly as she remembered Tommy’s adorable face.
Once inside the house, she put the briefcase impatiently on the couch, ready to see what was inside when James asked, “Can I have a glass of freshly squeezed juice, please?”
Erinwas left speechless. ‘Til see what’s inside first, and go…”
“Now,” James insisted.
Seeing that he was not fully recovered yet, Erin reluctantly went to work.
It was not as if she was reluctant to work, but now just was not the time-she really wanted to see what was inside the briefcase.
James watched as she entered the kitchen before quietly opening the box to see what was inside, worried that Erin would get too excited about it.
He could tell that Erin really thought of Diarmuid as a brother and really cared about what they thought.
When he was done checking the contents, he quickly shut the briefcase.
Erin soon returned with fresh juice, and after handing it to her, she asked, “You didn’t look while I was away, did you?”
James shook his head. “Nope.”
Erin was skeptical. “Really?”
“Really,” James replied.
Erin rubbed her hands. “I’m going to open it.
James nodded.
As she started to open it, she said, “It’s not full of money, is it?”
“Nope,” James answered confidently.
Erin looked up right then. “How’d you know? And you said you didn’t? You peeked while I was making you juice!”
James was left speechless.
He had let down his guard!
James was peeking because he was worried that the gift might be something that could hurt Erin’s self-esteem, and he would rather spare her from having to feel that she was less than Diarmuid.
Having worked for Diarmuid for so long, he knew that Diarmuid spared no expense when it comes to his own people. In fact, they were more brothers than merely superior and subordinate.
It was exactly the case for when James was captured— Diarmuid was suffering from temporary blindness, but he carried on, calling favors and spending all the money he had to save James.
Bosses did not usually do that. In other words, Diarmuid was loyal to a fault, but he never liked to express it.
Even so, those who were with him knew very well that it was respect and a sense of security they would not get anywhere else.
On the other hand, Erin was even more expectant when she realized it was not money, and she was starting to fumble a little.
James simply reclined on the couch with the fresh juice, taking a sip and then saying, “Relax. It’s a surprise.”
“Shut it, you,” Erin snapped-it was up to her to decide if it was a surprise, and it would never be if they said it!
James chuckled and tousled her hair.
Erin opened the briefcase then, and there were several velvet boxes of jewelry, a house deed, and a document.
She read the document and realized that it was a share transfer certificate for Remy-it was probably the most valuable gift in there and worth far more than money!
It was also a gesture from Diarmuid to show that he acknowledged Erin as family.
Erin had her hand covering her lips just then, emotional.
“The man’s twisted, but he never was bad,” James said.” And these are more of a dowry than wedding presents since only you can use the jewelry.”
Even her name was stated directly on the share transfer certificate, and Diarmuid simply did not hand it to her directly.
That was very much in line with his tsundere style.
Erin leaned against James’s arms then while holding the certificate in her arms, joyful not because of the money but because she was considered family.
She was worried about abandonment when she discovered that she was not Mick and Yvaine’s biological daughter, but Diarmuid now acknowledged her even if she was not related by blood.
James gently patted her on the shoulder. “I’m happy that you’re happy.”
Erin snapped, “You don’t even know how I feel.”
James simply smiled and gently kissed her on the forehead -he understood that Erin was happy.
It was true that he could not empathize with how Erin felt since he was neither an orphan nor adopted, and he did not have the fear of being abandoned or disowned.
He therefore decided that he would offer her a sense of security in their marriage so she did not have to tiptoe so much.
Everything was now most ready for their wedding-Erin’s wedding gown was made, though it was sent back for alterations earlier due to error in measurements.
They had that fixed now, and she would try it on again.
James was busy with other arrangements, so he asked for Abigail’s help.
Tommy went with them as well, insisting on coming along when he saw Erin.
Erin was affectionately linking arms with Abigail.
Erin’s heart could melt whenever Tommy called her ‘Aunt Erin’ in that sweet voice of his, and she cupped his cheeks to give him an audible smooch.
He giggled. “It tickles.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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