Chapter 3908

Could the mysterious, handsome man seen near Elora possibly be her private chef? Rosie entertained the thought but opted against asking Elora directly, not wanting to risk upsetting her friend once more. Their friendship was invaluable to Rosie, especially since forming a bond with someone as reserved as Elora had proven challenging. Rosie silently vowed to prioritize her friend’s happiness in the future and refrain from meddling in her personal life on behalf of others. At just 27, Elora wasn’t in any hurry to marry, and Rosie reminded herself that it wasn’t her place to worry. Many accomplished women remained single well into their thirties and forties, focusing on their goals and independence. Later, during their call, Elora extended an invitation. “I’m having hot pot at home tonight. If you’re free, come join the fun. But let me warn you—no matchmaking schemes. If you try, you’re officially uninvited.” Rosie laughed. “Don’t worry. I’m done with that. Besides, you’ll only be 27 after the New Year. You have plenty of time; you’re still young.” Rosie married early but recognized that Elora’s life was different. Unlike Rosie, Elora bore the weight of her family’s legacy. Rosie recalled an old classmate who once offered to marry into the Ormond family as a stay-at-home son-in-law. While his intentions seemed genuine, his skills and ambition fell short of what Elora needed. Joining the Ormond family required more than just goodwill; without the ability to share Elora’s burdens, he would only exacerbate them. Rosie now understood why Elora had never considered his advances—he simply wasn’t the right match for her. Reflecting on her recent behavior, Rosie realized she needed to be more supportive and less intrusive.

Feeling embarrassed by her actions, Rosie regretted allowing someone’s passionate confession to influence her, nearly endangering her friendship with Elora.

After the call, Elora leaned back and rubbed her temples. “If we hadn’t been friends for so long, I would have cut her off completely.”

Tinsley, her younger sister, interjected, “Rosie has a kind heart. She’s easily swayed by grand gestures, but she doesn’t mean any harm.”

“If she did,” Elora replied, “she wouldn’t still be my friend.”

Tinsley grinned. “Exactly. My sister is too sharp to be deceived by anyone.”

Elora smiled faintly before changing the subject. “Go fetch those two little ones. Tell them it’s time to come inside. We’ve been out here enjoying the snow long enough. It’s freezing. Let’s head back to the house, crawl under some blankets, and take a nap. Nothing beats that cozy holiday feeling.” Before the holiday began, everyone had joked about sleeping in for three days straight. But now that the break had arrived, they were all waking up earlier than ever.

“It’s funny,” Elora mused, “when you have to work, getting up early feels impossible. But give us a day off, and we’re up before sunrise, full of energy.”

Nearby, the two youngest siblings, Alonzo and his little playmate, laughed and ran around in the snow, their cheeks rosy from the cold.

Their third sister, Sevyn, watched them with a mix of envy and amusement. “Look at them, having the time of their lives. It makes me jealous. Maybe we should give them more homework—they have too much free time.”

Violeta, the fourth sister, laughed. “If you assign them homework, they’ll cry their eyes out! Let them enjoy winter break. Alonzo is only in first grade. There’s no need to pressure them.”

“They’ll study when it’s time to study and play when it’s time to play. They have too much free time!” Violeta, the fourth sister, laughed. “If you give them homework, they’ll cry their eyes out! Let them enjoy winter break. Alonzo is only in first grade—there’s no need to put pressure on them. They’ll study when it’s time, and they’ll play when it’s time.”

With a playful smirk, Violeta added, “And if you’re so jealous, Sevyn, why don’t we join in? Who says we can’t have fun too? Let’s see if we can outplay the little ones!” The sisters erupted in laughter.

But Sevyn wasn’t joking. She jumped up, grinning at Violeta. “Come on, let’s have a snowball fight. Let’s see who has the better aim!”

“Bring it on!” Violeta shouted, following her out of the pavilion.

Laughter filled the air as they dove headfirst into the playful chaos, their competitive spirits brightening the snowy afternoon.