Clandestine Empire Return of the Lost

Inside the big mansion of the Heartfillia family a big part of the crowd from renowned families, and corporations had arrived for the annual Christmas party. The clock strikes 11:55. The atmosphere is very much lively and joyful. The Christmas tree sat at the center of the room, decorated with lights and bells and a big star at the top of it.

Under it lies a big bunch of presents lying on top of one another.  Party music was playing while everyone was enjoying the drinks and food.

Among the middle, stood Caroline Heartfillia, the first wife of George Heartfillia, the owner of the Heartfillia real-estate business.

Her neck is decorated with a diamond necklace, followed along with the expensive leather coat, and branded watch. However, none of it outshined the wrinkled face she had making her look relatively older than her actual age, along with her shiny grey hair which reached up to her ears.

When the clock struck 12, she raised her glass of wine for a toast.

“Merry Christmas!” she greeted with a broader smile on her face.

Everyone followed after her.

“Merry Christmas, Grandma,” said Jeremy, the first son of Caroline. He hugged her and pulled away.

“Merry Christmas, son.” She greets me with a smile.

“Lucas and Tom have presents for you,” Jeremy added, placing his hands in his pockets.

Lucas and Tom stepped forward and went over to their grandma’s side, holding out their gifts to Caroline.

“Merry Christmas, Grandma.” They said in unison.

Caroline smiled and took the gifts from their hands. “Oh, thank you, my grandsons.”

She opened the one from Lucas to see a red diamond bracelet. Her face was belated in joy to see that.

“Beautiful.”

Following next she opened the one from Tom.

It was a sapphire ring.

“Come give me a hug.” She said, holding out her hand towards them.

They hugged her and pulled away. “I have presents for you as well. Wait.”

“Stacy! Bring the presents for the kids!” she yelled.

All of a sudden, two maids from the crowd came and gave two gifts to Lucas and Tom.

“Open it and see!” Caroline said, patting Lucas’s back.

Jeremy smiled and drank his wine.

All the guests present watched them in awe. Tom was gifted a branded watch. And Lucas was gifted a key.

He became puzzled to see the key.

“What is this for, Grandma?”.

She smiled and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. “This is the key to the new car that you have been asking for for a while.”

“It’s in our garage. You can check it later.”

Lucas’s stern-looking face lights up right away to hear that. He gave a broader smile at her.

“Thank you, Grandma, you are the best.”

“Mom, you didn’t have to do that, you know?” Jeremy asserts that he was as happy as Lucas to hear that.

“I love my watch as well, Grandma, thank you,” Tom said.

“You are welcome.”

A bit away from them stood, Diana and Daisy, along with their dad, Reagan. He arched his eyebrows out of irritation to see Lucas smiling happily.

Daisy poked her elbow at her husband’s side,  who stood next to her. He’s Nicole, the owner of a branded fashion designer company in L.A.

He nodded awkwardly and went to Caroline’s side along with Daisy.

“Merry Christmas Grandma,” he greeted with a bow.

Caroline glanced at him, giving an unentertained gaze.

“Merry Christmas,” she said blandly.

“Your gift Grandma, open it,” he said, holding out the gift to her.

Daisy gave a forced smile.

Caroline took it without showing any appreciation and opened it right in front of the crowd.

“This is a designer fur coat from our company,” Nicole added, nervously. “You can’t find it anywhere, I can guarantee you that.”