In the backyard, Vivienne was keeping an eye on Natalia and Yasmine as they yed in the garden. She was merely watching, as the kids always behaved and stayed close when she was around. Maddox tried to approach stealthily, but Vivienne spotted him instantly.


    He looked around nervously, as if he was worried about being followed. His attempt at being sneaky was almostical.


    Even Natalia and Yasmine noticed him, but they just nced his way and continued with their flower picking, unbothered.


    When Maddox turned and met Vivienne''s calm gaze, he felt like she could see right through him. He awkwardly touched his nose and said, "Vivienne, um, you''ve been getting along well with my niece''s husband, right?"


    Vivienne was puzzled. Was this some new, odd way of greeting?


    She remembered Maddox''s call a few days ago, which was followed by a message saying it was nothing urgent. She hadn''t pressed the matter, but now it seemed like she might have missed something important.


    Pretending to be casual, she asked, "Uncle Mac, I haven''t seen Wi around today, have you?"


    Mentioning Wi made Maddox''s face fall instantly. He sat down and startedmenting, "Vivienne, do you think Wi''s mad at me? She won''t answer my calls or texts, and I have no clue where she''s gone..." Vivienne quickly moved away, rubbing her forehead, "What did you do to Wi this time?"


    Maddox hemmed and hawed without giving a straight answer, his face turning a shade of red.


    Vivienne guessed, "She didn''t ept your proposal?"


    Maddox froze, his face turning beet red in shock. "Vivienne, how did you guess?"


    Vivienne looked at him with a "what do you think" expression. Everyone in the family knew about their rtionship, including her considering Wi as an aunt.


    The wedding was only a few days ago, and they were already having issues. It had to be about the proposal.


    Maddox was lost in his thoughts, "Did I rush things and scare Wi? If so, I can just drop the subject. Honestly, as long as I can be by her side, I don''t care about anything else..."


    Vivienne could only sigh. It was clear why her mother got along so well with Uncle Mac.


    "Uncle Mac, when did Wi disappear? Did she say anything before she got upset?"


    Maddox was frantic, "I saw herst night and tried to talk, but she kept avoiding me. And now she''s gone first thing in the morning!"


    Vivienne''s patience was running thin, "Uncle Mac, is it possible that Wi just stepped out for a bit?"


    Maddox was certain, "Impossible, she looked at me in a wayst night... Vivienne, you don''t understand, Wi, she..."


    Just as Vivienne was about to lose it, Natalia and Yasmine came running over, each grabbing one of her hands, and giving Maddox a disdainful look.


    "Uncle Mac is at it again. Let''s go y somewhere else," they suggested.


    Vivienne nodded, unable to handle Uncle Mac''s romantic woes any longer. No wonder he had been chasing Wi for over a decade without sess.


    In the living room, Arthur was surrounded by the Perez brothers, while Sasha was chatting with a few aunts. Wi, whom Maddox had been fretting over, was right there. Vivienne understood why the family had been ignoring Maddox''s antics. A simple outing had turned him into a bundle of nerves, and only Wi had the patience for him. Feeling Vivienne''s gaze, Wi turned and greeted her with a smile, "Vivienne."


    Vivienne walked over, "Wi, you''re back."


    Wi nodded, holding onto Sasha''s hand, "I heard Sasha wasing, so I went to grab some of her favorite snacks. I missed you guys arriving."


    As Vivienne settled down with the kids, she blurted out, "Uncle Mac has lost it, you know?"


    Wi nced at Sasha, thinking Vivienne was joking, unsure of how to respond.


    The aunts justughed, choosing not toment.


    Sasha gave Vivienne a look, signaling her concern for Wi.


    Vivienne waved it off, "I''m serious. Ask Natalia and Yasmine; kids don''t lie."


    The girls nodded vigorously, their hands wildly gesturing, "She''s right. Uncle Mac is having a meltdown in the garden gazebo..."


    Wi couldn''t sit still any longer and excused herself to step outside.


    Sasha teased, "Be careful, Uncle Mac mighte after you."


    Zelda gathered Natalia and Yasmine, chuckling to Sasha, "You worry too much. With Wi going to him, Uncle Mac''s probably over the moon!"


    Aunt Carmen expressed frustration


    with Maddox, wishing he''d be more


    assertive for Wi''s sake, while Aunt Alice Churchill gently reminded everyone to mind the children''s presence.


    Carmen, realizing her slip, quickly exined her outburst, emphasizing the need for Uncle Mac to grow up and stop ying Romeo to Wi''s Juliet.


    Zelda blinked, "Maybe we shouldCòntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    lend a hand. Jake''s proposalst time was way toockluster. I mean,e on, a single sentence? That''s hardly what you''d call heartfelt." en.swhovels


    Sasha, a bit slow on the uptake, asked, "Jake proposed to Wi?"


    Vivienne gave her mom a look that screamed, "Are you even listening?"


    Sasha pretended to sip her tea.


    No wonder, with those two dancing around each other for over a decade without tying the knot, she had assumed Jake preferred this kind of rtionship. Turns out, he just couldn''t seal the deal.


    Vivienne raised an eyebrow and nced outside, "Aunt Zelda, no need. Uncle Jake''s made it clear this time he won''t let Wi slip through his fingers again." In the garden, under the gazebo.


    Maddox, in a daze, held the flowers left by Natalia and Yasmine, plucking the petals one by one, muttering under his breath.


    "She loves me, she loves me not, loves me, loves me not... No, no, let''s start over."


    "Jake?"


    The familiar voice made Maddox freeze.


    His body sprung into action, and he spun around to envelop her in a hug, blurting out in distress, "Wi, I''m sorry, I won''t pressure you anymore. Marriage doesn''t matter, I just beg you not to run away again. I''m scared!"


    Maddox''s breath washed over her, making Wi''s heart skip a beat. She coughed and pushed him away.


    "Who said I ran away?"