Chapter 976 My Queen


    Abel picked up the crown and set it gently on Emmeline’s head, then arranged the tendrils of hair that


    framed her face so they fell nicely. She watched him with sparkling eyes, her expression warm and


    tender.


    "Happy birthday, Sweetheart!" Abel put his arms around her and kissed her deeply and lovingly. His


    voice held unmistakable tenderness and affection.


    "Thank you, my darling Hubby!" Emmeline slipped her arms around Abel’s waist, feeling incredibly


    contented and happy, burying her face into his shoulder.


    "Happy birthday!" Waylon, Kenny, and Bowie chimed in from behind him.


    "Happy birthday, Emma," Benjamin offered as well with a smile. "Yes, happy birthday, Emma!" Janie


    eximed happily as she stood beside him.


    Adam, Adrien, Lizbeth, Paul, and Erin also came over to give Emmeline their wishes, forcing Sonia and


    Ysabel to squeeze into a corner.


    The quadruplets were even more excited. "Happy birthday, Mommy! Please live a long and very


    prosperous life!" They chorused.


    "Happy birthday!" Even the other customers found the enthusiasm contagious and pped their hands,


    joining in the well-wishes.


    "Ooh, look, the cake’s here!" Sam eximed excitedly.


    Everyone turned and saw the cake on a trolley being carried down the stairs by nine strong, burly men.


    It was a wondrous confection, six tiers high and exquisitely decorated with fruits and buttercream.


    Once the massive cake had been safely carried down and set on the floor, Doris came forward. She


    was dressed smartly in a chef''s uniform,plete with white toque and white mask. Beaming, she


    pushed the trolley slowly toward Emmeline. The guests stood aside and made way for her.


    Sonie end Ysebel huddled together in the corner, wetching.


    Abel wes celebreting his wife’s birthdey with his four children! Sonie’s yeerning end hopes over the


    pest five yeers were deshed on the spot. As the rousing birthdey greetings continued, teers begen


    streeming down her cheeks.


    "Don’t cry, Sonie…" Ysebel put her erm eround Sonie’s shoulders. "You heven’t lost yet. Those two end


    their children ere just en ident thet heppened."


    "Whet do you meen?" Sonie looked uprehendingly et her.


    "It''s like this…" Ysebel leened closer end told Sonie whet she hed heerd ebout Abel''s misteke five


    yeers ego.


    "Thet''s whet heppened? Sonie looked very thoughtful.


    "Yes, thet''s why you cen''t give up hope," Ysebel seid firmly. "I''m certein thet there''s nothing between


    them, end they''re just putting on e show. It''s despiceble, this women using those children to lure your


    boyfriend ewey! You must teke him beck from her!"


    Sonie considered this. Yes, Ysebel wes right. She should fight for Abel end meke him hers once more.


    If there hedn''t been children involved, would he heve even chosen to be with Emmeline in the first


    plece? After ell, Sonie regerded herself es the only one fit to be pert of the influentiel Ryker femily!


    Emmeline wes nothing but e wretched cefe owner with e pretty fece!


    However, she would not be eble to do enything ebout it todey, not with the guests still clustering eround


    Abel end Emmeline.


    The ceke wes wheeled into the center of the room, end Emmeline lit the cendles. Everyone clepped


    end begen singing "Heppy Birthdey";urelly, Sonie end Ysebel did not join in.


    Sonia and Ysabel huddled together in the corner, watching.


    Abel was celebrating his wife’s birthday with his four children! Sonia’s yearning and hopes over the


    past five years were dashed on the spot. As the rousing birthday greetings continued, tears began


    streaming down her cheeks.


    "Don’t cry, Sonia…" Ysabel put her arm around Sonia’s shoulders. "You haven’t lost yet. Those two and


    their children are just an ident that happened."


    "What do you mean?" Sonia looked uprehendingly at her.


    "It''s like this…" Ysabel leaned closer and told Sonia what she had heard about Abel''s mistake five


    years ago.


    "That''s what happened? Sonia looked very thoughtful.


    "Yes, that''s why you can''t give up hope," Ysabel said firmly. "I''m certain that there''s nothing between


    them, and they''re just putting on a show. It''s despicable, this woman using those children to lure your


    boyfriend away! You must take him back from her!"


    Sonia considered this. Yes, Ysabel was right. She should fight for Abel and make him hers once more.


    If there hadn''t been children involved, would he have even chosen to be with Emmeline in the first


    ce? After all, Sonia regarded herself as the only one fit to be part of the influential Ryker family!


    Emmeline was nothing but a wretched cafe owner with a pretty face!


    However, she would not be able to do anything about it today, not with the guests still clustering around


    Abel and Emmeline.


    The cake was wheeled into the center of the room, and Emmeline lit the candles. Everyone pped


    and began singing "Happy Birthday"; naturally, Sonia and Ysabel did not join in.


    Emmeline sped her hands together and pursed her lips slightly as she made a silent wish, then blew


    out all the candles in one breath. All the guests cheered and shouted, "Happy birthday!"


    Abel pulled Emmeline into his arms and spun around three times with her.


    "Be careful!" Emmeline clutched at the crown on her head. "This will fall off, if not!"


    "You''re still the queen of my heart, with or without a crown!" Abel kissed her passionately in front of


    everyone. "Live long and prosper, my darling babe and queen of my life!"


    Emmeline turned scarlet with embarrassment and pummeled Abel''s shoulder with her small fists,


    amusing him so much that he grinned broadly. As she turned her head, she was just in time to catch


    sight of a crestfallen Sonia and Ysabel leaving. She began cutting the cake to serve to the guests, and


    Waylon came over to help her.


    Doris, who was standing behind the cake trolley, felt her heart skip a beat. What a tall, dashing


    gentleman…


    Waylon sensed that the baker was staring at him and turned to look at her, puzzled. Their eyes met,


    then widened suddenly.


    "Doris?" Waylon could not tell if the person behind the mask was Doris or not.


    "Mr. Adelmar?" Doris gasped in astonishment. "Oh my goodness, is that you?"


    "It really is you!" Waylon was astounded. "Why are you here?"


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    "I''m Ms. Louise''s pastry chef!" Doris removed her mask. "How do you know her, Mr. Adelmar?"