Chapter 2101


    Estelle shot Jonathan a wordless nce before turning to peer out the window. "Did the skies clear


    up?"


    "Yeah, it''s sunny now!" Jonathan shifted his body, resting his forehead on his hand. "Feeling any


    better?"


    Stretchingnguidly, Estelle responded, "I''ve been great all along!"


    She looked at him. "Shouldn''t you be heading to the office for work?"


    "Why don''t youe with me?" Jonathan scooped her into his embrace, reluctant to let go.


    "No, I''ve got ns to visit Old Mr. Quintin''s home today." She tilted her head to meet his gaze. "I


    need to pick up a few things, preparing for an appraisal session with Evelyn."


    "Let''s grab breakfast first. I''ll drop you off at Old Mr. Quintin''s ce, then head to work."


    "Sounds good!"


    Jonathan bent down for a tender kiss before they both got up.


    At breakfast, Estelle finally saw the message Magdalen had sent the night before, [I''ve taken care of


    Sylvia. It''s your turn to handle Gab!]


    She had been busy the night before and hadn''t replied. Magdalen had sent another message, [The


    restaurant is booked. There''s a fantastic spot on the second floor, perfect for their date. And they


    can head upstairs for an opera afterwards. I''ve got the tickets ready!]


    Impressed by Magdalen''s initiative, Estelle texted back, [I''ll go see my brother at Old Mr. Quintin''s


    ce soon.]Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Magdalen''s instant reply came, [Waiting for your good news.]


    Perhaps infected by Magdalen''s enthusiasm, Estelle found herself looking forward to Gabriel''s


    meeting with Sylvia.


    After breakfast, she and Jonathan left together.


    Upon reaching Old Mr. Quintin''s home, Jonathan saw that Jason was also there. After a brief


    exchange, he drove away.


    As soon as he left, Estelle immediately went to find Gabriel.


    She had woken upte, and it was almost time.


    Today, Old Mr. Jarvis had dumped a pile ofpany work on Gabriel. When Estelle walked in, he


    sat with his long legs crossed, cigarette in hand, using a stack of contracts as an ashtray.


    Upon seeing Estelle, Gabriel stubbed out his cigarette, his voice t. "Grandpa must think I''m too


    bored!"


    Estelle suggested, "If you''re free today, how about we go out for a bit?"


    "Nope!" Gabriel declined outright.


    Shrugging nonchntly, Estelle said, "Fine, keep going through the contracts then. I''m off!"


    "Wait!" Gabriel called after her, a smile in his voice. "Where to?"


    The two of them drove off under the bright sun, still feeling the bite of winter''s chill.


    Gabriel, sitting in the passenger seat with his arm propped up, looked out the window. "New Year''s


    ising up."


    "Yeah, Grandpa will be thrilled you''re spending it at home this year," Estelle remarked.


    Gabriel turned to her. "All these years I''ve been away, you''ve had it tough."


    "Not really," Estelle kept her eyes on the road. "It''s Grandpa I feel sorry for. He misses you a lot."


    Frowning, Gabriel mused, "All these years, I thought he''d gotten used to it."


    "But I think, the older he gets, the more he wants you by his side."


    Gabriel gave her a sidelong nce. "Still trying to get me toe back?"


    "Triceratops is gone; you can let go a little," Estelle said.


    "Triceratops might be gone, but plenty of other dangers are still out there."


    "Those threats have been around for over a century, and they''ll continue to exist. But you can''t


    spend your life on guard at Tripe."


    Gabriel fell silent as the reflection of the snow outside the car windows glinted coldly, causing him to


    squint slightly.


    When they arrived at the opera house, Gabriel scoffed, "You''re not seriously taking me to an opera,


    are you?"


    "Nope!" Estelle ascended the steps briskly.


    "Then what are we doing here?" Gabriel followed, curious.


    Estelle yed coy. "You''ll see soon enough."