Celeste was practically bouncing with excitement as she reached out to shake Mary's hand. "It's so nice to meet you, Mary! You're absolutely gorgeous!"

Mary laughed, her eyes warm. "Thank you, Celeste. You're very pretty too."

Celeste quickly pulled out her phone. "Mary, can we add each other on WhatsApp?"

"Of course!" Mary smiled, retrieving her own phone. The two women exchanged contacts without hesitation.

Once they'd connected, Celeste turned to the others. "Big brother, now that I have Mary's WhatsApp, I don't need yours. Second brother, shall we add each other?"

"Hey, if second brother's in, third brother should be too!"

It didn't take long before Celeste had added all twelve of the Richards brothers- each still single-to her WhatsApp. The brothers, for their part, were more than happy to add her back.

Watching Celeste so casually collect the numbers of the Richards brothers, Ann felt a wave of jealousy rise up inside her, bitter and uncontrollable.

Caitlin was being utterly unreasonable.

Ann herself hadn't even managed to get Daniel's number, and yet Caitlin had just waltzed in with an outsider and helped her connect with everyone.

Did Caitlin not understand the difference between family and outsiders?

Ann was Caitlin's sister by blood. Caitlin should have been helping her make an impression with the Richards family-not dragging Celeste, a complete outsider, along for the ride.

Was Caitlin doing this on purpose?

Caitlin knew full well that Daniel liked Ann. Was this her way of keeping Ann away from the Richards family, of making sure she never had the chance to become Daniel's girlfriend?

Yes. That had to be it.

Caitlin simply didn't want Ann to become her sister-in-law.

But since when did Caitlin get to decide who Daniel loved? Since when did she get to dictate other people's relationships?

Caitlin was nothing special.

Just wait. One day, Ann would marry Daniel and become the lady of the Richards family herself.

The thought brought a determined glint to Ann's eyes.

After making a round of introductions in the ballroom, Caitlin was summoned by the butler. "Miss Freya, the matriarch would like to see you."

Caitlin turned to Celeste with an apologetic smile. "Celeste, I need to step away for a moment."

"Go on." Celeste grinned. "I'll chat with the brothers for a bit."

Caitlin nodded and looked at the twelve brothers. "I'll leave Celeste in your care."

"Don't worry, Freya," one of them replied with a reassuring smile.

Caitlin made her way to Hannah's side.

Keira beamed at her. "Freya, let me introduce you to your cousin, Tammie Gonzales."

Keira's husband had an older brother, and Tammie was his son. Tammie's parents divorced when he was young, and his father, unable to cope with the heartbreak, had taken his own life. Tammie grew up abroad and had made a name for himself as a popular graphic novelist.

Tall and striking, Tammie cut an elegant figure with his gold-rimmed glasses and calm, refined manner. His entrance had not gone unnoticed; several heads turned as he walked into the room.

Caitlin stepped forward. "It's lovely to meet you, cousin."

Tammie handed her a beautifully wrapped gift. "Congratulations, Freya. Here's to your new beginning-I wish you a smooth road ahead."

"Thank you, cousin."

"It's nothing."

No sooner had he spoken than Ann's voice rang out across the room. "Tammie! You're back!"

Tammie turned, a gentle smile lighting up his features. "Ann."

With a practiced familiarity, Ann looped her arm through his. "It's been ages! I've missed you so much. Let's catch up over there."

Most people saw Tammie as just a graphic novelist.

But that was only half the story. He owned a castle in Rosenthal, and his success went far beyond comics.

Ann hadn't approached him by accident.

Now that everyone was fawning over Caitlin, Ann was determined not to let her steal Tammie's attention as well.

Tammie was three years older than Ann. After his mother left and his father's death, he'd spent a lot of time living with the Gonzales family, until his grandparents brought him overseas when he was ten.

He and Ann had always been close.

Once they'd found a quiet corner, Tammie handed Ann a small gift he'd brought just for her. "This is for you."

Ann's face lit up with delight. "Thank you, Tammie! But really, from now on, you can just bring gifts for Freya. I don't need anything."

Tammie smiled softly. "Freya already has plenty of brothers doting on her. Whether I bring her a gift or not doesn't matter much. But you you've only got me. That makes it extra important."

Tammie was an only child, and he treated Ann like his real sister.

"Sure, Freya has several brothers spoiling her," Ann said, her tone casual, "but honestly, she's had it pretty rough. She grew up in the countryside, didn't have much, and on top of that, she's already divorced even though she's still so young."

Divorced?

The word made Tammie's expression flicker ever so slightly.

His own feelings about divorce were complicated, colored by his mother's betrayal and his father's death. He'd never looked kindly on women who had been divorced.

If his mother hadn't left, if she hadn't divorced his father, maybe none of that tragedy would have happened.

Ann caught the brief shadow in Tammie's eyes and allowed herself a small, satisfied smile.

Perfect. That was exactly what she wanted.

But Tammie quickly composed himself. "Ann, Freya is only nineteen. You shouldn't go around saying things like that.”

"I'm not making it up-she really is divorced! But Grandma doesn't want anyone

to talk about it, so I'm only telling you. If you don't believe me, you can check the records yourself."