Chapter 992:
Brad brightened with a sincere grin until Deandre noticed them and shouted, “Hey, you two went ahead and started without me!”
Seeing Brad blend so easily with the Owen family, wearing a look of contentment he seldom witnessed, Sean halted in place, caught off guard by the rare sight.
Brad, still holding onto that smile, suddenly sensed someone watching him. He glanced over, and the brightness drained from his expression while a faint stiffness settled into his stance. It was hard to blame him; long-ingrained habits ran deep.
Whenever his grandfather was near, he automatically shifted into that composed grandson.
“Grandfather,” he murmured.
Kendrick brought his hands together with a firm clap, calling everyone toward the dining space. “All right, everyone, gather up. We have another guest joining us for Christmas. He came bearing presents, so let us all be gracious, understood?”
The Owen brothers immediately shifted their attention to Rylie before flicking their eyes toward Brad.
They knew this was not a decision that rested on them. In this household, Rylie’s voice decided everything.
𝘍𝗶𝗇𝘥 ո𝘰𝗏𝘦𝗅 р𝗗F𝘀 𝗈ո 𝗴а𝘭ոо𝘃е𝘭ѕ.cо𝗺
Sean had already picked up on the unspoken order of things within the Owen family. He stepped forward and passed the gift box to Rylie, keeping his voice carefully steady as he said, “This is for you. Merry Christmas.”
Under everyone’s watch, Rylie extended her hand and accepted the gift box. “Thank you. The table is spacious and there are more than enough chairs, so go ahead and sit down, Sean.”
Rylie’s easy acceptance eased the strain that had tightened in the dining room after Sean stepped in so unexpectedly.
The unease on Kendrick’s face dissolved, and his expression brightened into an enthusiastic grin as he gestured warmly. “Come on, settle right here beside me. The kids have been bustling around the kitchen all afternoon. You should taste what they put together.”
Sean offered a quiet nod and lowered himself into the chair next to Kendrick.
His gaze drifted instinctively toward his grandson. Brad had slipped back into his usual calm expression. Yet when Sean looked closely, the stiff line of his shoulders and the rigid way he held his chair hinted at how far he was from the laid-back young man who had been laughing with Rylie in the kitchen moments earlier.
The three Owen brothers traded a quick look and jumped in to keep the atmosphere lively.
“Sean, you arrived at the perfect moment. Felix followed Rylie’s exact directions when he roasted this turkey,” Deandre remarked as he set a generous portion of the turkey leg on Sean’s plate.
He was not someone who usually bothered with this level of courtesy, but he made the effort for his sister, and with Brad present, he was willing to smooth things out for Sean as well.
Sean studied the fragrant, golden slice of turkey on his plate, then glanced at his grandson, whose rigid posture had not eased. He lifted his knife and fork, carved off a small bite, and sampled it.
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