Chapter 1611 - Christmas 2020 (1)

Sarah found Aiden in the study.

As usually in the last few months, Aiden's sight was glued to the monitors in front of him and a slight frown created creases on his handsome face. The moment he noticed Sarah approaching him, the frown was replaced with a smile. Sarah likes that she has this effect on him.

Sarah sat on Aiden's lap and rested her head at the crook of his neck. "Stella and Edward are settling in."

"Mhm…" He made a hum of acknowledgment. "I got a message from Oscar and Elanor. They wanted to visit Alice and Jayden and when Jeff told them that they will be here, Oscar and Elanor asked if they could come."

Sarah lifted her head and looked at him. "We invited them, why are they asking if they can come?"

Aiden shrugged. "Who knows? Since Jeff started cleaning the family, they are acting more cautious around us."

"They are probably wondering how much we know." Sarah said. "That is fine. They can come and see how a loving family interacts. No backstabbing and no schemes."

Aiden smiled. "Thank you for arranging all this."

They have a lot going on, but Sarah told Aiden that she will handle everything related to today's event and that he can focus on whatever else needs his attention. Their first Christmas as a couple was ruined because she was fighting with Edward (when she left the Hill family villa), and for their second Christmas Aiden was in a coma, and she wanted to make this one extra-festive to make up for the last two. And so far, things are going according to plan. A few extra people won't hurt.

While on the topic of a few extra people, Sarah remembered: "Jarred and Donnie (aka Mrs. Ronin) are back from their honeymoon. I've got a message from the old man that they will come here in the afternoon. The old man wants to spend Christmas with Charlie."

Aiden approved. "Good. Jarred is familiar with our parents, and they can keep each other company. I should tell Jeff that mom and dad will be here so that he is not surprised when he sees them. I have a feeling that Jeff told them how they will not be home in order to avoid meeting with them, but they ended up coming here." As soon as he finished his sentence, Aiden froze.

"What?"

"Uhm… Sean and Ryan are on their way here. With Angelo." Aiden said stiffly. "Angelo wanted to spend Christmas with his kids, and they will be here today, so I said that it's not a problem. Will it be a problem?"

Sarah pursed her lips. She knows that Aiden is concerned that Angelo will be in the same space with Jarred (aka his competitor in business and love), and Donnie (aka the ex-wife). How much they know, Angelo didn't see the other two since he visited Los Angeles, when he signed the divorce papers and reunited with his children.

"Well, Angelo and Donnie are divorced, and Jarred is retired. Let's hope that there will be no conflict, and if anything happens… we will deal with it then. In the worst case, we will knock them unconscious."

Aiden relaxed. Well, knocking them out will prevent conflict. "You have a solution for everything."

"I will not let them spoil this Christmas." Sarah said confidently. "If they have any grudges, they can take it outside. Oh, we should tell Genie about all these extra people so that there is enough seating for everyone..."

In Hande's room…

Ade and Hande are standing in the middle of her room and practicing their violin duet for the afternoon show.

Hande is super-stressed because she always messes up the fastest part in the composition they are practicing.

"Argh!" Hande groaned in frustration. "I will never get this part right…" Hande said dejectedly and threw her violin on the bed.

"Don't give up, Hande…" Ade encouraged her. "Just relax and it will be fine. We can slow it down a notch."

Hande looked at Ade while her eyes filled with tears. "We slowed it down three times already. It should be the grand finale, but it's a grand mess. And it's all because I'm not good enough. I knew it, it would be better if you did your own thing. I'm just dragging you down…"

Hande stopped talking when Ade pulled her into his embrace.

"Don't talk nonsense…" Ade said in a soft voice while tightening his hug on Hande. "You are not dragging me down. You are just stressed because this is your first performance. It will be fine, you will see… have faith in yourself… you are great…"

Ade chanted encouraging words and Hande felt her face burning while she was not sure what to do with her hands. Should she hug him back? He smells so good... Oh, gosh!

Ade and Hande were in their own bubble and they didn't notice the door of Hande's room opening.

"What the hell is going on here?!" Merve roared from the door. "Get your hands off from my sister and step away from her before I knock some decency into you!"

Ade swiftly released Hande from his hug and took a step back. "Merve, this is not what you think…"

Merve sneered. "Why don't you tell me, what am I thinking?"

Hande frowned. Why is Merve meddling? And why is she talking to Ade like he did something wrong? "Why are you barging in my room without knocking?"

"I knocked, no one answered." Merve responded while her glare didn't leave Ade.

"And if no one answers, you move on and not get inside!"

"Don't talk to me about manners when you are allowing this scoundrel to put his hands all over you!"

Hande puffed her cheeks in frustration. Why is Merve calling Ade names? Hande gestured to Ade not to move, she will handle this. "Merve, you need to get used to the fact that Ade is my boyfriend and stop treating him like he is doing things against my will! We were practicing for the afternoon, and I suck, so he was comforting me. And if you are such a caring sister, maybe you should comfort me as well, instead of coming here to yell at me and making me even more nervous!"

"I didn't come here to yell! I came to tell you that your altered gown for the afternoon's show arrived!" Merve shouted.

"Well, thank you for telling me! I will be there when we are done with practice!" Hande shouted back.

"Ungrateful. I will leave you with this lecherous boy, so he can have his way with you. See if I care!" Merve squeezed through her teeth and stormed out.

The door closed behind Merve with a loud thud.

Ade's heart was beating wildly because Hande called him her 'boyfriend'. It's the first time she said that. He knows that Hande said that in anger, but it still counts.

"I was not being lecherous." Ade said reluctantly. He does not want Hande to have a bad opinion of him.

"I know. Thank you for encouraging me not to give up."

Ade smiled. "The attitude you showed when you defended me in front of Merve… Channel that energy during the play and you will do great."

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