Chapter 262

"Indeed." Julian Roland picked up Alexander's thread, giving Olivia Valdemar a slight nod. "Miss Valdemar, it's best we don't bring this up again. Evelyn and Sebastian simply aren't suited for each other."

Evelyn tugged at Olivia's sleeve when her brothers overreacted to Sebastian's name.

She shook the exquisitely wrapped gift box in her hand.

"Theodore is today's star." Evelyn glanced around. "I brought him a present. Where is the little one?"

"Upstairs." Olivia's expression turned apologetic. "He refuses to come down no matter how much we coax him."

Understanding flashed in Evelyn's eyes. She turned to her parents and brothers. "I'll go check on Theodore first."

Following Olivia upstairs, the noise of the party faded behind them.

Evelyn's tense shoulders finally relaxed. Today marked Edward Roland's official acknowledgment of her identity as his daughter. She had to maintain the perfect heiress facade at all times.

Every step felt like walking on thin ice. Now, she could finally breathe.

"Theodore is shy around strangers. Sebastian's keeping him company." Olivia paused at the bedroom door, her eyes dimming slightly at the mention of her eldest son. "I should return to our guests. You may go in."

Watching Olivia descend the stairs, Evelyn gave a soft knock.

Sebastian looked momentarily startled when he opened the door, then stepped aside to let her enter.

A porcelain-skinned boy sat on the carpet, his long lashes framing expressive eyes.

Theodore focused intently on stacking blocks, only glancing up briefly when Evelyn entered before resuming his play.

"Theodore, this is a gift from Aunt Evelyn." She crouched down, her voice instinctively softening.

Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting dappled patterns across the boy's face. His golden curls shimmered, his delicate features mirroring Olivia's.

The child was breathtakingly beautiful.

Theodore paused, his dark eyes studying her with curiosity.

After a moment's hesitation, his small hand reached tentatively toward the present.

Sebastian settled beside Theodore, an uncharacteristic gentleness in his expression. "He likes you." His fingers brushed the boy's hair. "He never accepts gifts from strangers."

Watching Theodore unwrap the building block set, Sebastian's lips curved slightly. "He's accepted your gift."

The new blocks quickly captured Theodore's full attention as he began assembling them with single-minded focus.