Chapter 261

Hector laughed, his spirits high. "You still remember that, huh?"

"How could I forget? We got beaten up so many times as kids. That girl was fierce; she fought like a wild dog. We were two years older than her, yet she always pinned us to the ground. It was unbelievable!"

"And you never let me fight back! You always shielded her and wouldn't let me hit back!"

Harvey seemed interested. "So that call was from Naomi, that little wild one?" Hector nodded. "He's back and staying next door. It's his birthday today, and he planned to invite me over."

"You should go," Harvey said enthusiastically. "It's been years since I've seen him. I bet his personality has turned him into a big, burly guy by now."

Keith spoiled the mood. "Mom and Dad said we have important guests tonight, so neither of you is going anywhere."

"They've been living in Lunaris Town for over twenty years; who could be visiting from home?" The three brothers were puzzled.

A black sedan, followed by another car, pulled up. Levi was driving; a middle-aged couple sat in the backseat. The man wore a suit; even in middle age, he was elegant and handsome. The woman had short hair and looked youthful, though lines crinkled the corners of her eyes, showing a lack of extensive skincare. Her tanned skin suggested an active outdoor life; she appeared healthy, energetic, and full of life. She exuded a relaxed air, her eyes as clear as a child's.

She opened the window, gazing curiously at the scenery. "The sycamores on Azuregaze Mountain have grown so tall. I remember when you planted them—they were just saplings."

That's right; Sam had planted each sycamore along the way home. At the time, Ruby was newly pregnant with their fifth child. She already had four sons but longed for a daughter. That night, Ruby dreamt of a phoenix resting on a sycamore at her doorstep. Convinced she was carrying a girl, she even chose a name in advance—Heather.

Sam, thrilled, transported sycamore saplings from Friyx and personally planted each one along the mountain path, hoping the trees would grant them their wish.

Ruby watched these sycamores grow lush and tall, forming a canopy overhead. Her initial curiosity and excitement gradually subsided. A flicker of pain crossed her features; she seemed to remember something.

Sam noticed his wife's silence. He knew she was thinking of their deceased daughter. He pulled her into an embrace. "Stop dwelling on it," he said. "I'll introduce you to a girl tonight. You might like her, and if you do, let's ask if she'd like to become our goddaughter."

The loss of their child wasn't a taboo subject. Ruby wasn't one to dwell on sorrow; though sometimes childlike in her innocence, she was inherently strong and independent, having overcome many challenges.

Chapter 261 (continued)

After their daughter's death, Ruby channeled her grief into strength, tirelessly advocating for children facing hardship worldwide. She was an exceptional war correspondent and founder of the Angel Children's Fund. Over the years, she'd traveled the globe, helping countless orphans.

Ruby asked, "How do you know I'll like this girl?"

Sam chuckled. "When I first saw her, I felt such tenderness and fondness. Meeting her again feels like fate."

"If she's as wonderful as I imagine, we can treat her like a goddaughter. I believe Mr. Jones will agree."

Ruby laughed, leaning into Sam's arms, but glanced at Mr. Jones driving. She whispered, "If the girl is nice, why not introduce her to Levi? She might make a great daughter-in-law."

"Sounds good," Sam said. "Levi's thirty and still single. Poor thing."

Though they whispered, Levi heard perfectly well.

"Could you two gossip a little more discreetly?" Levi asked.

Ruby smiled. "I said it on purpose; why would I hide it from you?"

Levi was speechless.

"When your dad and I were thirty, we already had two kids," Ruby said. "You, on the other hand, haven't even held a girl's hand, let alone gotten married."

Levi fell silent.

"We're not rushing you," Ruby continued. "It's just that we have normal desires. Your lack of interest in women worries us."

Levi remained silent.

"Of course, we're a progressive family," Ruby added. "If you don't have a girlfriend, having a boyfriend wouldn't be an issue…"

"Mom!" Levi exclaimed. "I'm handling my future. If you have so much free time, maybe you should practice cooking more, so we don't all get food poisoning next time."

Ruby was talented in almost every area except cooking, which was always disastrous. Last night, in her excitement, she'd made scrambled eggs with tomatoes, resulting in the family suffering from food poisoning. Harvey was hospitalized. Everyone was puzzled how such a simple dish could cause food poisoning.

Seeing Levi's serious expression, Ruby playfully stuck out her tongue. He was always so righteous and upright, making him fun to tease.

As night fell, the Xenos family bustled with activity. Ruby, eager to cook, remained in the kitchen despite the chef's attempts to remove her. Sam watched her from the dining room, periodically smiling warmly as he worked on his computer.

The four Xenos brothers were busy with their own activities. Levi, particular about cleanliness, showered and changed into a suit, as Sam had mentioned important guests. Reaching into his pocket, he found a note: "Dear, time to take your medicine."

A girl's image flashed in his mind. Who is she? he wondered. How did she know someone tried to drug me?

He later learned his political opponent had bribed a playboy to use a woman to blackmail him. He'd been in a private room to meet Keith, assuming it was Keith's friends. Keith was unaware of the plot. He'd been targeted by people loosely connected to Keith.

He wasn't easily tricked, but he was grateful to the girl. Her eyes seemed familiar, comfortable, close. Even though it was their first meeting, it felt like they'd known each other for a long time.

Levi stared at the note, wanting to see her again.