Adriel nodded, calm as always. I wasn’t sure what style you liked, so I chose one of each. If you don’t like them, I’ll take you out to pick something.

“No. I love them,” Noelle said cheerfully. “Thank you, Adriel.”

He replied evenly. “No need to thank me. We’re family now. If you ever need anything, just say the word.”

Among the five brothers, Adriel was undoubtedly the most composed and mature. Unlike Damon’s fiery temper, Eli’s brashness, Charlie’s quiet detachment, or Bennett’s scheming mind, Adriel was stable and steady. He kept his distance when appropriate, stepped forward when needed, and always managed things gracefully. Nothing ever felt forced with him—everything just flowed naturally.

Noelle was genuinely happy. Adriel was the one she thought would be hardest to win over, but it turned out he might be the easiest. At least now, he treated her like a real sister. At this rate, she figured they’d be close in less than a month.

If things stayed on track—she could complete her family integration mission by the end of the month. Well ahead of the six-month deadline.

She hugged Elsie with sudden excitement. “Elsie, I’m so happy right now!”

Elsie tilted her head, clearly unsure why Noelle was so giddy—but her joy was contagious. She hugged Noelle back with a bright, innocent smile.

That was when Noelle’s phone rang. It was Stanley.

She answered with a bright, “Hey, Stanley!”

His voice on the other end was low and gruff. “Your thousand autographs are done. I’m near your school. Come get them.”

“What! Already?” Noelle blinked, remembering she’d completely forgotten about the whole thing thanks to Adriel and Elsie.

“You’re nearby?” she asked.

“Yeah.”

Noelle hesitated. “I was just about to go eat…”

“Eat my ass,” Stanley snapped.

“Why are you yelling at me?” she pouted. “We’re supposed to be teammates, you know.”

Elsie, she thought, would never talk to her like that. Then she remembered—Brandon had said both Elsie and Stanley were from the same lab. Maybe they even knew each other.

“No need. I’m busy. You come to me.”

Noelle sighed, then glanced at Adriel. “Hey, my friend’s nearby. I need to go grab something from him.”

“I’ll have the driver turn around,” Adriel said without hesitation.

But Stanley’s voice cut in again, firm and cold. “You come alone.”

“Huh? Can’t Adriel just drop me off?”

“No,” Stanley insisted. “You. Alone. Take a cab or I’ll come to you myself.”

Noelle groaned but relented. “Fine.”

Stanley let out a quiet sigh of relief. “Just remember—only you. Got it!”

“Yeah, yeah,” she said, clearly annoyed, then hung up.

She turned to Adriel. “Just drop me off here. You guys go ahead to the restaurant—I’ll catch up.”

Adriel looked concerned. “Your friend seems a little… intense.”

Noelle gave him an apologetic smile. “Yeah, he’s a little cranky. I may have pushed him too far.”

After all, the poor guy thought he was signing 100 photos… and it turned into a thousand.

Adriel gave her the restaurant address. “Alright. Come straight there after.”

“I will,” Noelle promised.

She turned to say goodbye to Elsie, who looked up at her with wide eyes. Just as she was about to wave—