Chapter 17

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The day Elianna was looking forward to had finally arrived. She felt excited but also nervous. While she was excited to celebrate her birthday and spend it with her friends and family, she couldn't help but be a little nervous about Nicholas. Elianna sat on her vanity chair, staring at her own reflection, with core memories of her fifth birthday coming to mind.

Elianna remembered vividly how alone she felt and how her former friends never came over to spend time with her. Since that birthday, she didn't bother sending invitations to her former friends, and invited only the people she was close to. But today, that was different. She had invited Nicholas and his family, and it would be the first time in years that someone her age had celebrated with her.

"You okay, Sweetie?"

Elianna looked toward the door, seeing her mother walk in, looking at her daughter curiously. Elianna eyed her mother's apparel, a beautiful casual light blue blouse with a sheen that was complimented by her black pants. She had a gorgeous silver necklace around her neck, accompanied by two silver earrings. Her silvery hair was elegantly combed, with a braid on the side. As Elianna gazed at her mother, she thought about how she had always admired how beautiful her mother was.

Elianna's sundress was similar to her mother's: blue with a sheen. A silver silk sash wrapped around Elianna's waist, and she had a small silver necklace clasped around her neck. Her hair remained undone and was a little darker than usual, as she had just recently gotten out of the shower.

Katarina stepped up to stand behind her daughter, noticing her daughter hadn't answered, "Elianna?"

Elianna's eyes flicked up, meeting her mother's gaze, "Hmm?"

"I asked if you're okay?"

"Oh," Elianna said and turned around, looking at her reflection again with a distant gaze. "I'm fine."

Katarina raised a brow, knowing something was bothering her daughter. Her eyes flicked to the side of the vanity, where she saw a hairbrush and Elianna's hair clip. Katarina smiled a little, as she thought of a way to comfort her daughter.

Elianna watched her mother through the mirror as Katarina grabbed the hair brush and gently began to brush Elianna's hair. Elianna smiled a little, as she loved the feeling of her mother helping her with her hair.

As she straightened her daughter's hair, Katarina began to hum a soothing tune she knew her daughter loved, giving the room a peaceful ambiance. "So," Katarina started in a gentle voice. Her eyes flicked up, meeting her daughter's gaze through the mirror. "What's bothering you?"

Elianna looked at her mother for a moment before her eyes fell to her vanity, and she shrugged. "Nothing is bothering me. I'm just a little nervous."

"Nervous about what?"

Elianna was silent for a moment before she spoke, her voice soft, "What if Nick doesn't come?" 

Katarina's hand stilled, and her brows raised. She stared at her daughter through the vanity mirror, seeing her downcast gaze. "Why do you think he wouldn't come?"

Elianna shrugged slightly, "I don't know."

Katarina stood there, thinking about what had brought on Elianna's current train of thought. "Is it because of Sarah, Tyler, and Dylan?" Elianna nodded slightly, and Katarina's lips curved in a warm, reassuring smile as she continued to brush her daughter's hair. "Sweetie, look at me." Elianna's eyes flicked up and met her mother's gaze through the mirror. "From what you and your father have told me about Nicholas, he seems like a nice boy. I have no doubts that he will be here. You have nothing to worry about."

Elianna smiled a little, feeling a little better, and nodded. Her smile faded a little, and she looked at her mother inquisitively, "You and Dad talk about Nick?"

          

Katarina chuckled, "Oh yes." She laid the hairbrush on the vanity before she began manipulating Elianna's hair, creating a small braid on the side of her head. "Your father talks about Nicholas almost as much as you. He's very happy that you two are friends."

"What about you?" Elianna asked. "Are you happy that Nicholas and I are friends?"

Katarina looked at her daughter and smiled. She held her daughter's hair together with one hand while grabbing the hair clip with the other. She placed the hair clip in the braid, keeping it together.

Katarina leaned down, giving her daughter a loving kiss on the top of her head, "I am. And I'm very much looking forward to meeting him." Katarina stepped back and gestured to Elianna to stand up, "Now, come on, your guests should be arriving soon."

Elianna nodded and excitedly stood up from her seat. She closed her bedroom door as she followed her mother into the hallway, and they began to make their way to the entrance hall. As they neared the entrance hall, Elianna and Katarina began to hear a few voices and cheerful laughter.

Elianna and Katarina exited the hallway and entered the upper sitting area above the entrance hall. Elianna looked down over the railing, and her eyes widened with pleasant surprise.

"Uncle Hector!" Elianna chirped.

Lucian, Justine, Hector, and another man Elianna had never met before were standing in the entrance hall and talking in a circle. The four individuals standing in the entrance hall looked up and smiled as their eyes fell on Elianna.

"Hello, little Elle," Hector said with a warm smile.

Elianna cheerfully began to run down the stairs, practically jumping over the last step. She ran up to Hector, and he chuckled as she slammed into him, bringing each other into a hug.

They broke the hug, and Elianna looked at Hector blissfully, "You're here!"

Hector chuckled, "You didn't think I'd miss your birthday, did you?"

Elianna shrugged, "Dad said you've been really busy lately."

Hector nodded, "Perhaps, but we're not too busy to come and celebrate with you."

Elianna beamed with happiness before she looked at Hector curiously, "We?"

Hector smiled and gestured to the man standing beside him, the one Elianna had never seen before, "Elianna, meet my son, Oscar."

Elianna curiously looked at Oscar, who was tall and muscular. Like his father, Oscar had black hair and brown eyes, but his hair had none of the grayness.

Hector gestured to Elianna, "And Oscar, this is Elianna. Or, Elle, as she likes to be called."

Oscar gave Elianna a friendly smile, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Elle."

Elianna returned his smile, "It's a pleasure to meet you as well."

"I'm glad you could make it, Hector," Katarina said and looked at Oscar. "And it's good to see you again, Oscar."

Oscar smiled and nodded to Katarina, "It's always a delight to see you, Lady Katarina."

"Careful, Oscar," Katarina jestfully said and smirked at Lucian. "My husband might think you're flirting with me and get jealous."

Lucian chuckled, looking at his wife affectionately, "He wouldn't dare." He playfully narrowed his eyes on Oscar, "Right?"

Oscar laughed and shook his head, "Definitely not. I don't have a death wish."

They all chuckled when a knock at the door gained everyone's attention, and they all looked toward it. Augustus casually walked into the room, and Elianna's eyes were eagerly locked on the door as he approached it.

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