I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know. And honestly, I don’t have any wish to know.” Because of that person, I was here again, back to the city where the devil of my dreams resided.

Mumbling something incoherent under her breath, she took the peas from me and added them into the boiling soup.

“Smelling good. What’s for lunch today?” Tess strolled into the kitchen. Throwing her purse on the table, she took a seat beside me at the bar. “Glad that you’re back! I was really disappointed when I heard of your departure. I couldn’t even spend much time with you.”

I cast her an apologetic smile. “Something important came up. So,I had to go. And sorry about the dinner. I hope it went well.”

“Do you really think we’d have a family dinner without you?” At her question, my brows creased in confusion. “I canceled the dinner as soon as I heard you left. I want both my and Caleb’s family to be together at this dinner. And without you, my family remains incomplete.”

I stared at her. Her words touched something inside me. Where was that harsh and spoiled Tess I knew seven years ago? It was as if I was getting to know my sister in a whole new way.

“You could reschedule it again now that she’s here,” Mom suggested.

“No, Mom. Caleb’s uncle isn’t in the town right now. You know what Uncle Arthur means to Caleb and Achilles. After Achilles’s father’s death, he is the one who took care of them. So, with his absence, arranging a family dinner isn’t a good idea.”

“Arthur Valencian? He lived in England, right?” He was the only relative Ace and Caleb had left after their family crisis. But due to a conflict he had with Ace’s father, he didn’t live in the states. That’s all I knew about him. I didn’t know he returned to his homeland.

Tess bobbed her head. “Yes, but he returned after some years of his brother’s death. To look after his nephews. He is an amazing person.”

But what about his mom? Where was she when they needed someone to take care of them?

“Anyway, I have to do some shopping today. You know, for the engagement party. And I need my sister to help me with it. So go get ready, we’re leaving in ten minutes.”

Before I could object, Mom chimed in, “Excellent idea! She needs some shopping to get her mind off things. Take her along. She needs it.”

“But…”

“Em, won’t you help your sister with her engagement’s shopping? I need you there,” Tess said, blinking her blue eyes.