Gigi happily showed Sevan around, barely making an effort to explain what each room and area was for. Showing him around wasn't her real goal; she was actually searching for someone else.
Aqua.
Since Sevan was here, Gigi wanted to make amends for all the harassment she had caused this man. And that was making an opportunity for Aqua and Sevan to have some time together.
"This is the library… well, that's pretty obvious, right?" she muttered as they stepped into the home library. Her focus was on discreetly checking each aisle for any sign of Aqua.
She had already taken Sevan through the most common areas and even stopped to chat briefly with a few guests. Yet, she hadn't seen a single trace of Aqua—not even her shadow. So who knows? Aqua might be hiding out in the library.
Sevan, meanwhile, had his eyes on Gigi's back. "Are you looking for someone, Miss Valentine?"
"Huh?" Gigi paused and looked over her shoulder, smiling. "Nope. Just look around, okay? I'll just grab something!"
With that, she skipped ahead to the end of the aisle. From what she knew, Aqua often hid during family gatherings like this. And even though Gigi had made it clear she wanted her there tonight, she was starting to worry.
"..." Sevan blinked, watching the spot where she'd disappeared.
What is she looking for?
He shook his head and wandered to the nearest aisle. But instead of looking for a book, he looked around. The Valentine family had to be one of the wealthiest in the city to have a library this massive in their home.
"Back!"
Gigi's voice snapped him from his thoughts. He looked over, tilting his head slightly.
"Did you get what you came here for?" he asked.
She smiled wide and bright, her expression innocent but with a touch of mischief. "It wasn't here, after all. But it was worth checking, hehe!"
Still, her eyes sparkled in a way that gave her away.
"Pfft—" He stifled a laugh, prompting her to raise her brows.
"What?"
"Nothing." He shook his head. "I think that's enough. Dinner is about to start."
"Huh?" Gigi instinctively glanced at her wrist, her expression twitching when she realized she wasn't wearing a watch. Letting out an awkward laugh, she looked at the elegant standing wall clock in the corner. "Oh."
I didn't even notice the time.
She looked back at Sevan and nodded. "Let's go to dinner."
"Alright."
---
"Dear friends and family, thank you for coming tonight."
Mr. and Mrs. Valentine stood at the front of the wide open space. Their smiles were wide, their eyes scanning the tables spread out across the area.
Mr. Valentine reached out his hand, and Gigi walked up to his side with a cheerful bounce. Facing the guests, he continued:
"I know this gathering is a bit sudden, but I'm truly grateful to all of you for making the time to celebrate with us. As you know, my daughter Genevieve was recently involved in an unfortunate accident," he sighed. "That accident, sadly, erased all her memories before it. It's been a difficult time for our family, especially when our daughter couldn't even recognize her own parents."
"However, we're still incredibly thankful. Aside from the memory loss, she was safe and healthy," he added with a nod, his eyes landing on one person in particular. "I'd especially like to thank Doctor Sevan for taking care of our daughter from the very beginning and continuing even after she was discharged."
Applause filled the air as everyone turned to Sevan. He dipped his head slightly, offering a modest smile.
Gigi kept smiling, but the judgment in her eyes as she looked at her father was unmistakable.
He didn't actually do anything.
"Although my daughter's memory loss was a major setback, our family decided to focus on what truly matters," Mr. Valentine continued, glancing at Gigi. "Even though she doesn't remember everything, we're grateful she's still the daughter we've always cherished."
He turned his attention back to the guests. "That's why our family has decided to move forward, regardless of whether Genevieve regains her memories. We want to create new memories—ones worth remembering—and we hope all of you will be a part of them."
He raised his wine glass in a toast. The guests followed suit, their glasses held high, smiles all around.
"Let's all have a great time," he said before taking a sip. Some guests drank, while others clapped politely.
Just like that, what was meant to be a casual dinner quickly turned into a full-blown party.
---
"Miss, what happened to you?" Bubbles, seated beside Gigi, leaned in and whispered.
"Huh?"
Bubbles studied her and gestured with a small chin jerk. "You didn't put on any makeup."
"Uh…" Gigi blinked once, then twice. "Was I supposed to?"
"Hmm… I guess not. You're pretty anyway. Hehe~"
"..." Gigi pressed her lips together and chose not to respond. Instead, she focused on scanning the faces at each table—but still, no sign of Aqua. On another table, Troy looked equally anxious, his gaze flitting around the garden.
"Hey, Bubbles." Gigi turned to her. "Have you seen Aqua?"
"Hmm?" Bubbles tilted her head. "Yes."
"You did?!"
"Mhm." She nodded and pointed in a direction. "I think I saw her in the kitchen earlier."
"The kitchen? What was she doing there?"
"Housework."
"Shit," Gigi hissed as she shot up from her seat and hurried away.
"Miss—!" Bubbles called after her, but Gigi was already gone. She frowned slightly and glanced toward Mrs. Valentine.
Even though Gigi had asked for Aqua to attend, not everyone had welcomed the idea. Bubbles might've indulged Gigi's whims in the past, but she still disliked Aqua for many reasons. And she wasn't alone in that.
Mrs. Valentine shared the sentiment.
"Auntie will not definitely like this," Bubbles muttered to herself, then shrugged. "Oh well, it's not like my young miss is going to get in trouble."
---
Meanwhile…
When Gigi cursed under her breath and leapt from her seat, Sevan—sitting just one table away—raised a brow. He lifted his head, his blue eyes following her with quiet curiosity.
Where is she going in the middle of her own party?