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“I do not need to be included. Your children already think so highly of me,” Hector pointed out cheekily.

“Ahem,” Juliet coughed lightly, interrupting the potential argument. “Thank you. I don’t even…I barely have the wordsto express just how grateful I am for all of your support.” She held her husband’s stare for a moment then smiled. “Thank you, everyone. This means more to me than you know.”

Everyone, mainly the women, made adoring noises and embraced Juliet, who laughed prettily as tears sparkled on her eyelashes.

“Pardon me,” a voice spoke up after the display of affection had ended.

They all turned to see Lord Campton standing a few feet away, looking quite nervous.

Hector immediately glanced at Juliet but calmed when she lightly shook her head at him. He relaxed as she approached her father, her face a blank mask.

“Father, good afternoon.”

Lord Campton nodded jerkily.

“Juliet. Good afternoon. Thank you for inviting us.”

“I did not do it for you or your wife. I simply wanted to see my half-siblings without facing their mother or you directly.”

Lord Campton deflated slightly. “I understand completely, and I do not blame you. I wanted to apologize to you once again. The more I think about it, the more apparent my mistakes have become. You deserved more love and care than I was able to give at that time, but I still should have tried harder, instead of giving up and sending you away. I regret it and will spend the rest of my life trying to atone for what I did.”

Juliet was silent for a while, and then she said, “Thank you. I am glad you finally understand why I have been angry with you all this time. I appreciate your apology, even though it does not repair the damage that was done to me, but perhaps one day, we could try to become a family again.”

Algernon nodded with a watery smile.

“That is all I would ever ask for, Juliet. Thank you.”

As he walked away, Juliet hoped for the strength to forgive him before turning back to her husband and friends.

Hector stood a little apart from the group, speaking with Marcus and Emma’s children.

He looked at her once he felt her stare and smiled before leaning over the children again. Hector nodded eagerly at whatever they were saying before he bent down on one knee to speak with them.

It was when Juliet drew closer that she heard what he was saying,

“…are rebuilding my princess’s castle. She is working hard, and I am enormously proud of her.”

“Do you love your wife because she is a princess? Father says that even though we should love people for who they are, what they are is also a nice motivation,” Peter said.

“I worry about your father’s teaching methods sometimes,” Hector sighed. “But I love my wife for who she is. If I have to considerwhatshe is as a factor in our relationship, I would be inclined to say that I love her even morebecauseshe is my wife.”

“Not because she has a castle? Do you not like castles?” Sarah enquired as though Hector had made a sacrilegious statement.

“I like castles, Sarah. But I like my wife more.”

The exchange warmed Juliet’s heart, and she couldn’t help but smile as the children clung to Hector, and he let them drag him around with a smile of his own present on his face.

“You should tell him.”

Juliet whirled around to see Anne linking arms with her.

“Now?” Juliet asked, uncertain.

“Yes!” Anne nodded. “It is a good day, and you both look incredibly happy. This is the perfect time to share your wonderful news.”

Juliet looked back at her husband, smiling when she saw him looking back at her.

“Perhaps I will,” she muttered, drifting away from her friend.