Twin Cupids at Work Daddy Come Home novel Chapter 711

Mrs. Palmer beamed at Madeline, her smile warm and loving. “Thank you, dear, thank you.” She reached out for Madeline’s hand. “Madeline, is there something about my house you don’t like? It’s been a long time since you visited me.”

James had once chased Madeline so openly that everyone knew about it, and from the very first time Mrs. Palmer met her, she had taken a real shine to the girl. When Madeline ended up marrying someone else, the old lady had moped around for weeks, feeling genuinely disappointed.

Madeline gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “It’s not that, Rose. Your place is wonderful. I promise I’ll come by more often, as long as you don’t get sick of me.”

Even though it was all just polite chatter, Mrs. Palmer lit up. “Sick of you? Never. I’d be over the moon if you just moved in and stayed here every day.”

Madeline smiled politely, then reached for her children, her hands finding Noah and Oliver’s. “Rose, these are my two kids—Noah and Oliver.”

“Hello, Rose.” The two little ones called out sweetly in unison.

Mrs. Palmer’s eyes softened as she studied the boys, her face absolutely glowing with affection. “Madeline, just look at our James,”

Madeline turned to James, confused. “Is something wrong with him?”

Mrs. Palmer cracked a sly smile. “See if you might fall for him. That way, I’d get two great-grandchildren in one go.”

Madeline blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

“Grandma, please,” James said, sighing like he’d heard this all too many times before. Mrs. Palmer just couldn’t help herself, always worrying that Madeline would slip through their fingers again.

“Can you blame me? Your brother already married someone I don’t care for. I want you to bring Madeline home, let Grandma have something to be happy about for once.”

She said it all right in front of Helene, not even pretending to hide her dislike. Helene ground her teeth together, seething but silent.

Watching it all, Josh and Brady let out identical sighs.

Josh just shook his head. “Keep this up, and James is going to steal the wife and kids out from under Julian.”

Brady’s own sigh was heavier. “With Christian being so stubborn, what do you expect?”

Mrs. Palmer kept holding Madeline’s hand, singing James’s praises, determined as ever. Brenda, standing nearby, couldn’t help but smile at the whole scene. Then her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and suddenly her face clouded over.

“Josh, can you tell Madeline I had to leave for something urgent?” she said abruptly.

Josh’s eyebrow shot up. “Where are you storming off to like that?”

Mitch looked up, surprise flickering in his deep-set eyes. “Aren’t you supposed to be at the Palmer’s? What are you doing here?”

Brenda didn’t answer, just stared at him.

“Ms. Mullins, hello,” the woman cooed, running her fingers through her hair, her smile bold and sultry.

Brenda recognized her instantly. Sienna. They’d gone to the same school years ago. She hadn’t seen her since Mitch ended up in jail.

Sienna tossed Brenda a glance, then slipped her arm into her jacket and crossed to Mitch. “Mitch, since Ms. Mullins is here, I’ll leave you two alone.”

“Sure,” Mitch said, barely looking up.

Brenda stood there, frozen stiff, for a long minute. Then she finally moved, sending her phone and purse clattering onto the table. “Why run off? Let’s all chat together.”

Sienna slipped into her heels, giving Brenda a look both amused and dismissive. “Sorry, I have somewhere else to be. If you want to talk, Ms. Mullins, let’s grab coffee sometime.”

With that, she clicked out the door, leaving Brenda in the thick silence behind her.