With a loud "Pop!" the room jolted, startling everyone inside.
The little one jumped, then, in a brave attempt, grabbed the balloon only to burst it and scare himself even more. His tiny face scrunched up as he burst into tears.
Mia quickly scooped him up, patting his little bottom while chuckling to soothe her son, “Look at you, scaring yourself into tears. Auntie didn’t even have to pull a prank on you, and here you are, crying.”
The little guy's cries only got louder, "Wahh-wahh!"
Mia cooed at him, "Alright, alright, mommy's not mad at you."
Just as she had calmed her little "meatball," Anya, fiddling with another balloon, caused it to burst with a loud "Pop!" once again filling the room with the sound of the little one's cries.
He wanted his dad now.
Andre, having had a moment of peace for less than ten minutes, found himself comforting his tearful little meatball son again. Sometimes, the crying drained Andre. His son was definitely the most high-maintenance child he had ever known.
Feeling helpless, Andre decided to take his son for a walk on the lawn that evening, hoping to soothe his startled heart.
Mia returned to her conversation, picking up a dart gun, "Stephania, Molly told me you're into astrology now? What got you into that?"
Stephania replied, "I've always been fascinated by things science can't explain. Whenever I had free time, I'd research and study. Over time, I learned a lot and became an expert."
Molly chimed in, "Did you bring your tarot cards? Can you do a reading for us sisters later?"
Without needing her cards, Stephania looked at Anya and said, "You’re about to experience a romantic fling."
Anya, caught off-guard by the sudden attention, blankly stared at Stephania, "Me?"
Stephania nodded, "Don't worry, it's not a soulmate situation. It won't last."
Mia was about to ask if it was Leo, but Stephania's words made her swallow her question, "Where's Anya's true love then?"
"No rush, she's still young. Her true love will come when it's time." Stephania then turned to Mia, "Mrs. Cedillo, what would you like to know?"
Mia responded, "Wealth."
...
Staying up late with Molly, the room was adorned with joyous decorations, with balloons of red, pink, and cream scattered on the floor, and fans stuck on the walls, centered around a large, festive knot.
"Molly, why didn’t you hire a professional team for your wedding room decoration? Why do it yourself?" Stephania asked curiously.
Molly responded, "It’s a once-in-a-lifetime wedding. Outsourcing it wouldn’t feel the same."
Mia, knowing her friend's nature well, teased, "Or perhaps you wanted to use the wedding as an excuse not to be rushed back to work by Coleen."
Turning to Anya, Mia inquired, "Do your parents plan on having you take over the family business someday?"
Anya hadn’t thought that far, "I don’t know yet. Aunt Mia, what do you want to do in the future? Stephania said you could find gold even in trash. Are you going to pick trash?"
Mia raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Secret."
"And what about you, Stephania?" Molly asked.
Stephania answered, "Depends on when Donnie decides to propose. If he does before I decide to study abroad, I'll stay for him. If he misses the chance, then let fate decide."
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