THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRYBABY
Chapter 148: SOPHIE’S PARTY

Chapter 148: SOPHIE’S PARTY

The back area of the Atticus mansion had been turned into a children’s party ground.

They were bouncing castles, children toys, and candy stores all about. Most importantly, they were kids running around.

These kids’ parents hung around in different tents, chatting away as the kids played.

At a corner, Alice and Marilyn stood behind the buffet tables with some of the other servants in the house, keeping a close eye on things.

"I can’t believe that so many people came out for sophie. I didn’t even know I had this many people as friends," Gabrielle said to the matriarch as they watched Sophie run around in her princess gown.

"Years of networking would do that. I just had to make a few calls, and everyone was willing to participate. You know no one does a party like the Atticus. It has been a while since we’ve hosted a kids party."

"Yeah, you’re right. They’re definitely more of your connections, because I don’t know half of these people. Also, they’ve been waiting for an Atticus party for a while. They’ll take anything. Even if it’s a kids party."

"Ma’am ma’am!" Sophie stopped by Gabrielle to show her the pink popsicle she got.

"Isn’t it too cold?" Gabrielle asked, as a worried frown formed on her face. She didn’t want her to get a cold due to all the cold things she had been munching on all day.

"Leave her alone, Gabby. She’s perfectly fine. Go lick your popsicle," the matriarch said.

"Thanks granny!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, as a girl her age dragged her with her towards the bouncing castle.

The matriarch laughed as she watched them leave together.

"She calls you granny, but still calls me ma’am," Gabrielle said, sadness washing over her face.

"Oh mummy, don’t keep that face. Her mother’s memory is still fresh in her head. I’m sure with time, she’ll get used to calling you mummy."

The matriarch and Gabrielle both turned at the same time to see the twins stop beside them.

"My girls," she dragged them into her body, despite not knowing which had just spoken. They were that similar most of the time. "I’m glad you two helped in planning this whole thing. Sophie already looks up to you both."

"We told you we needed a little sister, and you gave us one. The least we can do is dote on her," one of the twins said.

"To be fair, your older brother played a big role in that. If it wasn’t for him, we would never have met our Sophie."

"Speaking of him, have any of you seen Ace?" The matriarch asked.

"No grandma," they said in unison, and switched to hugging her. "But we’re here. You’re happy to see us right?" Blaire continued.

She laughed heartily. "My double trouble. You both know if it wasn’t for you two in this house, I would have left long ago," she laughed again as she hugged them tightly with one arm, while the other held her cane in place.

"Isn’t this cute?" Celine Atticus said sarcastically as she walked into the scene.

Gabrielle sighed inwardly. She thought since Celine had been scarce all through the preparation for the party, she wouldn’t be available for it.

In fact, she was happy to think she would be far away from the fun. But no, the joy sucker always had to ruin everything with her presence.

The twins stepped away, and turned to Celine.

"Good afternoon, aunt Celine," they said in unison.

"Good afternoon double trouble," she mimicked her mother, mockingly. "At least you two have some respect in you. Where’s that rogue brother of yours?"

"Celine! Could you just give it a rest for once?" the matriarch sighed wearily.

"What? Can’t I make a little joke anymore? You’re all too serious for my liking. I thought this was a party?" She asked, taking a swig from a bottle.

The smell of alcohol hovered in the air a few seconds after.

Gabrielle, holding herself from blowing out, decided to focus her attention on Sophie, before she lost it.

The twins hurdled beside their mum, praying the aunt just left them alone.

Everyone had been much happier with how busy and scarce she seemed that week. The cherry on the cake would have been her not showing up for the party. Unfortunately, she did.

"Where’s little Sophie?" Celine continued talking like she couldn’t sense everyone was uncomfortable because of her.

"Running around, why?" The matriarch responded.

"Why are you speaking on behalf of Gabrielle? Has she suddenly lost her voice?" Celine poked.

"Celi—"

"While you’re celebrating her last, yours is rotting away in that mental house. When do you plan on getting him out?"

"It’s either that or jail. You better be happy he’s not rotting in jail," the matriarch said.

All Gabrielle heard was her finally acknowledging Sophie as her daughter, which also validated the twins being her children.

"Jail?" She scoffed. "Over what? Because your precious grandson and his wife lied on him?"

"Give it up, Celine! It’s a party. Why can’t you be less of a beast?"

Lynette in the company of Makayla asked as they came in from behind.

"Granny!" Makayla jumped into the matriarch’s body.

"Is that really Makayla?" She laughed as she hugged her.

She was the one they all thought Ace would eventually end up with. Crazy how he found a total stranger in the end.

"Was she?" A voice in the matriarch’s head asked, as they pulled away.

Lynette, who had just stepped out of a hug from Gabrielle, air kissed the matriarch.

"You old vampire that never gets old," she said.

"Toad!" The matriarch replied, and they burst into a feat of laughter.

"Makayla!" The twins called in unison as she hugged them.

"I can’t believe you two munchkins are teens now!" she said, pinching both cheeks as she drew them away so she could observe them properly.

"Gifts over there please," Gabrielle said before they could get into their unending chats.

Celine, not given the chance of a retort against Lynette, boiled with anger. She needed a way to end this party, but as sleekly as possible.

She had a feeling it would happen, with or without her. Although she would love to be involved in the party stopper, she would take anything she could get.

"Celine, why don’t you drop off your gifts too? Please tell me you brought one for the child?"

"Common mum, I’m not a neanderthal." She rolled her eyes, and began walking towards the gift table which was already filled to the brim.

"Where are my other uncles and aunts?" Claire wondered aloud.

"I think they’re all littered around. I must have seen Colin but I’m not sure," the matriarch replied.

Sophie returned again, but this time, she had a complaint about how her feet were starting to hurt from running around in heels.

"Do you want to change into some flats? We could switch the gown for pants and a t-shirt, then you can wear maybe some converse?" Gabrielle bent to her level, asked with a worried expression on her face.

"Could you do that for me please, mummy?" Sophie asked.

"Of course I can—" she paused as her words registered in her head. "D– did you ju-st call me mu–mmy?" She stuttered in disbelief.

"Yes." Sophie nodded, and giggled.

"Oh my baby!" Gabrielle wrapped a big hand around her tiny frame, as happy tears rushed down her face.

"Mum is so dramatic," Claire whispered into the matriarch’s ears.

"While she’s distracted, go steal some candy. We would need it for our special night," the matriarch who was thinking far ahead, whispered back.

She nodded, and communicated with her sister with her eyes. Together, they turned around, and set out for the mission.

"I’ll take Sophie to go change," Gabrielle said, rising to her feet.

"And I’ll keep watch of the cake."

Gabrielle chuckled. She had never met an older person with a sweeter tooth.

"I’ll make sure no one goes near it, okay?" The matriarch projected her pinky to Sophie.

"Okay!" She locked it with hers.

They turned about to leave when from afar, Sophie sighted Ace and Fay.

"They’re here!" She screamed at the top of her lungs.

Before Gabrielle could fully grasp what was happening, the little girl broke out of her hold and dashed forward.

That was when she looked up, and saw both Fay and Ace.

"They’re really here," the matriarch took her eyes from the cake long enough to look at Fay. She looked breathtaking as usual, but this time, she had also accessorised with the necklace. "Good," she thought.

"They are." Gabrielle smiled.

They looked so good coming in together. She had never been more happy to be rooting for a pair.

Sophie jumped into Ace’s body, and he scooped her up.

"Hello princess." He pinched her cheeks and she giggled.

"Fay," she said after a few seconds in his arms.

He laughed, as Fay reached out to carry her.

"God I missed you!"

Sophie threw a tight hand around her neck. "I’m so happy you made it. I thought you wouldn’t," she said in an emotional voice.

"Oh darling, I could never miss your birthday," she replied, hugging her dearly.