Page 225 of My Ruthless Neighbor

“Where’s Gordon?” I whisper the question as Summer calls out my name again.

“Me want mommy!” Amy squirms in my hold, demanding to be set down. Knowing she would take off toward her mother, I don’t listen to her.

“Gordon is napping.” Harper giggles. I don’t know why she finds it funny but apparently, everything is funny to kids.

Balancing them both on either of my hips, I pull out my phone. I somehow manage to call Hannah.

“Would you hold the phone to Daddy’s ear?” I ask Harper and she smiles, nodding.

She does as she’s told. “Hello?” Hannah answers.

“Where is your husband?” I hiss.

“He might be… somewhere.”

“Are you serious? He was supposed to hit the lights like two minutes ago. You know nobody would move until the lights are on, right?”

I had planned this evening for Summer. For her efforts and hard work she put into changing many lives.

Because of her, I began coming to parties and also celebrating the birthdays of my loved ones. But today, I hadplanneda party.

The original idea was that as soon as Summer walked in, Raleigh would hit the lights, bathing the entire place in multi-color string lights. Her favorite. Then Hannah, Brielle, Nina, and Mia would jump out of their hiding places with confetti cannons. River was supposed to be here too but she’s out of the country.

Anyway, after the confetti cannons are popped, Goldie would make his grand entry wearing a tux.

At the same time, Chris and Jason would release the string attached to the ceiling that would give way for hundreds of colorful balloons.

And in the end, Eomma and Abeoji would wheel the three-layer cake out.

All of this should be happening right now. But it’s not. Because of Raleigh.

“Find him—”

The girls in my arms begin to babble loudly, talking to each other in a language unknown. Harper says something in Korean which is so adorably mispronounced that I can’t help but laugh. I kiss her cheek.

“Daddy, me too!” Amy pouts. I go to kiss her cheek but the phone falls from Harper’s hand, startling the girls.

“Archer?” Summer calls out.

I bend, setting them down to get the phone. The moment they are down, they sprint out.

“Amy! Harper!” I whisper-shout.

“Mommy! Mommy!” They hug each of Summer’s legs and I sigh.

I bring the phone to my ear but stop when Aiden springs up from his hiding place. He jumps up and over the couch and practically pushes his sisters aside to hug his mother.

His spiderman costume is matching with Summer’s red vintage dress. She kneels and hugs the trio, laughing when they almost tackle her down to the floor.

“Mama.” Gordon finally shows up alongside Goldie who’s in a tux that’s all crumpled. Did they nap together again?

Rubbing his eyes, he strolls over to the group with Goldie in tow.

“Come here, honey.” She coos. Tucking Gordon at her side, she grins at Goldie before pressing a kiss on his head. “You look so handsome in a tux, baby boy!” Then, “Who dressed him up like that?” She asks the kids.

“Daddy!” The four kids answer in unison and I sigh in defeat.

Raleigh finally switches on the light. And before Hannah and the girls could come out with the confetti cannons, the balloons are released. Summer and the kids gasp then laugh as they look around, grinning.

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