The Montgomery's mansion was flowing with people, coming in and out celebrating the birthday of Elizabeth Montgomery. Katherine was no longer bothered by the amount of people she was seeing. She was getting used to the fact that a simple party to the Montgomerys was not her version of simple.

"Happy birthday Elizabeth." Kathrine greeted as she met the dazzling woman who pulled her into a hug.

"Thanks love."

"Mother." Caspian greeted in his own fashion. Elizabeth didn't need to be told that her son was wishing her a happy birthday in the most genuine way possible.

Her oldest son and her husband have so much in common, she was used to their way of communicating. She preferred their simple and cold honesty and sincerity to that of the malicious and hypocritical greetings from those around her.

"Thank you darling. I'm so happy you made it." Her son was not one to enjoy gatherings but he was here from her anyway and Elizabeth couldn't appreciate it more.

Kathrine stretched out a small box to Elizabeth. She had racked her brain for a week over what to get a woman who already owned everything.

Elizabeth looked at the small delightfully wrapped box in Kathrine's hand in surprise. No one except her husband and sometimes her children gives her present but Elizabeth didn't need them because what could she ever want that she couldn't have. Elizabeth didn't know what the box contained but she couldn't help the feeling of excitement that was bubbling in her stomach.

It's been years since she received a present other than from get husband or her kids.

"Thank you darling. You shouldn't have." Elizabeth was trying to hide the excitement in her voice but was doing a very bad job at it as Authur and Caspian could hear it.

"I'm going to open it now." Elizabeth announced not waiting for anyone's permission before delicately opening the box.

Elizabeth gasped at the sight of what was in front of her. Her excitement only soared as she stared at the item that laid carefully inside the box.
She looked at the item with amazement and a little doubt.

"Is this what I think it is?" Elizabeth asked in amazement.

"I know you are a fan of her work so I thought-"

"It's real?" Elizabeth said as the tip of her finger slowly

Elizabeth took out the small book that lay in the box.

"It's signed." Katherine informed and Elizabeth immediately opened the front cover and let out a gasp at the familiar signature.

"This is Esther De Lacroft's last book. It isn't even out yet. How did your I get it?"

"I got it from her."

"You know Esther?" Elizabeth almost let out a shrill at the new revelation her daughter in-law just gave.

Esther De Lacroft is Elizabeth's mentor. She's been following her book and her stories for years but Esther De Lacroft was secretive. She didn't like to stay in the public eye and it was almost impossible to contact her and the first time she did it was a miracle and after Esther announced that she would be releasing her last book and saying good bye to her works Elizabeth couldn't have been more heartbroken.

"She's my grand aunt." Katherine decided to put it simple instead of going on of telling the whole story if how Esther became like her Yoda.

"You are related?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"How is she like?" Elizabeth eyes were shinning like a kid who was being told a fairy tale.

"The same way you may have pictured her. Old, very smart, a great fashionista and witty. Annoyingly always right and knows it too."

"That's how I pictured her. Does she have a french accent?"

"No."

"I can't wait to hear everything about her."

Caspian watched as his mom whisked his wife away and jampacking with questions after questions. He was displeased as he watched his wife's back as she walked away from him chatting with his mother. He caught the look his father was sending his way.
Authur's lips were slightly raised as he could see the displeasure on his face. Authur smiled widened when he realized his son had caught him staring.

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Elizabeth couldn't love her gift more. Elizabeth was born in wealth, she was an heiress with influence and affluence since birth; she could afford a lot of things but over the years she had also received gifts from those around her but it had always lacked sincerity.
They all sought out something from her, they all tried to gain her favour because of the power she had. One of the reasons Elizabeth had forbidden the giving of gifts from her extended families on her birthday was the savagery of it all, and the insincerity and maliciousness that plagued the gift giving.

They turned it into a competition. Who could give the most expensive gifts?

Who could give the rarest gifts?
Which gifts brought her more satisfaction?

They had turned it into a tug of war and they had tried to use it to tear themselves apart. She changed the rule and refused any gifts starting from her twenty-first birthday.

But the gift Elizabeth was holding in her hand right now was rare, it wasn't expensive. According to Kathrine, she hadn't spent a dime on it and although if refined the value would he high, Elizabeth was not interested in that.

Although Elizabeth had hated the division and insincerity she had seen associated with gift giving from an early age, that didn't mean she didn't miss it. When she had gone on a few weeks trip to toe country side, she had experienced the sincerity and love that came with giving gifts and apart from her husband and her children, Elizabeth was aware she wouldn't be able to receive it anywhere else.

Katherine was happy at the sight of the smile on Elizabeth's face as she looked down at her gift. Kathrine hadn't understood at first what to give the woman who could get herself anything but Kathrine knew that in the world, even the rich had desires or rather hobby and things that couldn't acquire because of its simplicity.

"Thank you so much Katherine." Elizabeth thanked again putting her daughter-in-law into another hug.

The scene didn't of course escape the eye of others. Katherine Montgomery was getting more footing in the Montgomery family. Those who had taken Katherine half seriously couldn't help but wonder about Caspian's wife.

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After some time it was time to settle for dinner. The dinner was held under the starry night. The main table were mostly filled with main Montgomery figures.
Elegant voices and chatters filled the table as everyone had something to say to someone about something or someone.

Although some of the cousins and aunties tried to include Katherine in the conversation she wasn't ready for it, she tried to keep her answer and response as short as possible and draw every attention away from herself but the more she tried to be invincible the more noticable she was.
It was the cold price to pay for being the wife of Caspian Montgomery.

Lincoln delightfully flirted with Elizabeth the whole night. Lincoln had never tried to hide the crush he has on Elizabeth since he was little. It was one of the reasons Authur hated him to the bones. Authur could never understand why his perfectionist son have such a bond with a man he pegged as an idiot. Lincoln's Capabilities wasn't fleeting or unnoticeable. He had made numerous contribution to has family and has expanded his family business and increased his wealth, Lincoln's over all personality was the opposite of Caspian's. They were an unlikely duo and Authur could never understand it but that didn't mean it didn't remind him of the bonds he had formed and lost in his earlier days. Authur had admitted that it was also one of the things his son was better than him at and Authur have never believedin luck so he didn't think his son was lucky.

Katherine smiled at one of the jokes Lincoln made while Caspian internally rolled his eyes. Lincoln was always the life of the party, he could charm anyone and everyone and could charm his way out of a demon's dungeon. He charmed the aunties and the cousin and uncles. He made light jokes and made an awful amount of compliments which left the ladies blushing and even some men too.

Although Katherine didn't really engage in the discussions and silently ate her meals, she shared small chatter with Elizabeth and Lana. Caspian on the other hand was on his phone and from others perspective he was working on his phone, answering work text and emails and what not but he was on a game app on his phone. The game gives challenges, from number problems, maze, puzzles and more to test one's IQ. It was fun and productive unlike this gathering that was slowly sucking the life out of him.

Caspian couldn't wish for anything more than to go home and be alone with his cute little wife but it was his mom's birthday and he knew he had to endure it. Elizabeth was one the the few people Caspian respect in the world.

Katherine smile evaporated from her face as she caught sight of a particular woman. A woman who made her uncomfortable at every turn. Her husband's ex-wife, Verona.

Natalie stood up from her chair to meet her best friend, giving her a big hug. Although Verona noticed the eyes that were staring at her, she held her head high, and stood her ground.

Everyone knew that Verona was a shadow of Natalie. And she made it no secret that she wanted to get back with Caspian. It was no surprise that she was there, everyone was already expecting her.

An elegant smile crossed Verona's face as she looked at Caspian but the smile was quick to disappear from her lips as she looked at the woman who was sitting beside him. Her fist clenched around her purse and her fist dug into the leather material, hurting her manicured nails.

Elizabeth half ignored Verona's congratulations. She could see the slutty eyes she had on her married son. Elizabeth had nothing against Verona but she had cheated on her son with his own cousin, to Elizabeth, the woman had stooped so low and only had a toxic obsession with her son and no matter how much Elizabeth tries to set her daughter free from her clutches, her daughter wouldn't allow.

Kathrine didn't let Verona's presence affect her and took her eyes away from her.

"I don't suppose you diet Katherine."
Natalie snarky remark brought attention to Katherine as Natalie's not so subtle insult bit Katherine in the spot light again.

Katherine had never been one to feel insecure about her body size, she was small and petite and even though she was on the shorter size, she was okay with that but she had gained some weight ever since she got pregnant and to be married to someone like Caspian Katherine couldn't help the insecurity that settled in and the self consciousness that was brewing at the back of her mind.

Katherine would have dropped back her fork but she slowly took the food to her mouth and chewed on it.

"You are right Natalie, I don't. I'm never comfortable with starving myself." Kathrine gave herself a pat in her head for handling it well.

"Yeah, I can tell." Natalie mocked but her next words got caught in her throat at the glare her brother sent her way.

Natalie's insult seemed to have halted the small discussions and settled a tense air around the table as everyone feared to say another word as Caspian's attention moved from his phone in his sister who was trying to avoid meeting his eyes.

"Natalie's right. Kathy is not one of those girls who starve themselves but she looks better than them everytime." Lincoln let out a dramatic sigh and took a sip from his wine glass " I can't believe I'm having a crush on my best friend's wife."

A few chuckle crossed the table and Caspian's glare moved to his best friend as Lincoln winked at Katherine who blushed at being openly complimented by an attractive man.

"I thought you had a crush on my mom." Miles teased immediately, contributing to lifting the tension off the air.

"Of course I am. I always am." Lincoln sent a flirty smile to Elizabeth who chuckled in return, used to his flirty talks and charming antics since he was a child but Authur sent a warning look to Lincoln who was already used to it, it almost had no effect... Almost.

"I'm pulled to attractive and elegant goddesses." Lincoln added.

"I think Caspian would forget you are his best friend if you don't keep your eyes in your pocket." Miles teased back.

"I can't help myself, I crush on goddess, even if it's my best friend's pregnant wife." Lincoln fired back.

Kathrine sucked in her breath as a sudden silence immediately engulfed the whole place. Lincoln didn't know what he had done until he notice the silence that descended, his eyes widening as he could feel Caspian's heated glare on him without needing to hook up.

"She's is pregnant?!" Natalie shrikes.

Everyone at the table stared at the couple expecting an anwer