I heaved a sigh of relief  as soon as the nine hours surgery was over.

"Great job Dr Castro!" Nadia complimented as she took off her nose mask.

"Thank you Nadia, you did really good today too." I returned the compliment.

As I settled on my seat and leaned back, my phone screen came alive.

With a hiss, I picked it up and saw several missed calls from my mom and also some messages.

Just as I was about to call her, my phone vibrated with her call.

"Mom!" I groaned into the phone.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I called the hospital and Eva told me you were in surgery." She apologized before I could even complain.

"I'm exhausted, what's up?"

"What's up? Did you forget that we have a Christmas ball by seven thirty? It's almost six." She reminded me.

"Oh shit!" I sighed.

"Did you receive the dress?" She asked me.

"What dress?" I knitted my brows in confusion. I don't wear dresses.

"I sent the driver to deliver a dress to you, it's for Winter. Also try to hire a makeup artist for her and maybe also someone to do her hair, her mom told me she doesn't really know how to do all that." She carefully instructed.

"Wow mom, you got a dress for Winter? Did you forget you have a son who might also not have anything to wear?"

She chuckled, "There's no way I could ever forget you, I also sent matching suits for you."

Just as I was about to reply, I heard a soft knock.

I pulled the phone away from my ear, "Come in." I replied.

"Dr, you received a package." Nadia announced as she brought in a large box and placed it on my table then excused herself.

"Mom did you send the outfits in a box? What if they get rumpled?" I complained.

"They won't! Now that the packages have arrived, you should hurry home and get everything in order." She instructed me.

I released an exasperated sigh, "Alright mom, see you later."

"Love you honey."

I can't believe how exhausted I am! After going on a mini break my body has become accustomed to laziness.

As I pulled into the parking lot, I couldn't help but notice something felt weird about the house.

It felt more alive?

I walked into the house while to keep my package from falling but failed because as I tried to shut the door behind me, the box almost dropped to the floor and I dived right in for it.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I felt my hand under the package but also felt a soft skin underneath my hand.

My hands traced the hand to the owner of the body and my eyes came in contact with a pair of dark ones.

"Welcome!" Her tiny voice greeted with a huge smile.

"What tha-." I observed my surroundings and it looked like my house. "Who are you and what are you doing inside my house?" I immediately questioned her as I straightened myself.

"I'm Riona-" She blurted and I stood shocked. "Emilia rather, and I only recently got hired to work her as a cook." She corrected herself.

I couldn't talk, I just stood still trying to process what was happening.

Riona? That's a rare name, I haven't heard anyone bear that name till I met her.

"Sir?" The girl called and I subconsciously turned my head to face her. "Do you need help with the box?" She asked and I shook my head.

I silently walked to my room when the sound of a closing door brought me back to my senses.

"Leo?" Iris called.

"Hey kiddo." I replied.

"Are you good?" She asked with eyes filled with worry.

"I am." My lips curved into a smile.

"Are you sure? Because Winter hasn't come out of her room in a while and you're frowning, did you two fight again or-."

"No, no, no! I just returned from the hospital and so I'm exhausted. Why hasn't she come out of her room?" I asked Iris.

"Beats me, I last saw her in the afternoon and I'm worried you both might be late to the ball."

"Mom asked me to get in touch with makeup artists for Winter, do you any?" I scratched the back of my head.

"It's already too late to book an appointment, I'll just do her makeup and her hair. I just need to get a few tools." Iris rushed into her room.

While she gets her stuff, I'll just drop this off with Winter.

When Winter raised her voice at me, all my pang of anxiety hit me all over again causing me to raise my voice back at her and then she just stood there in silence.

I only realized after I saw her expression that I had just yelled at her.

Shit.

"Here to do your make up-!" Iris's voice echoed through the room as she skipped into the room but paused when she saw both me and Winter standing in silence.

"I'll just leave the dress here." I placed it on a pink cushion, opened it and took my suit out before excusing them.

As I shut my door, my head rests on the closed door with my eyes sealed shut. Why did I yell at her?! There was really no need! Control your emotions better Leo, come on!

It took about thirty minutes to both shower and dress up. My suit was a nice shade of royal blue and a bow tie.

I settled in the living room to wait for Winter to come downstairs and it took only about an extra hour for that to happen while I tapped away on my phone.

First apologize then compliment her dress.

"Leo?!" Iris voice echoed throughout the whole house.

"Yeah?" I yelled back in response.

"Never mind! Just wanted to know where you were."

I rolled my eyes and kept it back on my phone. I heard the sound of heels marching down the stairs so I got up and there she was.

Her blonde hair was let down and her royal blue spaghetti strap dress was long and flowing but definitely fitted with her body and a long slit reaching up to her thighs making her tanned skin pop. All this while wearing a diamond necklace.

In summary she looked absolutely breathtaking.

Has she always been this beautiful and if yes how come I never noticed?

**