Chapter 799

All their friends showed up. Toby, Lyla, Shayla, and the others—everyone was there. Right at midnight, they burst through the door, their faces lit up with excitement, shouting, "Happy new year!" Andrew hesitated for a moment but eventually let them all in. Though their arrival interrupted the quiet night, he didn't look annoyed. For once, he wasn't scowling. Maybe it was because he'd never experienced a New Year's this lively. In the past, Andrew had spent New Year's on guard, wary of everyone in the Wentworth family. At most, he'd return to the family home for a cold, formal dinner. As soon as it was over, he'd leave without looking back. Melina had never had much of a New Year celebration either. After Joe passed away, she stopped celebrating altogether. She dreaded the holiday season. From Christmas to New Year's, the loneliness stretched endlessly. While others celebrated, she buried herself in work, trying to outrun the emptiness. While families gathered, she studied. While