Chapter 51

• Carlos felt a mix of incredulity and anxiety. On one hand, he was curious about what was inside the box. On the other hand, he worried that if the gift turned out to be subpar, it would be a source of ridicule.
• Regina watched Lucius with a hint of amusement, seemingly impressed. In reality, she was thinking, ‘What can a penniless drifter possibly offer? Just wait for them to make fools of themselves.’
• Cynthia and Samuel were also eager to see what would happen. Even if Isabella did produce a gift, it was likely to be something cheap she’d picked up from a street vendor.