Boss, Your Ex-Wife is Unreachable Now! novel Chapter 281

Lionel’s great-aunt greeted Juliette Danton and Willow Sheffield with warm enthusiasm. “You’re both friends of Lionel’s—make yourselves at home, all right? No need to stand on ceremony.”

The birthday party was a casual buffet affair, with guests mingling in the villa’s open-air garden, the scent of barbecue lingering on the breeze. A chef was making fresh sushi at a corner table, just as Lionel’s great-aunt had arranged—a special touch to ensure everything was as fresh and delicious as possible.

The birthday girl was Tina Ramirez, newly sixteen, a petite girl with a bright smile. She’d already told her closest friends that Juliette had graduated from the renowned Global Interpreters Academy, and the news had sparked a flurry of excitement. Soon, a small circle of high schoolers gathered around Juliette, their admiration almost palpable as they peppered her with questions.

“Lettie, is your school really hard to get into? How did you prepare for the entrance exams?”

“Yeah, Lettie, I’ve always struggled with languages. Besides going to a tutor, is there anything else I can do to improve?”

Tina watched nearby, her lips curled in a proud smile.

After answering a few of their questions, Juliette spotted Willow finally emerging from inside the villa. She quickly pulled Willow over to introduce her to the eager group, smiling as she said, “This is Willow—she’s even more impressive. Top of her class at Kingston University. If you want study tips, she’s your girl.”

Willow had just finished dropping off her gift in the living room, following one of the housekeepers to the garden where everyone was gathered. She barely had time to catch her breath before she found herself surrounded by seven or eight wide-eyed teens, all brimming with curiosity.

She hadn’t expected a high school birthday party to turn into a mini academic Q&A, but Willow took it in stride, offering patient advice and sharing a few of her own tried-and-true study habits.

“The best study methods really depend on the person. What works for me might not work for you, but I’m happy to share what helped me—just take what fits.”

She made sure to add a disclaimer, not wanting to overpromise.

Tina, meanwhile, didn’t join the crowd. Instead, she sidled up beside Juliette, her voice low but bubbling with excitement.

Juliette laughed. “Hold off for now. Once you get into college, I’ll buy you the whole collection as a gift.”

“Thank you, Lettie! I’ll work even harder to get into college!” Tina’s joy was infectious; she adored this smart, beautiful older sister. For a while, she’d even wondered if Lettie was Lionel’s girlfriend.

She’d once asked Lettie in secret, only to be told no. Later, her mother, with a conspiratorial wink, had asked her the same question. When Tina relayed Lettie’s answer, her mother sighed, “Such a shame. If only Hancock weren’t so young.”

Hancock was Tina’s little brother, barely eleven this year.

Back then, Tina had just started middle school herself and didn’t understand her mother’s wistful remark. Now, she thought, she was starting to get it.

She leaned in, voice conspiratorial. “Lettie, so you’re still not dating my cousin Lionel?”