Chapter 999

At the crack of dawn, around six in the morning, Oliver found himself settled comfortably in the Harrison family's cozy living room. The house was still enveloped in the quiet of early morning, with only the faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air.

Annika, always bustling with a warm, hospitable energy, was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. Upon hearing of Oliver's early arrival, she appeared with a steaming mug of coffee and a bowl of her homemade oatmeal, laden with berries and nuts.

"Mr. Oliver, have some oatmeal to warm you up," she offered with a smile.

"Thank you," Oliver replied graciously. Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, "And please, don't wake Josie. Let her sleep in a bit.”

"Of course," Annika nodded and left him to his thoughts, quite pleased with herself. She had come down specifically to make sure Oliver hadn't woken Josefina. And now, hearing him insist on letting her sleep, she felt a surge of approval for Ms. Josefina's boyfriend. He seemed like a decent guy. With a lighter heart, she returned to her breakfast preparations.

...

The first one to make his way downstairs was Dorian. He was running late today; usually, he was up by five for his morning workout and ready for breakfast by six. Spotting Oliver in the living room, he headed directly for him and took a seat across.

"So, what's got you knocking on our door this early?" Dorian asked, his tone edged with suspicion.

"Dorian, you're too suspicious," Oliver replied, unfazed. "I'm aware you had a hand in the Sydney situation. We're on the same side. We should be allies, don't you think?"

Dorian didn't deny it. As Josefina's brother, how could he not get involved?

“Once Josie and I are married, I'll be moving in. I'm not here to break up the family; I want to be part of it," Oliver continued earnestly.

Dorian remained silent but noted Oliver's sincerity. The gifts Oliver had brought were indeed generous and thoughtful. Glancing down, Dorian noticed Oliver's shoes were identical to the pair he was wearing today-a pair Josefina had given him.

A soft, almost resigned smile played on Dorian's lips. His sister had given Oliver the same shoes as him. It was a peculiar but telling gesture.

Just then, Josefina appeared, a bright smile lighting up her face. "Oliver, what are you doing here?"

She settled next to Dorian, her expression warm and cheerful. “Dorian, you're up early," she teased.

Dorian gently ruffled her hair. "You're up early too. Why not catch some more sleep?"

"My body clock won't let me. I can't sleep in even if I try," Josefina replied with a small laugh.

Dorian's expression softened. “Just let the kitchen know what you'd like. They'll have it ready for you."

"Annika's cooking is amazing, and the other chefs aren't too shabby either. I love everything they make," Josefina said, her eyes twinkling.

The easy, familial rapport between Dorian and Josefina wasn't something Oliver was used to, but he found it comforting. This family had a warmth that was rare and genuine.

...

Oliver's early visit was prompted by

a call from Garrett, inviting him over for breakfast and a chat Oliver

assumed

Garrett wanted to discuss

the upcoming wedding, which was why he had arrived so early.

Breakfast stretched on until both Dorian and Reid had left for the day. Only then did Garrett finally broach the subject. "Oliver, your aunt and have given it some thought. You definitely should have the baby. As for the wedding, it's not a must. After all, it's just a piece of paper. You two can be together without it."

Oliver was taken aback by Garrett's words. Not get married? That was unthinkable to him.

“Sir, I think it's better if we do get married. While I'm not seeking a title, a marriage certificate is something we should have. Don't you agree?"

Garrett was left speechless. It was the first time he'd heard a man asking for a formal commitment.

Josefina, amused by Oliver's

insistence, couldn't help but give him a playful took. Then she chimed in t actually agree with my dad. Whether we marry or not isn't important We're easygoing people, so jet's just keep things as they are."

Oliver was visibly flustered, his unease almost palpable.