NovelOnlineBella had just joined the family group chat, and Phillip couldn't have been more ecstatic as he lounged on the living room couch.
"I'm about to make it rain gift cards for her." he beamed with delight.
Shirley, too, was gripped by her phone, her fingers dancing as she typed in amounts, determined to send more gifts that would
outdo Phillip's. "My storm's gotta be bigger than yours."
"Could you two maybe leave sfor the rest of us!" George grumbled, venting to his wife, "How do their fingers move that fast? |
just sent one, and it's like they buried it alive."
"Buried alive? Stop distracting me," Jennifer snapped, even more focused. "Tonight, I'm gonna make sure Bella feels just how much
we value her!"
Tomas and Donna were also busy in the group chat, sending their own gifts.
"You guys need to cool it." Tomas half-joked, "We're getting completely overshadowed here!"
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"Yeah, hold off for a bit, will ya? Let us get a few in, okay?"
When Arabella walked into the living room, she was greeted by a scene of six adults, all engrossed in their phones, fiercely sending
gift in the chat.
"Bella's right here, can't we just give her a big one in person?" Romeo, standing next to Arabella, was somewhat speechless at his
relatives’ antics.
It dawned on Phillip and Shirley then. Oh right, they'd prepared a hefty gift card for Arabella!
George and Jennifer, Tomas and Donna, all remembered and handed Arabella their generous gifts, wishing her a Happy New Year.
"Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa," Arabella said, accepting the gift cards and thanking each in turn, "Thanks."
"Silly girl, no need for formalities with family." Jennifer was overjoyed to see her accept the gifts.
The other adults then distributed gifts to the younger family members. Cathy, upon seeing that her gift was smaller and less
substantial than Arabella's, couldn't help but confront her own parents, "Dad, Mom, can't you be impartial? How can you be okay
with giving such a tiny gift card?"
She was their own daughter, after all!
"Of course we're okay with it," Tomas and Donna responded, not seeing anything amiss.
Cathy then looked pleadingly towards her grandparents.
Her own parents might not dote on her, but surely her grandparents would be more generous. Yet even they handed over a gift
card that was notably modest.
"Bella's new here, so naturally the gift is a bit more generous. You're old enough to appreciate getting one at all," Phillip said with a
bias that might as well have stretched to the Pacific.
She was younger than Arabella!
Cathy felt a sting but then turned to her aunt and uncle.
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"Your uncle and | don't play favorites," Jennifer said with a warm smile, handing her two gift cards. "One's from me, and the other's
a token of your uncle's affection. Here's to a year full of joy and smarts."
Cathy was touched but then noticed that Jennifer's gift cards, like the others given to the younger family members, were different
from Arabella's.
"Bella's going to be my daughter-in-law, so | gave a little extra. You don't mind, do you?" Jennifer's smile didn't waver.
Cathy did mind a bit, but what could she do? She liked Arabella too, and thanks to her new sister-in-law's presence, she'd snagged
a whole bunch of gift cards.
In the past, their family group chat was never this lively, nor did it ever 'rain' gift cards like this.
"If it were anyone else, I'd definitely have a bone to pick with you elders. But for my sister-in-law, I'm all for it!" Cathy said, then
showed Arabella her phone. "Thanks to you, Bella, | scored a ton of gift cards tonight! Look."
Seeing Cathy glued to Arabella's side, Romeo couldn't help but tease, "Can't you go count your bounty somewhere else?"
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