The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 355

"You want me to participate in an Ancestor Recognition Ceremony?" Lavinia was taken aback.

Sitting across from her were Julian and Saul, with Charley right beside her. All three men were looking at her with quiet expectation.

"Lavinia, I'm not just saying this in hindsight, but from the very first moment we met, I felt a deep connection to you. I never imagined we were actually blood relatives." Julian's eyes behind his glasses looked slightly misty.

He laid out all the reasons for officially welcoming her back to the family, making it nearly impossible for her to refuse.

But she had been raised by Latham and Mandy.

Saul chimed in, "Lavinia, I already ran this by Mom and Dad. They said that since Judith doesn't have any other heirs, going through with the ceremony to honor her is the right thing to do. Besides, you aren't changing your legal name. You're still a Joplin."

Lavinia looked over at Charley.

"It's a win-win for everyone, as long as you're comfortable with it," he said.

Lavinia thought about it for a moment, then nodded. "I'll do it."

"Fantastic!" Julian beamed, laughing out loud. "You don't have to lift a finger for the ceremony; I'll handle everything personally. We're going to invite all the elites from Marina Island and Blossom City to witness this. Lavinia, you have to dress your absolute best that day."

Charley spoke up. "If that's the case, why not have Lavinia wear the family's heirloom jade bangle for her grand entrance?"

"Exactly! We need her wearing the Gilmore family's most prized heirloom so that every high-society family knows my great-aunt's legacy lives on."

Lavinia hesitated. "But wasn't that bangle loaned to the Locke family? I thought they still had it."

Julian chuckled. "The Gilmores still own the piece; the exhibition rights are managed by Charley's firm, SSA. We're practically all family here. Given this massive celebration, we need it back for a few days. I'll talk to the Lockes; they won't refuse."

With the plan set in motion, Julian immediately went to work.

A few days later, Mrs. Locke of Marina Island respectfully returned the Harriet Hoyt Bangle.

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