The three sat before the dining table for breakfast. With their teamwork, breakfast was ready much quicker than before.
"Sister Juliet. I love the waffles a lot. Good thing you made more than enough. " Chloe complimented as she savored her meal.
Luke immediately chimed in munching the chicken.
"Of course it's good. It just had to be tarnished with this chicken. Your cooking taste bland."
"Well, your tea tastes worse than beer." Chloe threw at him.
"You've tasted beer before? I never knew my sister was this bad?", Luke gasped dramatically.
"It was just a comparison." Chloe gritted her teeth.
"If you ask me, both are good. ", Juliet finally said.
"Mine is better. ", the siblings said together and she laughed.
"I think we should go do some shopping for Christmas. It's tomorrow and you guys hadn't done anything to decorate the house.", Juliet suggested.
"Not interested in celebrating anything. ", Luke shrugged. Chloe frowned a little but hid it. Juliet spotted it still.
"Forget about this party killer. Anything shopping is my pleasure! We'll go right away and get decorations, and new clothes! Oh, this is so exciting!" Chloe clapped as she said.
"Luke you're coming right?" Juliet glanced at Luke and asked.
Luke smiled bitterly.
"Can I refuse?" Juliet just smiled triumphantly. "Have you given the company a holiday? Yvonne told me they're planning a Christmas promo. I'm pretty sure it would work well in malls and supermarkets. " she said with a smile just to see Luke stiffened.
"Brother." Chloe looked at him surprisingly. "You didn't forget to send the holding message right?"
Juliet also looked at him surprised.
"Don't look at me like that. Leo must have taught me I didn't want any break with all the work going on. That idiot. It slipped my mind. On it." Luke scratched his head and stood up to get his phone.
"When one has a foul brain, they'll always be forgetful. ", Chloe sneered shaking her head. Luke just narrowed his eyes at her as Leo picked up the call.
"Leo where are you now?", he asked.
"Ehm.....sir. I'm currently at my hometown to help my family prepare for tomorrow but I promise I'll be back on Monday. ", Leo quickly explained. Luke just realized he pressured his secretary a lot. The workers must be grumbling a lot and some will have their way to travel for the holidays.
"Leo don't worry about it. Currently, Utopia is doing just fine. You can take a break, all of you. Send everyone a message right away. We'll be going on a break until the third of January. Enjoy your time. It's the best I can do for you guys for your hard work.", Luke said to him with a smile.
"Really sir?  On it! Thank you so much. ", Leo rejoiced.
"It's nothing. Merry Christmas ."
"Merry Christmas sir."
"I thought you didn't want to celebrate?", Chloe asked Luke as he came back to his seat.
"My wife wants me to so I have to oblige. " he smiled at her.
"Oh. I'm so jealous. I think I should get married soon." Chloe said rolling her eyes.
"Do you two get tired? " Juliet shook her head at them.
Luke nodded and sighed, "I am tired of fighting with a kid every day."
"You're the kid!"
............
After covering up from the cold, the three left in Luke's car to the mall to buy some decorations. After getting back home, they designed the house simply. Dad came early today surprising them with a Christmas tree. Juliet had a call with her Mum and went upstairs to her room. She contemplated whether to call her father but decided not to in the end. He should realize his mistake and tell her his choice first before they came on talking terms again.
Juliet left her room and went to meet Luke. He was standing before the window in his room watching the falling snow.
"What's on your mind?", she asked softly standing beside him.
He glanced at her and smiled lightly.
"I just remembered how we spent Christmas with my Mum back then. She would cook a lot and we'll sing, dance, and play games. At night, we spend time together in their room and even sleep there. I remember one time Chloe ate a lot of cake and we had to spend Christmas in the hospital. ", he laughed lightly and his voice became fainter. "That was the last Christmas we spent together. After that, I never wanted to celebrate the holidays again. Just took it as a normal day. Chloe and Dad always tried to persuade me but I just turned them down. Sometimes, Chloe had to spend the holidays at her friend's house. I'm such a bad brother  Aren't I?"
Juliet grabbed his arm and shook her head.
"You're not a bad brother Luke. You were just having a hard time accepting the reality. I saw the joy and excitement in Chloe's eyes when you decided to join us. Just make it up to her okay? And she told me you always gave her a gift and she never blamed you."
Luke turned around and stroked her hair.
"Thank you, Juliet. I used to see things dull and dark before but you made me see the light again. I promise to never do anything to hurt you.", he said sincerely.
"You made my world bright too." Juliet smiled rubbing his palm. "I always spend the holidays alone in my neighborhood. Never wanted to join other's celebrations. I had to wait for my dad every Christmas just for him to come back late at night mostly I was fast asleep. If there's one thing I want to do this year is to spend time with my family. With Dad, Chloe, Mummy, and you. " a tear drop fell on her cheek.
Luke cupped her face and wiped it with his thumb.
"This won't be the last. We'll be together until eternity. Our bond won't be broken. Come here. ", he smiled and pulled her into a warm embrace. Juliet laid her head on his shoulder holding his back tightly as he stroked her hair.
................
"Merry Christmas everyone. Brother! Sister! Come downstairs right away! Dad got me a great gift!", Chloe shouted from downstairs in her pajamas.
"You don't have to block our ears.", Luke came down in his sweat pants rubbing his ears.
"Someone got up early.", Juliet smiled by his side. Dad also came down to join them. Chloe immediately ran over and hugged him.
"Thanks, Dad. I love you so so much!" She smiled happily.
"That's my baby girl.", Dad laughed and kissed her forehead. She giggled and clicked the keys in her hands at Luke and Juliet.
"Dad got you a car?", Luke gasped.
"Yeah. Jealous? You got one on your eighteen birthday. ", she said smugly. Dad got her a bike when she turned eighteen too but a car arrived as a Christmas present.
"Wow. Congratulations. ", Juliet came over and hugged the girl.
"I'm jealous now Dad. What did you have for me? A private jet?", Luke asked Dad expectantly.
Pft. Juliet and Chloe broke into laughter. Even Dad was laughing. A private Jet? Common.
"Check your gift box. You too Juliet. ", Dad told them. Luke quickly went under the Christmas tree with Juliet. The two boxes were really small, probably an accessory. They opened it and were both slack-jawed.
"Let me see. Wow!", Chloe came over and exclaimed seeing what was in the box in Juliet's hands.
It was a silver ring with a beautiful heart-shaped diamond in the middle. Luke walked to them and he was also holding a similar ring but he was a circle.
"Dad?" They raised their inquisitive gaze to Dad.
"I got a wedding ring for both of you. When the wedding date is fixed, at least you won't have to worry about it.", Dad explained simply.
Luke exchanged a look with Juliet and went over to hug the man. Dad said and patted their backs.
"Don't worry. You have my blessing and Juliet, your Dad also does. I'm sure he has a good reason for doing what he did that's why I'm sure he will fix everything okay? And Luke, I'm happy you are happy now. You have to love Juliet with all your heart and protect her all the time okay? I love you both."
"We love you too Dad.", They hugged him tighter already in tears. Chloe couldn't take it and joined them.
They separated and the gift opening continued.
"This one is from my annoying brother.", Chloe stated holding a gift box, and then laughed. She opened it and there were a pair of glassy pink shoes.
"Isn't these the latest ****shoes?", she gasped and looked at her brother surprisingly.
"I know our princess wanted it." Luke shrugged. Chloe pursed her lips and pounced toward him. He held her and rubbed her back.
"Sorry for always acting as a jerk all these years and ignoring you when you were always there when I needed someone. My sister always knows when I'm in need." He said sincerely.
Chloe just giggled and replied,
"You think I'm disappointed in you? I'll never be. I'm very proud of you brother. You were always there to help and protect me. You stopped others from bullying me and when all those jerks decide to leave me, you stood by me and made me realize I don't deserve them. Even if you don't join any of our celebrations at home, you never restrained to get me a gift. If everyone was to leave me, I know my brother will always be there." Another round of tears left Chloe's eyes wetting Luke's shirt. He smiled comforting her.
Dad turned his head and cleaned the teardrop in his eyes. Juliet pursed her lips smiling. Chloe finally pulled back and laughed as her brother wiped her tears.
"Okay stop crying like a baby. ", he said and flicked her forehead. She pouted and took her last gift.
"From sister Juliet. ",  she said and opened it. There was a pair of pink gloves in it. She felt the texture and it was very soft.
"Let me see." Luke reached out to the box but she slapped his hand away.
"Don't think you're the only one special here.", he scoffed and took his gift box.
"Let's see what my annoying sister got for me here.", he wondered and opened it to find a pair of white sneakers in it.
"I have a collection of this.", he said dully.
"Stop being mean. That's the latest trend you know?" Juliet nudged his arm.
Luke glanced at Chloe and sighed, "I think I'll keep it." She rolled her eyes at his behavior.
" Now let's see what my wife got for me." He said and took the second gift box. There was a dark blue wristwatch in it.
"You know my taste perfectly." He smiled at Juliet and she smiled back.
"Nobody is interested in your nonsense. Sister, check mine first." Chloe waved her hand and handed the gift box to Juliet.
Juliet nodded and opened it which made her exclaim wow. The gift was a lotus-shaped Chinese hairpin with long strings attached to it.
"Chloe, I love it." She smiled. Chloe clasped her hands in joy. Juliet took the last gift and glanced at Luke. He looked up intentionally. Juliet smiled and opened the box. A smaller box was laid in it. After opening it, she picked a golden string bracelet, with tiny stars attached to it. Juliet kept a dull expression and glanced at Luke who was finally looking at her.
"So, do you like it?", he asked.
Juliet gave a side smile and walked towards him. She hugged his neck and whispered in his ear.
"Control yourself, okay love? Your Dad is here." Luke finally knew what she meant as she damp kissed his neck. She pulled back blinking innocently at his stiffened expression.
"Sister what did you say to him?"  Chloe asked curiously.
"I said I liked his gift.", Juliet replied.
"Let's just move to Dad's gift okay?", Luke snapped at them.
"Okay what have you three got for me.", Dad inquired. Chloe rushed to get the last box there and handed it to Dad. He opened it and took out a woolen sweater.
"When you get back from work, this can keep you warm," Juliet said.
"Yes. Dad. You're getting old. You should take care of yourself better." Luke added which got him a glare from Dad.
"Your dad here just turned fifty."
"That's old Dad," Chloe muttered.
"Okay. End of discussion. Let's go make breakfast.", Dad waved his hand and walked to the kitchen.
"Yay. Dad is cooking today.", Chloe shouted and followed.
"You're not escaping tonight.", Luke whispered to Juliet. She acted oblivious and swayed her hips to the kitchen.
The rest of the day was spent happily and cozy. The car Dad brought for Chloe was dark pink and suited her personality. Several Christmas pictures were taken there and her fans got a share of them. The family used the short holiday to bond and visit friends.