Chapter 103: New Year's celebration

Lucca pov

I thought to myself that Vincent must have believed I wouldn't entertain any of his proposals, so he resorted to influencing Alice.

"It's strange, ever since he visited Alice, she's been clamoring to go horseback riding," Luna Nataly said, resting her chin on her hand.

"How about we all go to the countryside together? I haven't been to a horse stable in years... one person might not be able to manage Alice alone. Of course, once you've recovered."

I reluctantly said, "Luna, I'm not injured; it's just my mood. I can go out anytime and accompany Alice..."

Alice hugged me and planted a kiss.

Luna Nataly gladly agreed and took us to the countryside horse stable.

I noticed she was quite modest and didn't look at all like someone who hadn't touched a horse in years. She was a true equestrian, with skillful movements and excellent control.

"How about I teach you?" Luna Nataly dismounted, grabbed a helmet, and her golden hair cascaded down.

"No... I'll just watch Alice," I declined.

"I think Alice might be more interested in getting on the horse than sitting on a cold bench."

I glanced at my daughter, and it seemed to be the case. She couldn't take her eyes off several horses nearby.

A professional rider came over to let her try it out.

Luna Nataly led me and taught me some simple riding techniques. They had chosen gentle horses, and soon enough, I was able to ride alone in circles. I stroked the horse's mane, which felt smooth and clean, with a hint of an animal scent.

My legs could feel the muscles of the horse moving beneath me, and it was truly a remarkable experience.

The horse's view from above was excellent. Turning in a circle, increasing the speed a bit, turning another circle – when it picked up speed enough to feel the wind, I felt a sense of freedom.

However, this feeling didn't last long.

"Thank you, Luna," I dismounted, panting.

Luna Nataly was surprised. She took off my helmet and said, "I should be thanking you. I've been in the Irish mountains all these years and had no chance to ride. It's quite a hardship for you to leave the hospital and accompany me. Vincent told me that you haven't even left your room recently!"

I felt a touch of bitterness but couldn't help smiling.

Alice continued with the professional rider, seemingly tireless, laughing and clapping, circling many times and changing horses frequently.

After trying out the entire stable, she finally got exhausted and fell asleep. The rider carefully handed her over to me. I held her and kissed her forehead.

"Can I sleep with Mommy?" Alice asked groggily.

"Mommy needs to see the doctor," Luna Nataly explained gently.

"I'm fine now...," I couldn't help saying, "I can leave the hospital anytime."

Luna Nataly looked somewhat surprised. "In that case..."

I gathered my courage and invited, "Could I spend the winter break with Alice?"

Luna Nataly looked at me with a hint of sadness. "Of course, dear. You don't need my permission."

I thought Luna Nataly would take me to Ireland, but she drove to the hillside villa instead.

"Isn't this Vincent's place?" I asked.

"Wait, I thought we were going to Ireland?"

Luna Nataly turned off the engine. "I've lent the castle to one of the maids for her New Year's party. She has a bunch of snobbish relatives, and if they knew she 'owned' a castle, they'd be even more insufferable."

I carried Alice out of the car, and Luna Nataly grabbed a small blanket.

Luna Nataly looked around the house. "

Thank you for taking me in. If I had to spend New Year's in the damp town or with the pack, my rheumatism would have tortured me."

She suddenly opened my refrigerator.

"Goodness, what have you been eating every day?" Luna Nataly exclaimed.

"Salads..." I mumbled.

"Alice can't eat like that, you know?"

"Well..."

Luna Nataly closed the refrigerator door and clapped her hands. "Alright, I'm quite the culinary expert."

Indeed, Luna Nataly was very talented. She could cook, arrange flowers, and knew how to handle children.

She was incredibly skilled in organizing and tidying up, a true jack-of-all-trades. I wanted to learn to live independently from her, but I always seemed clumsy.

"Your talent lies elsewhere," Luna Nataly comforted me. "You know, there are some famous scientists who can't even button their own shirts."

She pointed to the anatomical chart of internal organs hanging on my wall and chuckled. "In the future, you'll have an assistant to cook for you."

I couldn't help but laugh along with her. This was the first time since I got sick that I had a genuine outlook on the "future."

Luna Nataly believed I could become a remarkable researcher, and she truly felt that way.

"When you're on stage receiving awards, you can thank me too," Luna Nataly winked.

We had a very enjoyable New Year's celebration.

The previous gloom had been overshadowed, and as long as I didn't dwell on the surgery and the future, everything was perfect.

Vincent's pov

I discussed Rino's issues with Linda. I feel that his current behavior is problematic.

Although he may be rebellious for now, without proper discipline, he might get into serious trouble sooner or later.

This could not only harm the family's reputation but also jeopardize my own safety.

"What if we send him to a military school?" Linda suggested. She dotes on our youngest son and doesn't see Rino as having major problems.

To her, he's just a bit spoiled, but at heart, he's a good kid. She believes that as he grows older, he'll naturally become more responsible.

And even if he remains a perpetual man-child, that's okay too because the family still has Raffle as the perfect heir.

However, I disagree. I think that sending Rino to a military school at this point might expose him to even more bad influences.

The educational environment in the Republic of the Pack is already top-notch, but it's just that he doesn't want to apply himself.

Linda continues to defend Rino's choices.

She argues that there's nothing wrong with pursuing one's interests, especially in this day and age.

She believes that as parents, we should respect Rino's hobbies. She points out that there are many artists in the world who dropped out of school and changed careers, and they've excelled. Learning, in her opinion, may not be as relevant to his success as we think.

"I don't believe Rino has that kind of talent," I've been trying to express myself more diplomatically recently.

What I truly want to say is that even our gardeners trimming tree branches make more pleasant sounds than Rino's singing.

Unless the world's collective taste regresses to the Jurassic era, he won't achieve any artistic success.