Chapter 850 Warmhearted

Chapter 850 Warmhearted

Orion had always been the artist in the family, and this time his gift carried every ounce of love he held for his kin. The moment the canvas was unveiled, the room seemed to still. It was a hand-painted portrait—mother and child—yet it was more than that.

In the painting, Isabella sat in a meadow bursting with color, her hands resting gently on the curve of her belly. Her expression was serene, her skin aglow as if lit from within. Behind her, sunlight spilled through the Wilson family's glass conservatory, captured forever in oil and pigment.

What drew the most astonished murmurs, however, was the field of flowers surrounding her. Each bloom was painted with such precision it felt as though one could reach out and brush the petals. And then Isabella froze. She recognized them instantly.

They were Daniel's flowers—the ones he had tended with such care when he was alive. Even the rare orchids that had withered one cold winter were here, blooming again on Orion's canvas as if time had never touched them.

Her voice caught. "Orion… when did you paint this?"

He didn't answer her question. Instead, he asked softly, "Do you like it?"

Isabella's eyes glistened as she nodded. "I love it, Orion. You have the warmest heart."

A faint smile curved his lips as he rolled the canvas and set it aside. "I hope that when Michelle is grown, she will see this and know just how much her mother loved her before she was even born. And I hope she will always remember she was raised in a home surrounded by love."

The words struck not only Isabella but also Olivia, who stood nearby. No woman could hear something like that and remain unmoved. In that moment, Olivia thought that if she were ever to have a child, she too would want a painting like this to mark the time.

Across the room, Kian and Holden exchanged a look, both momentarily at a loss for words. They had spent weeks preparing their own gifts—and just like that, Orion had outshone them without even trying.

Before they could recover, Orion caught the flicker of frustration in their eyes and, with a teasing smile, said, "Compared to what Kian and Holden brought, this is nothing. As long as Isabella doesn't think mine lacks weight, I'm happy."

The remark was enough to make both men stiffen. They hadn't even spoken yet, and somehow Orion had managed to pin them to the floor with a single sentence. Of all the brothers, he was the one with the sharpest instincts.

In that instant, Kian and Holden found themselves on the same side, all earlier rivalry forgotten.

Isabella, sensing the tension, quickly stepped in. "I love all the gifts you have given. They are all blessings for Michelle, and I'll gladly accept them on her behalf."

Orion's smile deepened. "As long as you are happy." 

He glanced deliberately toward Kian and Holden, his expression full of quiet triumph. That single look was enough to reignite their competitive spark.

Kian arched a brow, and when Orion passed by, he caught his arm and pulled him aside. "Really, Orion? Pulling the sentimental card? That's playing dirty."

Holden nodded in agreement. "Exactly. You're taking advantage of the fact that we don't have an artistic bone in our bodies. Next to your painting, our gifts look like we just threw money at the problem."

Orion bit back a laugh, feigning innocence. "Do they? I didn't mean it that way. We're family—Isabella would love whatever we gave. You're reading too much into it."

"Reading too much?" Kian's eyes narrowed. "If that were true, you wouldn't have said what you did in front of her. Admit it—you wanted to be the day's number one gift-giver."

"How could you think that?" Orion raised his hands in mock surrender. "Come on, Kian, Holden—have mercy. I was just speaking from the heart. No competition intended."

While the three of them sparred in hushed tones, Thomas stepped up to Isabella with a resigned sigh. "The trouble with having so many brothers is that even gift-giving turns into a contest. Look at them—they've turned it into an art form. Now I feel unprepared."

Isabella smiled at him. "Thomas, don't tease me like the others. The fact that you made it here for Michelle's Sip and See means more to me than anything you could have brought."

She knew how little he had slept in recent weeks, juggling his own affairs with Nicole and still managing to catch a late-night flight just to be here. That alone spoke volumes about his devotion to Michelle.

Thomas's gaze softened. "You've always understood me best. I didn't know what to get Michelle, so I went with the most cliché gift of all—money. I hope you won't mind."

From his pocket, he produced a sleek bank card. "There's fifty million dollars in this account under Michelle's name. I've already used twenty million to buy her shares in my company. The dividends will go directly to this account. The rest is seed money—so that when she grows up, she can chase whatever dream she wants, knowing I'll be there to back her."

Isabella's eyes widened. She hadn't expected such a sum, nor the shares. Given the reputation of Thomas's company on Sterling Avenue, the dividends alone would be a fortune over time.

She hesitated, knowing how much Thomas had been spending lately to hold his ground in an overseas business conflict. "Thomas, this is—"

"Isabella, you can't play favorites," he cut in firmly. "Kian and Holden's gifts aren't worth any less than mine. If you accept theirs and not mine, I'll be hurt."

She glanced instinctively at Atticus, who gave a small nod, reassuring her. Only then did she take the card.

At that moment, Nicole approached, holding a delicate pendant. The gold coin at its center gleamed with age. "Isabella, this coin has been with me since I was a child. My grandmother called it my lucky coin. She said it was passed down from ancient times, that it could bring happiness and guide its owner to the love of their life."

She added, "I want Michelle to have it, so she can grow up surrounded by joy."

Hearing that, Isabella immediately shook her head. "Nicole, I can't take this. It means too much to you."

But Nicole pressed it into her palm, her cheeks tinged pink as her gaze flickered away. "Please. This coin has already done its job—it led me to the one I love. I don't need its luck anymore."

Her voice softened. "Besides, if it weren't for you taking me in, I might have gone back home and agreed to an arranged marriage. You gave me the courage to stay. This is just a small token of my gratitude. Please… don't refuse."