My Husband Is a Gary Stu

Just as Sally was about to hang up the call, Amanda's childish voice rang out. “Hi, Aunt Sally. I miss you. Have you had your New Year's Eve dinner yet?”

Sally hummed in response.

“Uncle Yuvan bought me lots of fireworks. Come on over, Aunt Sally. Let's set off fireworks together, okay?”

Amanda covered the phone and spoke in hushed tones. “I'm sure Uncle Cooper wants to see you too.”

With that, she ended the call.

Cooper noticed Amanda looking gleeful when she returned the phone to him. It was as though she had achieved a great feat.

He couldn't help but ask, “What did you talk about with your Aunt Sally?”

“I won't tell you.” Amanda stuck her tongue out and skipped into her room.

Cooper couldn't help but chuckle as he watched her.

At half past eleven that night, the kids at the Zeigler residence set off fireworks in the garden, lighting the night sky with shining golden light.

The kids screamed in delight as they watched the fireworks bloom like beautiful flowers in the sky.

Cooper vaguely saw his housekeeper greeting a guest at the door, who then began making their way toward the garden just as the kids were having the time of their lives. He was stunned when he saw who it was.

Sally, dressed in a black turtleneck sweater and jeans, showed up with her hands in her coat pockets.

Cooper thought she looked surreal as she stood under the dim light.

Sally pulled her hands out of her coat pockets, bent down, and scooped Amanda into her arms when she saw Amanda running toward her.

“That was fast, Aunt Sally. Did you come here in a helicopter?” asked Amanda.

“Yes.”

Sally walked into the garden with Amanda in her arms and stood before Cooper. “I came to spend New Year's Eve with all of you. Am I welcome here?” She smiled a faint smile.

Cooper returned her smile. “Well, what can I say when you're already here?”

Amanda squirmed out of Sally's arms and ran off to retrieve a sparkler from the pile of fireworks. She then had Lucian light it up for her.

Soon, she was running around the garden with the sparkler, looking like a glowing little fairy.

This was Sally's first time spending New Year's Eve with so many kids. She had to smile every so often when a kid came by to greet her, to the point that her cheeks hurt.

“Are they being too noisy?” Cooper waited till the kids stopped coming by before asking Sally.

“A little.” Sally's heart warmed as she stared at the kids having fun in the garden. “But it livens up the mood for New Year's Eve.”

She enjoyed soaking up the lively atmosphere despite her reserved personality.

Cooper removed his scarf and wrapped it around Sally's neck as he felt the weather getting chilly.

Sally's heart warmed as she tugged at the scarf and caught a whiff of his scent.

As they stood side-by-side watching the children frolicking in the snow, she turned to Cooper. “I never thought you'd manage to uncover so much, given your busy schedule.”

After all, the end of the year was always the busiest time for large corporations.