For you, miss," the staff member said, holding out the bag.

But Lisa shook her head, her expression firm. "I'm not interested," she said, her voice clear and decisive. The staff member hesitated for a moment before retreating, the bag still clutched in their hands.

Lisa burst into the room, excitement radiating from her face. Her aunt, Mrs. Flora, was already home, and Lisa's eyes lit up as she saw her unpacking. With a squeal of delight, Lisa dashed over to her aunt and wrapped her arms around her in a tight hug. "I miss you so much," she whispered, her voice muffled against her aunt's shoulder.

Mrs. Flora laughed and returned the hug, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Was it me or the food I make?" she teased, her voice warm and playful.

Lisa's face broke out into a smile as she pulled back, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "Both," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Tina sat quietly in the corner of the bed, watching the reunion with a reserved expression. "I'll fix something for you, Mom," she offered, her voice soft.

But Mrs. Flora waved her hand, interrupting Tina's offer. "Don't worry, I'll make dinner. I'm not that tired." Lisa's face lit up with excitement as she tried to sit close to Tina on the bed. However, Tina stood up and left the room, leaving Lisa feeling a pang of disappointment and confusion.

Lisa emerged from her room, having changed into a fresh outfit, and headed to set the table. Her aunt, Mrs. Flora, was busy in the kitchen, preparing a meal that filled the air with savory aromas. As Lisa worked on setting the table, Mrs. Flora's gaze fell upon her, and a warm smile spread across her face.

"Yes, Lisa, I knew I wouldn't regret my decision to take care of you," Mrs. Flora said, her voice filled with nostalgia.

As she spoke, memories of the past flooded her mind. She recalled the day Lisa's life had changed forever – the day she lost both her parents in a car accident. Lisa was just 12 years old, and none of her father's family members had been willing to take her in. It was a difficult time, but Mrs. Flora had stepped in, opening her heart and home to her niece.

People had whispered that Lisa was bad luck, that Mrs. Flora would regret taking her in. But Mrs. Flora and her husband had ignored the rumors, welcoming Lisa into their family alongside their own daughter, Tina. Years had passed, and Mrs. Flora's husband had sadly passed away due to illness. The grief had been overwhelming, and Mrs. Flora had lost a pregnancy soon after. Once again, people had blamed Lisa, saying she was a misfortune. But Mrs. Flora had stood firm, refusing to let the whispers drive a wedge between her and her beloved niece.

Mrs. Flora's eyes refocused on the present, and she smiled, her expression softening. "That's in the past," she said, her voice gentle, as if pushing away the memories. "Food is ready," she announced, serving the meal with a warm smile.

As they sat down to eat, Mrs. Flora's expression turned playful, and she fixed Lisa with a knowing gaze. "Lisa, when do you plan on telling us about it?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with amusement. Tina's eyes widened in surprise, and she shot Lisa a warning glance. "How could you hide such news from me?" Mrs. Flora continued, her voice teasing. "When did you plan on telling us about your wedding? Or was it going to be on your wedding day?"

Lisa, already aware of her aunt's penchant for drama, was caught off guard by the sudden turn in conversation. She hesitated, unsure whether to reveal the truth or play along. She stammered, her eyes darting briefly to Tina before returning to her aunt.

Mrs. Flora didn't wait for Lisa's response, instead launching into a story about her encounter with Mrs. Lola. "I'm happy you know, Mrs. Lola tried to look down on me with her friends, but I put her in her place by asking about her pregnant daughter who's not married yet." Tina and Lisa exchanged shocked glances, their eyes wide with surprise.

Tina spoke up, her voice laced with amusement. "Mum, you were supposed to keep it a secret." Mrs. Flora waved her hand dismissively. "Well, she tried to rub me in the mud, and I wasn't about to let her get away with it." Her face lit up with excitement as she continued. "And Lisa, your videos came in just in time. I was so proud – everyone wanted to be me." She launched into an excited explanation of the whole scene, her eyes sparkling with delight.

Mrs. Flora couldn't stop talking, her excitement and enthusiasm pouring out like a fountain. She even began discussing Lisa's upcoming meeting with her mother-in-law-to-be, much to Tina's growing annoyance. Tina finally had enough, got up angrily, took her plate, and stormed out of the room, leaving Lisa to deal with her aunt's relentless questions.

Undeterred, Mrs. Flora continued to bombard Lisa with queries, her eyes shining with anticipation. "When do we meet? What's she like? Is she nice? Does she have a good sense of humor?" The questions tumbled out one after another, leaving Lisa feeling overwhelmed.

In her mind, Lisa groaned, "Oh God, do these people walk with paparazzi or are they just out to destroy me?" She couldn't bring herself to tell the truth, especially with the added weight of what had happened at Mirabel's wedding. It has been a while she saw her aunt  this excited, and Lisa wasn't sure how to handle it. She decided to keep quiet and let her aunt find out the truth for herself.

Just as Lisa was zoning out, her aunt's yell brought her back to reality. "Lisa, when do I meet her?" Lisa's response was cautious, "Soon, very soon, Ma." She hoped that would suffice, but she knew her aunt's excitement wouldn't be easily contained