Unlike other kids, he seemed to be trying to get close to her for some purpose.

Moreover, that purpose didn’t seem very good.

But the reason Bonita didn’t push Bentley away was that he didn’t seem to have any particular malice.

In fact, the real unpleasant person was someone else.

“Oh, kids. I’ve been waiting for you to come out.”

It was the guy with black hair and black eyes.

“W-Who are you?”

Maya, who saw a stranger, asked with a slightly guarded tone.

Following behind, Bentley spoke.
“Our father.”

“His name is Oliver. He’s Bonita’s uncle.”

Upon hearing that, Alan pretended to know loudly.

“I know that! You call Dad’s younger brother uncle!”

“Smart kid.”

Oliver burst into laughter and patted Alan’s head.

Although he was tall, Oliver was handsome and gentle, so the children easily let their guard down, except for Cassis.

“That guy smiles a bit uncomfortably.”

Bonita nodded vigorously at Cassis, whispering to her ear without Oliver knowing.

Cassis whispered again.

“There’s something creepy about him. Good people don’t smile like that.”

Bonita agreed.

“I think I know what you mean…”

It was a very biased statement, but Bonita didn’t bother trying to think objectively.

After all, from the moment her deceased birth mother entered her adoptive mother’s body and started living with her, words like rational or logical were nothing more than meaningless play on words. Bonita trusted her instincts.

But fortunately, the uncomfortable feeling didn’t last long. The maid leading the children stood in front of the door of the large hall and said this.

“Miss, please open the door first!”

If she opened this door, it was the Marquis’s hall.

Bonita stole glances at the incomplete appearance of the hall in between, but since yesterday, she couldn’t get any closer due to the dissuasion of the servants.

Thanks to that, she had no idea what was inside.

With an excited heart, Bonita, with the help of the maids on both sides, opened the door to the hall.

“Wow!”

“Amazing!”

“Wow, amazing!”

Starting with Bonita, the children who looked inside the hall burst into cheers one by one.

The hall was filled with holly oak decorations and rainbow-colored balloons. Some balloons were tied in various animal shapes, making it feel like they were in a mysterious zoo.

But among them, the most eye-catching was the giant pile of presents in the center.

“Unbelievable, it’s really big!”

Alan, who ran to the front of the pile of presents, shouted with joyful excitement. He pointed at the present boxes and waved.

“Bonita, quickly unwrap them! Starting with the biggest one, okay?”

Bonita also wondered what was inside. Especially, she wanted to know in which box Luke’s promised train toy would be. It would be very enjoyable to open the wrapping until she found it.

Bonita looked at the adults next to her.

“Can I open them?”

“Of course.”

Luke smiled and nodded.

Bonita first chose a small box at the front. The box was wrapped in pretty gold foil with a thick silver thread tied in a bow.

Bonita hesitated for a moment, then undid the bow and opened the box.

“Wow!”
Then, a small silver bird popped out of the box. The bird rose into the air, circled around, and soon landed on Bonita’s palm, chirping sweetly.

Derek, surprised at the sight, said with an astonished expression, “It’s a toy bird made with magical engineering. I’ve never seen something so intricate.”

Bonita was delighted with this first gift. She gently stroked the feathers of the bird sitting on her palm. Recognizing its owner, the bird affectionately nuzzled Bonita’s finger.

As Bonita was playing with the bird’s head, she discovered something on the back of its head – a petal-shaped switch. When she touched it, the bird, which had been moving as if alive, came to a complete stop.

Curiosity filled Bonita’s eyes. ‘What does it look like inside?’ She felt the impulse to open the lid of the bird right away. She was so curious about how a mechanical bird could move so intricately.

However, she didn’t want to risk breaking the gift by pulling the switch carelessly. It was a dilemma.

At that moment, Luke, who knew nothing about Bonita’s innocent yet cruel curiosity, urged her with a proud face, “Try opening another one.”