Chapter 324

• Before long, Ryan returned to the suite, proudly wearing his custom-tailored outfit. In just a few months, he had noticeably grown, and the ensemble commissioned from a boutique children’s designer in Milan fit him perfectly. The ivory satin shirt, subtly embroidered with playful motifs, paired with a sleek black velvet blazer lined with deep cobalt silk, gave him a polished and modern look. His small cape added a charming flair, and his carefully styled hair, held back by a silk ribbon in the same bold blue, made him look like a miniature gentleman ready to walk a red carpet.
• I turned from the vanity mirror as he entered. I reached for his hand, taking in his transformation with a proud, almost maternal smile. "Let me get a good look at you,” I said, standing and circling him. “Oh my Ryan, is that really you? You look incredible. So grown up, I almost didn’t recognize you.”
• Ryan’s cheeks turned the color of a ripe cherry. “Aunt Cassandra,” he mumbled bashfully, “you’re just saying that because I’m a kid.”