My Wife is a Hidden Big Shot

"Aurora probably made this sponge cake..." Stella Sinclair, who had been quiet until now, suddenly spoke up.

She was wearing a simple, elegant dress and light makeup today, giving her a somewhat understated look.

A nostalgic look appeared on her face. Pinching the half-eaten sponge cake, she continued, "I used to eat this at my second aunt’s house when I was a kid. It tastes just like it—that slightly burnt flavor..."

"Really?" Zeke Quincy reached out, picked up a piece, and took a bite.

He had met that beautiful second aunt before, but he’d been too young at the time to remember her clearly.

"It’s true. Second Aunt really wasn’t much of a cook back then..." Myles Sinclair also picked one up and took a bite, nodding as he chewed. "Yep, this is the flavor. A hint of sweetness mixed with the burnt taste."

Seeing everyone at the table start to eat the sponge cake, Jade Sinclair felt a little awkward. She picked up a more appealing-looking pastry from nearby and took a bite.

This one was delicious and had a familiar taste to it.

She couldn’t help but take a few more bites, but her expression grew more somber with each one until she froze completely.

She looked at Janet Sinclair in disbelief. "Janet, you have to try this..."

Janet Sinclair didn’t care for sweets and hadn’t touched any of the pastries. Seeing Jade’s reaction, she assumed she was just trying to stir up trouble again. "What now?" she asked, taking a sip of her tea.

"Just try it..." Jade Sinclair simply picked up a piece of pastry and stuffed it into her mouth.

"I don’t—" Janet had just started to speak when she froze in shock.

’This flavor is too familiar. She and Tanner Sinclair had eaten it countless times...’

"Second Brother..." Janet Sinclair shot to her feet, staring dazedly toward the International Penitentiary as she cried out, her voice trembling.

The conversation at the main table was interrupted by Janet Sinclair’s sudden movement and cry.

"Janet, what’s gotten into you..."

Janet Sinclair’s eyes reddened as she stared intently at the prison, speechless.

Jade Sinclair, standing beside her, wiped the corner of her eye. Pinching a pastry from the plate, she said, "Dad, Second Brother made these..."

"What—"

Master Sinclair froze in shock. Trembling, he looked down at the plate on the table. He reached out, picked one up, and placed it in his mouth. The familiar taste made his expression change dramatically. "Who made this?" he asked, his voice shaking.

Seeing how agitated he was, Cassius Morgan immediately steadied him. "My dear in-law, please don’t get so worked up," he said with concern. "I’ll have Flynn go and ask. You must take care of yourself."

The plate of pastries plunged the Sinclairs into a state of complex and anxious emotion.

The atmosphere at the banquet grew heavy. The Sinclairs seemed to be swallowed by a profound sorrow, leaving the other guests unsure of what to do.

Flynn Morgan finally breathed a sigh of relief when he received a message from Alvin Morgan. "Our master made these according to Aurora’s description..."

The expectant light in the Sinclairs’ eyes faded, though they also felt a wave of relief. Only Janet Sinclair refused to believe it, her gaze remaining fixed on the fortress-like prison.

"Impossible... I’d recognize my Second Brother’s cooking anywhere. I could never be wrong..."

"Janet, snap out of it. Second Brother has been gone for years. The young master of the Morgan family must have learned how to make these for Aurora..." Jade Sinclair said with a sigh, patting her on the shoulder.

Thomas Sinclair’s death had affected Janet Sinclair so profoundly that even after all these years, she still couldn’t let it go, unable to truly accept that he was gone...

Janet Sinclair’s expression was vacant. She slowly sat back down, stared at the pastries before her, and suddenly began to cry...

It was the first time she had cried in nearly twenty years, and her sobs were agonizing to witness.

Inside the prison, Alvin Morgan muted the audio feed coming from his watch.

He looked up at the pensive man across from him and said calmly, "It’s almost time. I’m leaving now."

He stood, glanced again at the brand-new set of clothes on the bed, and walked toward the door with an air of resignation.

Just as the door was closing, Todd Linton’s voice finally came from within the room. "Wait!"

Alvin Morgan quickly turned and pushed the door open.

"Can you really restore my body and my face?"

A smile flickered in Alvin Morgan’s eyes. "Of course..."

***

「10:58 AM.」

At the entrance of the International Penitentiary, the simulated sound of firecrackers suddenly rang out. As the main gates opened, two small robots were the first to emerge.

Each robot was equipped with a small speaker, which was the source of the firecracker sounds.

Alvin Morgan strode out first with four of his men. Behind them followed two children in formal attire.

A boy and a girl, each carrying a tray. One held a teacup, and the other held a ceremonial pole.

The boy was Titus Miles, and the girl was Alvin Morgan’s niece, Joel Morgan.

Behind them were also a man and a woman. The man was very tall, wearing sunglasses, and walked with a slight limp. Beside him was Aurora Sinclair, dressed in a wedding gown with a red veil covering her head.

Two girls walked beside them, one supporting each of them.

Jean Quincy was supporting the tall man, and Leigh Miles was supporting Aurora Sinclair.

"Is that..."

When the man appeared, the Sinclairs were so shocked their minds went blank, as if they’d short-circuited.

At this moment, Benjamin Morgan, temporarily acting as the master of ceremonies, announced loudly, "And now, please welcome the bride and her father, Mr. Thomas Sinclair."

"What..."

The Sinclairs’ eyes widened in unison, staring in disbelief at the man slowly walking toward them.

"Second Brother..." Janet Sinclair murmured numbly, as if she couldn’t believe what was happening.

"That... That’s Second Brother, isn’t it?" Jade Sinclair asked, her voice trembling as she gripped Janet’s arm.

Her mind couldn’t keep up; it all felt so unreal.

A loud cry finally snapped everyone out of their stupor.

Tanner Sinclair had already scrambled over the table and was running toward Thomas Sinclair, throwing his arms around him.

"Second Brother—"

Jean Quincy yelped and quickly steadied her resurrected uncle. She had seen him being fitted with his prosthetic leg not long ago—he couldn’t take a fall.

"Uncle, be gentle! His leg isn’t stable..."

Feeling how solid and tense his brother’s shoulders were, Tanner Sinclair also realized he needed to be careful and quickly helped steady him.

His eyes stinging, he asked, "Second Brother, where have you been? Do you have any idea what we’ve been through all these years?"

Thomas Sinclair raised a hand and patted his arm. Hearing footsteps approaching, he called out tentatively, "Dad..."

Master Sinclair stumbled forward, his normally stern face showing a rare vulnerability. He reached out with a trembling hand to touch his son’s face, his eyes, full of years of longing, fixed on him.

"Good... As long as you’re back... As long as you’re back..."

The entire Sinclair family swarmed around Thomas Sinclair, breaking down in loud sobs.

Benjamin Morgan glanced at his master and asked in a low voice, "Master, it’s a happy wedding day. Is all this crying really appropriate?"

Alvin Morgan coughed twice and shot him a look. Benjamin Morgan understood immediately. He raised the microphone and announced, "What a joyous and auspicious day! A double happiness has descended upon us! Now, can we have the bride’s family please quickly take their seats..."

Thomas Sinclair was instantly reminded that this was a wedding. He quickly turned to Janet and Tanner. "Quick, help Dad to his seat at the main table. It’s my little girl’s wedding day, we can’t delay it..."

Master Sinclair wiped the corner of his eye. Looking at Aurora beside him with reddened eyes, he squeezed both their hands tightly and said with relief, "I can finally face the ancestors of the Sinclair family..."

Seeing that the Sinclairs had returned to their seats, Benjamin Morgan spoke again, "The auspicious time has arrived! Bow to Heaven and Earth—"