Sweet Love 2x: Miss Ruthless CEO for our Superstar Uncle-Chapter 148: Uncle Franz’s birthday

Leo had placed the calendar on the low table the afternoon before. He’d positioned it so both he and Lily could see the page without moving their chairs.

The red circle was hard to miss. Underneath it, in Lily’s uneven handwriting: Phase Two.

Leo sat cross-legged on the carpet, tablet against his knees. Every few seconds he glanced between the screen and the calendar, reviewing details like an operation that required careful timing.

Across from him, Lily leaned forward with her elbows on the table.

For two children who had spent most of the afternoon whispering excitedly about their plan, the living room had grown unusually quiet.

Sam sat on the sofa, one leg folded beneath her, a magazine open in her lap. She hadn’t turned a page in five minutes. Her attention was fixed on the twins.

From where she sat she could see Leo occasionally typing short messages on the tablet before showing the screen to Lily, who would nod thoughtfully before looking back at the calendar.

Sam had already guessed what they were doing. But she had decided not to interfere. Watching them prepare felt far more entertaining.

Lily straightened suddenly.

"Okay."

Leo looked up.

Lily tapped the calendar with her finger.

"We say it like this."

She cleared her throat dramatically and stood up as if rehearsing a speech.

"Aunt Aria," she began with exaggerated seriousness, "Uncle Franz’s birthday is coming."

Leo typed something quickly. He turned the tablet toward her.

Lily read the message aloud.

"Birthday dinner required."

Sam lowered the magazine to hide a smile.

Lily nodded approvingly.

"Yes. That’s good."

She paused for a moment before continuing the rehearsal.

"And it has to be romantic."

Leo typed again.

Lily leaned closer to read. She grinned.

"Perfect."

Sam closed the magazine and rested her chin on her hand.

"You two look like you’re preparing for a board meeting."

Lily turned toward her immediately.

"It’s important."

Sam lifted both hands.

"I can see that."

Footsteps approached from the hallway.

The twins turned toward the doorway at the same time.

Arianne stepped into the living room, phone still at her ear. She finished the call with a quiet "Understood" and lowered the device.

Then she stopped.

Leo and Lily were both looking at her. The calendar lay open on the table. Sam had suddenly become very interested in the cushion beside her.

Arianne’s gaze moved across the room. She didn’t move further.

"What’s happening here?"

Lily approached first.

"Aunt Aria."

Arianne stopped a few steps away.

"Yes?"

"Uncle Franz’s birthday is coming."

Arianne nodded once.

"I know."

Leo had already begun typing. When he finished, he turned the tablet toward Lily.

She read the message aloud.

"Birthday dinner required."

Arianne’s gaze moved from the tablet to the calendar on the table. The red circle marking the date was impossible to miss.

She studied the page for a moment before looking back at the twins.

"I see."

Lily continued confidently.

"Birthdays must be celebrated." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"That is generally how birthdays work."

"And Uncle Franz should not work on his birthday."

Leo typed again.

Lily read the message.

"Romantic dinner."

Sam turned her face away to hide a laugh.

Arianne noticed. Her gaze moved slowly from the twins to Sam.

Sam immediately raised both hands.

"I’m just visiting."

Arianne’s eyes narrowed slightly. Then she looked toward the hallway.

A moment later Gio appeared in the doorway as if summoned by the silence. He had clearly been working nearby and had paused when he heard the conversation.

Arianne studied him briefly.

Gio raised one hand.

"I only confirmed the schedule."

Arianne returned her attention to the twins. She reached down and lifted Leo’s tablet so she could read the screen directly.

The message displayed there remained simple.

Phase Two: Birthday Dinner.

For a moment she said nothing.

Then she placed the tablet back on the table.

"So," she said calmly, "this dinner has already been organized."

Lily nodded eagerly.

"Yes."

Leo typed again.

Lily read the message.

"Location secured."

Arianne looked toward Sam.

Sam leaned back against the sofa.

"Don’t look at me. They were very persuasive."

Arianne returned her attention to the twins.

"And did either of you ask Uncle Franz if he wants this dinner?"

The twins froze.

Leo slowly lowered the tablet.

Lily blinked.

For a moment neither of them spoke.

Then Lily answered with complete certainty.

"He will."

Sam pressed a hand over her mouth.

Arianne watched them both for another moment.

Then she nodded once.

"Very well. I’ll take him to dinner."

Leo immediately began typing again.

Lily read the message proudly.

"Phase Two confirmed."

The twins exchanged a satisfied look.

Sam leaned back against the sofa again.

"Well," she said quietly, "that went surprisingly smoothly."

Arianne did not respond. But something in her posture suggested she had expected the same result.

Later that evening the house had grown noticeably quieter.

Most of the lights in the main living areas had been dimmed while the staff finished the last tasks of the night. The calm atmosphere returned to the residence the way it usually did after dinner, when the activity of the day finally settled.

Franz stood in the kitchen near the counter with one hand resting against the edge of the marble surface. He had just returned from finishing a few final messages on his phone when something on the counter caught his attention.

The calendar.

It had been placed there sometime earlier.

He stepped closer. The page displayed the upcoming week. One date had been circled in red marker.

Franz studied it for a moment.

"My birthday."

Arianne stood a few steps away near the tea kettle, pouring hot water into two cups.

"Yes."

Franz noticed something written beneath the red circle.

Two words.

Phase Two.

He looked up.

"Phase two?"

Arianne handed him one of the cups.

"You should ask Leo."

Franz said nothing for a moment. Then he noticed Leo’s tablet resting beside the calendar.

He touched the screen. It lit immediately.

A message appeared.

Birthday dinner.

Franz studied the words quietly.

Then he exhaled softly through his nose, a breath that almost sounded like a laugh. His shoulders relaxed as he placed the tablet back on the counter.

"So," he said calmly, "this was their idea."

Arianne nodded.

"Yes."

Franz glanced toward the hallway where the twins’ voices could be heard faintly from another room.

For a moment he said nothing. Then the corner of his mouth lifted.

"They’ve been very organized lately."

Arianne did not disagree.

Franz lifted the cup and took a small sip.

"I suppose it would be ungrateful to disappoint them."

He picked up his cup again. "Tell me something."

Arianne waited.

"Did they really think I wouldn’t notice them planning this?"

Arianne’s mouth curved. Just barely.

"They’re four."

Franz lifted the cup to hide his smile. "They’re terrifying."