Chapter 391
“I honestly have no idea. I haven’t really spoken to your aunts much since we left p>
I frown slightly as my mind immediately starts working, trying to piece together what this could be about. I’m sure it’s not just me, but I hate being left in suspense. You can’t tell someone you need to talk to them and not expect them to start overthinking everything. And even with therapy, that part of me hasn’t changed. I’m still an overthinker, and I will go over every possible detail until I get some kind of answer.
“I wonder what she wants to talk about,” I mutter, more to myself than anything else, unable to stop my thoughts.
Mom glances up at me. “It must be something serious if she’s coming all this way to talk to us p>
That’s exactly what’s bothering me. What could possibly be so serious that she had to come in person? What is it about?
I turn it over in my head again and again, but it leads nowhere. Eventually, I push the thoughts aside before I give myself a headache.
I’m just about to head back to the living room to work on my proposal when the doorbell rings. Mom and I look at each other for a brief second before I move to open the door.
I barely have time to register what’s happening before I’m pulled into a tight hug.
“I missed you,” Lilly says, holding on like she doesn’t plan on letting go anytime soon.
“You saw me yesterday,” I reply with a soft chuckle.
She came by about an hour or so after Adrian left.
“Yeah, so?” she says, pulling back slightly. “That still doesn’t stop me from missing you p>
She finally lets go, and Aunt Harper steps forward to hug me next.
“Hey, sweetheart p>
“Hey, Aunt Harper,” I reply, hugging her back.
Once we pull away, I step aside to let them in. I close the door behind them and follow as they walk further inside. Mom comes out of the kitchen just in time, and they all exchange hugs.
“Sorry for coming on such short notice, but I really needed to talk to both of you,” Aunt Harper says once we’ve all settled down.
“It’s no trouble at all. You know you’re always welcome here,” Mom says warmly. “And besides, I’ve been meaning to thank you properly for a long time. I just never got the chance p>
Aunt Harper’s brows knit together slightly. “Thank me for what p>
“For finding Sierra in time,” Mom answers. “I don’t even want to think about what could have happened if you had gotten there any later p>
Aunt Harper gives a small smile. “You don’t have to thank me. Si is like my daughter. I’d do anything for her p>
A brief silence settles over the room, no one quite knowing what to say next, until Mom speaks again.
“Actually, I’ve been wondering… how did you know where she was p>
Aunt Harper takes a slow breath, like she’s preparing herself. “That’s actually why I’m here p>
Mom and I exchange a quick look before turning back to her.
“I wouldn’t have known if it weren’t for a dream,” she says.
“A dream?” Lilly asks, looking at her like she’s lost her mind.
“Yes,” Aunt Harper replies. “I dreamt about my brother, and in that dream, he gave me Sierra’s exact location. I know it sounds crazy, and at first, I almost ignored it, but then Lilly called and told me Sierra was missing, so I decided to take a chance and it turned out to be the right one p>
“Hold up,” Lilly says, frowning. “You’re telling me Uncle Andrew gave you Sierra’s location p>
Aunt Harper nods, her gaze steady.
“Even if I believed something like that,” Lilly continues, “Why would he do it? Why would he give you her location p>
“That’s what I wanted to know,” Aunt Harper says. “So I did something without your consent… I needed answers, and the only way I could get them was through a DNA test… I took Sierra’s hair for testing p>
“You what?” Lilly and Mom say at the same time, both of them staring at her in disbelief.
I probably would have reacted the same way before, but now I stay quiet, watching her instead and from the look on her face, I already know she found something.
“I know it was wrong, but I needed answers and I got them.” She reaches into her bag and pulls out a document before sliding it across the table toward us. “The results came back positive p>
Mom picks up the papers, confusion written all over her face. “Positive for what? What does that even mean p>
Aunt Harper closes her eyes briefly, taking a steadying breath. When she opens them again, they’re filled with tears and her voice is soft and trembling despite her effort to stay composed.
“It means…Sierra and I are related p>