Chapter 400
“Obviously,” I reply, trying and failing not to smile. “I’m the wise one, period p>
She rolls her eyes and continues driving.
I glance back at her. “Do you have any idea what Aunt Harper wants to talk about p>
“Nope,” she says easily. “But I have pretty good idea p>
“Mind sharing p>
“Can’t do,” she replies. “It’s a surprise p>
“What kind of surprise p>
“That’s why it’s called a surprise, Si,” she says deadpan, “You’re not supposed to have a clue p>
“I don’t like you,” I grumble, facing the front.
“And we both know it’s a lie p>
The rest of the drive is filled with easy conversation. She teases me about how serious I’ve been lately, I tease her back about how dramatic she is, and for a while, everything feels normal, like yesterday didn’t completely change everything.
Eventually, we pull into a familiar parking lot.
I look up, confusion settling in. “Why are we here p>
Lilly parks the car and turns to me. “Because this is where we’re meeting p>
“At the company p>
She nods. “Mom changed the venue. Said it would make more sense meeting here instead p>
I frown slightly. Honestly growing up we never came here a lot. Maybe it’s because Lilly was one of the heirs to Wood Corporation and training her needed her to mostly be there instead of here.
We step out and head inside and the building is just as I remember it. Nothing much has changed in except for a few renovations here and there.
We make our way to Aunt Harper’s office, her secretary greeting us with a warm smile as we pass.
Before Lilly can even knock, the door swings open revealing Aunt Harper whose eyes are brimming with nothing but excitement.
Lilly raises a brow. “Were you spying on our arrival p>
Aunt Harper doesn’t even acknowledge her. Instead, her attention goes straight to me as she pulls me into a tight hug.
“My favorite niece,” she says, her voice soft but filled with something deeper, something warmer.
She doesn’t even let me respond before she’s guiding me inside.
“Wow, what am I? Chopper liver?” Lilly mutters behind us. “You totally ignored me! Your own precious beautiful daughter p>
“Stop being a crybaby, and come in” Aunt Harper says without looking back.
“You’re so heartless Mom… I’m telling dad p>
“Go ahead. Let’s see who he’ll side with.” Aunt Harper challenges with a smirk.
“Of course it’s me” Lilly replies, “ I’m his precious daughter p>
“And I’m the love of his life p>
I let out a small laugh, “Focus people p>
I take a seat, my eyes moving around the office. Before going back to Aunt Harper. She has always been warm, always caring, but today feels different… Today feels more intentional and personal.
“Do you want anything to drink?” she asks, turning to me.
I shake my head. “I’m okay p>
“That’s fine,” she says, staring at me like she’s seeing me for the first time.
“Would you stop staring at her like a creep?” Lilly chimes in, “You’re going to scare her away, Mom p>
Aunt Harper shakes her head, muttering a quick sorry before she reaches for what looks like a thick photo album and walks over, sitting beside me.
“I thought I could show you some pictures,” she says gently. “Show you who your father was p>
“I never knew you had an album.” Lilly stares at it curiously.
“I compiled it after Andrew died as a way to remember him, but after it was done I wasn’t able to look at it because it was just too painful p>
Lilly and I stay silent, even as my chest tightens painfully at her words. There was no denying that Aunt Harper loved her brother so much.
She opens it and the first picture makes me gasp. It’s a baby wrapped in blankets in the arms of two adults who I’m assuming are the parents.