Chapter 402
Lilly keeps glancing at me from the corner of her eye, like she’s trying to figure out if I’m okay without actually asking. Eventually, she gives in.
“You good?” she asks, her voice softer than usual.
I let out a slow breath, staring out the window as the city passes by in a blur.
“It’s a lot to take in,” I admit. “I don’t even know where to begin p>
My mind keeps replaying everything that happened in Aunt Harper’s office, every word, every explanation, and every decision. One minute, I was just trying to process the fact that I finally knew who my father is, and the next, I’m being told that I’m the heir to Unity Ventures. That I now hold shares that would make me the largest stakeholder in a multimillion-dollar company.
Everything is changing too quickly and I can barely catch up.
I press my fingers against my temple, trying to ease the migraine that’s creeping in, but my thoughts keep circling back to the same thing. I don’t understand how I’m supposed to carry something like that. I don’t understand how I’m supposed to just step into a life that I wasn’t prepared for.
“How does someone even process that?” I murmur under my breath.
Lilly snorts softly, cutting through my thoughts. “By accepting that you’re officially rich now p>
I blink, turning to look at her.
“What p>
She grins. “I’m just saying… biggest shareholder? That’s not small, Si p>
I let out a quiet laugh, shaking my head. “That’s not the point p>
“It is,” she says, grinning. “You’re finally in the big leagues with a butt load of money… That’s something to be ecstatic about p>
I huff softly, leaning back in my seat. “You’re hopeless p>
“No, I’m optimistic… period,” she says. “Look at the brighter side of things p>
It’s hard for now, but maybe once I process it all and accept it, I’ll finally be able to smile and appreciate it.
We talk a little more after that, the conversation drifting between serious and light without really settling on either. It helps, in a way. Keeps me from drowning too deep in my own head.
After a while, she glances at me again. “You’ll be okay p>
I nod slowly. “Yeah. I’ll catch a cab when I’m done p>
She studies me for a second longer before nodding. “Okay. Call me if you need anything, alright p>
“I will p>
She drops me off, and I watch as her car disappears down the street before I finally turn toward the house.
Everything looks exactly the same and yet, the moment I step inside, everything feels different
I wanted to be alone. I wanted time to process everything by myself, but looking at the familiar yet different living room, I start thinking maybe it was a mistake coming back here when I wasn’t really ready to face this house.
The last time I was here, I almost died. It was the night of the birthday ball, and I remember hurrying to finish my makeup because Lilly was right outside waiting for me.
My gaze sweeps over the familiar space that no longer feels as comforting as it once did. Nothing has changed, but it no longer feels like home.
I drop onto the couch with a heavy sigh, my body sinking into it as I stare ahead without really seeing anything. My mind keeps circling the same questions, the same disbelief that refuses to settle no matter how many times I try to force it. How is anyone supposed to process something like this? How do you go from having nothing, from not even knowing who your father is, to suddenly being handed something this big… to becoming the heir of everything he left behind?
A shaky breath leaves me as I drag my hands over my face, trying to ground myself, but it doesn’t help.